VONORE — Tellico Area Services System has received a $5 million federal grant to help fund construction of a new $27 million water treatment facility in Vonore.
The grant, awarded through the U.S. Economic Development Administration, is the largest federal grant in TASS history.
The new facility will be constructed on the existing TASS campus in Vonore and will use ceramic membrane filtration technology. TASS officials said the project is intended to improve drinking water quality while increasing treatment reliability, resiliency and capacity.
“This is truly a historic day for TASS,” Superintendent Mark Clinton said. “This grant represents an investment in our future and demonstrates the importance of providing reliable, resilient water infrastructure for our communities, our businesses and the families who depend on us every day.”
The project has been in development for more than 18 months and is expected to help TASS meet increasing water demands throughout its service area in Loudon and Monroe counties and portions of Blount County.
TASS provides direct water service to more than 6,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Loudon and Monroe counties and portions of Blount County. It also supplies wholesale water to neighboring utilities serving more than 35,000 additional customers.
The utility directly serves three industrial parks and provides wholesale water service to two additional industrial parks, collectively serving more than 8,000 people.
The $5 million award was included in $41.6 million in disaster supplemental funding announced Wednesday, Aug. 26, by the Economic Development Administration for projects in five states affected by storms and natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. According to the EDA, the TASS grant will support expansion of the water treatment plant following severe storms in 2024.
Regional collaboration
TASS officials credited a regional effort involving economic development officials and grant professionals with helping secure the funding.
Clinton recognized Jack Qualls, director of the Loudon County Economic Development Agency, for identifying the federal funding opportunity and bringing it to TASS officials.
“Jack was instrumental in identifying this opportunity and encouraging us to pursue it,” Clinton said. “His support and guidance from the beginning helped put TASS in a position to compete for this funding.”
TASS also credited Evan Sandars, president of Community Development Partners LLC, for his role in developing and completing the grant application.
“Federal grant applications require a tremendous amount of work, organization and expertise,” Clinton said. “Evan worked closely with our team throughout the process and helped us effectively communicate the importance of this project and the impact it will have on our region.”
Bryan Hall, executive director of the Tellico Reservoir Development Agency, was also recognized for his involvement in the effort.
“Bryan worked tirelessly with Jack, Evan and the TASS team throughout this process,” Clinton said. “His leadership, regional relationships, networking and commitment to economic development were invaluable.”
Clinton said the combined work of Qualls, Sandars and Hall played an important role in securing the grant.
“This grant simply would not have happened without the commitment and expertise of these individuals,” Clinton said. “Each played a different and important role, and we are extremely grateful for the time and effort they invested in TASS and in the future of our communities.” The new ceramic membrane treatment facility will increase TASS’ treatment capabilities and capacity as the utility’s customer base grows.
TASS officials said the project is expected to support continued residential, commercial and industrial development while providing reliable water service to existing customers.
“This project is about much more than constructing a new water treatment facility,” Clinton said. “It is about invesing in public health, economic development, resiliency and the future of our communities. This $5 million federal investment will help TASS build infrastructure that will serve this region for generations.”
TASS also recognized the Economic Development Administration, TASS Board of Commissioners, Monroe and Loudon counties, utility employees and the engineering and professional partners involved in the grant application.
Construction is expected to begin immediately.
The $27 million project represents one of the largest infrastructure investments in TASS history and is expected to help the utility meet the water needs of current and future customers for decades.
