ThreeStar Grant Program - Certification Required: Distressed Counties

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) administers the ThreeStar program, a statewide initiative designed to strengthen community capacity and promote long-term prosperity. The program emphasizes countywide collaboration, strategic planning, and the use of SMART goals to guide development. Distressed counties, identified by the state as facing the greatest economic challenges, receive priority access to the program’s funding and benefits. For distressed counties, ThreeStar provides an early application window that begins on January 15, 2025. These counties may apply for grants of up to $1 million for high-impact governmental projects that directly address county goals. By February 28, 2025, distressed counties must submit their SMART goals and complete grant applications through the SmartSimple portal. The first quarterly application deadline follows on March 1, 2025, allowing distressed counties to access funds before the July 1 certification milestone that applies to other counties. Projects must clearly align with county SMART goals, demonstrating measurable outcomes in areas such as economic development, workforce training, infrastructure, and community capacity building. Applications are scored on project design, alignment with community needs, partnerships, sustainability, and the clarity of budget and evaluation plans. Ineligible uses of funds include salaries, travel, food, prizes, and direct business support. Awards exceeding $75,000 require a qualified project administrator to oversee compliance and reporting. While certification is not required for distressed counties to participate in the early cycle, they are still expected to complete all required certification steps—asset inventories, JECDB documentation, and SMART goal development—by June 1, 2025. Meeting these requirements ensures that the county achieves full certification on July 1, 2025, which allows continued participation in quarterly cycles alongside all other counties. Once certified, distressed counties maintain eligibility for quarterly applications and retain access to expanded funding. Applications are reimbursement-based and require detailed invoices and proof of payment. Grantees must participate in pre- and post-award webinars, and must submit progress and final reports demonstrating outcomes. The program’s recurring deadlines are March, June, September, and December each year, with awards distributed quarterly. Distressed counties therefore have the dual benefit of early access in January–February and ongoing participation in the statewide funding cycles. Contacts for distressed counties include Sarah Elizabeth Hickman-McLeod for questions related to grants and Brooxie Carlton for overall program administration. The distressed county track is designed to ensure that Tennessee’s most economically vulnerable communities are able to accelerate their progress toward long-term goals while benefiting from enhanced state support.

Highlight urgency and measurable outcomes; emphasize strong partnerships; use professional administrator if >$75,000