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Jody Sigler, the Community Development Director for the ThreeStar Program, hosted an asset-based forum at the Claiborne campus of Walters State Community College last week. Government, business and other leaders from across the county attended the meeting to brainstorm ideas that will be used for set goals for the county and its communities.

Sigler explained that the Three-Star Program is designed to help communities take full advantage of economic development opportunities. The goals are to preserve existing employment, create new employment opportunities, increase Tennessee family income, improve quality of life, and create a strong leadership base.

Participating communities are guided through a comprehensive plan of essential criteria developed by local economic development professionals and a cooperative collaboration of various state and regional agencies.

The meeting was attended by County Mayor Joe Brooks, Tazewell Mayor Bill Fannon, Cumberland Gap Mayor Neil Pucciarelli, New Tazewell City Council members Carl Nichols, Nita Louthan and Jeff Lewis, Karyn Clark from the Claiborne Economic Partnership, and representatives from businesses and other organizations all across the county.

Participation in the Three-Star Program is based on an annual evaluation and activity plan. Local community leaders and Joint Economic and Community Development Boards are encouraged to implement activities that will impact the community’s competitiveness in a global economy. Participating counties (and cities in these counties) will be eligible for a four percent discount (for eligible projects) on both the business development and community development ability-to-pay calculations (CDBG and Fast Track) each year the county fulfills the requirements of the Three-Star Program. Additionally, only cities located in a county that is an active participant in the Three-Star Program will be eligible to participate in the Tennessee Downtowns program. Finally, there is an annual grant for Tier 2 and Tier 3 counties to serve as seed money for activities (not to offset general operating expenses) focused on improving at least one of the measured areas of the program: health and welfare, public safety, and education and workforce development.

A wide variety of goals were discussed ranging from expanding tourism opportunities through additional hotels and restaurants, adding festivals, better publicizing the county’s parks, establishing more non-profits to promote communities to adding affordable housing and child care, expanding internet access and other infrastructure.

One controversial idea that gained some traction was combining Tazewell and New Tazewell into one city. This city would have a population of over 5,000 and would help draw more businesses to the area.

Later a fine-tuned list of six overall goals: three short-term and three long-term will be included in a strategic plan for the county.