TCSA Fall Conference Registration Now Available

Mark your calendars for October 23 - 25, 2024, and join us at Embassy Suites in Rutherford County (Murfreesboro), Tennessee, for an exceptional event filled with opportunities to network, learn, and innovate at the county government level.

Registration Details:

• Conference Registration: Ensure your spot by registering on the TCSA website. 
• You can also print a paper registration form and mail it to the TCSA office at 226 Anne Dallas Dudley Blvd, Suite 700, Nashville, TN, 37219.  
  • Conference registration costs
    • TCSA County Officials: $375
    • Other conference registrants: $400
    • Spouses/Guests: $100
• On-site registration is available, but space is limited. We encourage early registration to guarantee your participation and proper name badge availability.

Tennessee County Commissioners Association Announces 2024 Regional Meetings

Mark your calendars! Tennessee County Commissioners Association (TCCA) has officially announced its regional meetings. The meetings will provide a platform for county commissioners to convene and discuss important issues and initiatives that impact the counties in their respective regions. All meetings will begin with registration at 5:30 PM local time and conclude by 8:30 PM. 

These regional meetings are crucial for continuing collaboration and communication among county commissioners. They serve as an opportunity for commissioners to exchange ideas and challenges and explore opportunities for growth and development within their communities. Also, if any of you have a school board member as a friend, bring them with you.

Please let TCCA Director Charlie Curtiss know how many commissioners from your county plan to attend.

UT SMART Opioid Solutions County Highlight: Davidson County - Mental Health Cooperative Awarded $2.4 Million to Oversee in Opioid Abatement

In Davidson County, the Mental Health Cooperative (MHC) was awarded $2.4 million from the Metro Nashville Public Health Dept., which oversees the county’s opioid abatement funding. These funds will be dispersed over 15 months to create low-threshold access to buprenorphine treatment and will be focused heavily on flexibility and accessibility for individuals seeking substance use treatment.

Additionally, the grant will ensure access to transportation and assist with hiring peer support specialists, care coordinators and providers. MHC partners with regional emergency medical services and the Metro Nashville Police Department in the Partners in Care (PIC) and Responders Engaged and Committed to Helping (REACH) programs.

USDA Partners with TN to Award Over $5.5 Million to Strengthen Food Supply Chain Infrastructure

NASHVILLE – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) recently announced it has a cooperative agreement with Tennessee under the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI). Through this agreement, USDA and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA) are working together to offer over $5.5 million in competitive grant funding for projects designed to build resilience across the food supply chain. TDA is accepting applications for this program funding through August 31, 2024.

In May 2023, USDA announced the availability of up to $420 million through RFSI to strengthen local and regional food systems. Through this program, AMS has entered into cooperative agreements with state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, commercial food processing, seafood, or food system and distribution activities or commerce activities in states or U.S. territories. RFSI is authorized by the American Rescue Plan. Updates for each state’s request for applications for the RFSI program are available on the AMS website.

Gov. Lee, TDEC Announce the Establishment of the Office of Recreation in Tennessee

Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) recently announced the creation of the Office of Outdoor Recreation to further the state’s conservation efforts and to help residents and visitors have more access to Tennessee’s great outdoors.   

Lee made the announcement at the second annual Tennessee Conservation Summit in Nashville, where key stakeholders gathered to align priorities and develop further strategies around conservation. Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly have made record investments in Tennessee’s great outdoors. This new office will help to ensure the state delivers meaningful returns on those investments. Brian Clifford has been appointed director to lead the office, headquartered at TDEC in Nashville.

“This office will help us leverage Tennessee’s unparallelled natural resources and beauty to improve our quality of life and create lasting memories for Tennessee families and visitors,” Lee said.