Both the Putnam County Commission and the City Council in meetings this week approved motions committing some $14M in funds for the development of an area Industry Park.

Speaking on behalf of the cause was Chamber President George Halford who addressed the current potential job base increase with the placement of the VW plant in Chattanooga.

He did address concerns about competition from North Georgia and Alabama, stating that we're in a competitive position with those states who share a 100 mile radius of Chattanooga's forming VW plant.

County Executive, Kim Blaylock, concurred with Mr. Halford that aggressive forward motion was necessary to stay in the game.

Commissioner Jerry Ford comments on a recent TVA study that stated that due to location, economics, and highways, Cookeville was the best spot in Tennessee for developing industry.

Commissioner Johnnie Wheeler comments that because she sees numbers of evicted people sleeping in their cars in the parking lot, she urges a cautious forward motion for this industrial park in an attempt to create jobs.

After careful consideration and a lot of discussion, the commission passed all motions to continue pushing forward this local, economic-building effort.