Governor Bredesen Announces Enhancement Grant for Stewart County

Enhancement Grant for Rep. Willie “Butch” Borchert,
 TDOT Commissioner Gerald F. Nicely, Jimmy Scurlock, Mayor David Wallace,
 Gov. Phil Bredesen, and Terry Crutcher.

Nashville, Tenn. — Governor Phil Bredesen announced today that the state will provide Stewart County with an enhancement grant in the amount of $836,000 to assist with the construction of the Stewart County Visitor Center. The Center will be built on US Highway 79 near Dover, Tennessee.

“This project will serve as a welcoming point in Stewart County for visitors to two major tourist destinations there – Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area and Fort Donelson National Battlefield,” said Governor Bredesen. “I’m proud the State of Tennessee can make investments like the one this economic development resource for Stewart County represents that enhance local communities for the benefit of citizens and visitors alike.”

“I’d like to thank the Governor and TDOT for awarding this grant to Stewart County,” said Senator Roy Herron. “Highway 79 is expanding, which brings the promise of more visitors and the Visitor Center is just what we need.”

“We hope the new Visitor Center will become the first point of destination for visitors in the county and we plan to build a beautiful structure that will grace Highway 79,” added Representative Butch Borchert. “The center will also provide free shuttle service to downtown Dover and to the nearby battlefield.”

The grant is made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.

“Including this year’s enhancement grants, TDOT has helped fund approximately $189 million worth of transportation related projects such as the restoration of historic facilities, bike and pedestrian trails, landscaping and other non-traditional transportation projects,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “These grants were made possible in the 1990s when Congress established a grant system funding activities designed to strengthen the cultural, aesthetic and environmental aspects of the nation’s transportation system.”