Members of the Carter County Commission voted Monday night to apply for an economic development grant to help make a local property more attractive to potential industries.

As one of the items on the agenda for the Commission’s August meeting, commis­sioners heard a request from Susan Robinson, who serves as the Economic and Com­munity Development Director for the Carter County Mayor’s Office, who asked for Com­mission approval to apply for a site development grant from the state.

As part of the 2017 Rural Economic Development Fund, Tennessee is investing $10 Million in site development grants to aid eligible com­munities. The purpose of the grant is to help local govern­ments get economic develop­ment sites to a “shovel ready” status as part of the Select Tennessee Site Certification program.

“It’s a competitive grant,” Robinson explained. “Not everyone will get something.”

According to Robinson, the state is awarding grants up to $1Million to aid local govern­ments to get these locations better prepared to attract new industries and businesses. If selected for the grant, Carter County will need to provide 5 percent in matching funds. The 5 percent match for the maximum award of $1 Mil­lion would require the County to put up $50,000.

Carter County previously participated in the state’s PEP Site Select program, which is an eligibility requirement for this new grant, Robinson said. If the county receives funds through this grant ap­plication, Robinson said those funds would be used to reme­diate the Matheson Property, which she said the consultants in the PEP Site Select program identified as “Carter County’s best hope” at attracting jobs.

Some members of the Commission expressed concerns due to the fact the Matheson property is privately owned and is not county property.

Because the property is privately owned, Robinson said the county would have to look at a creative solution in order to be able to help get the property ready. After speaking with state officials, Robinson said she was informed if the property owner would grant Carter County a percentage ownership in the property, the county could then use the grant funds to improve the property. The percent ownership would also allow the county to recoup their in­vestment in the property. She told the Commission she and Carter County Mayor Leon Humphrey had already been discussing the matter with the property owner.

“The $50,000 match, the intent is to get that money back once the property is sold,” Robinson said. “The taxpayers will get every bit of their money back.”

After several commis­sioners asked questions and discussed the issue, Commis­sioner Robert Carroll made a motion to allow Robinson to apply for the grant on behalf of the county. Commissioner Mike Hill provided the second for the motion, which passed by a vote of 20-4.