Union City Port to Receive $13 Million Grant

The Northwest Tennessee Port and Industrial Park will receive a $13 million federal Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery Grant that will be used to finish construction of the port.

The Northwest Port is located in Lake County near Union City, and will be used for cargo loading and unloading on the Mississippi River. It is located 25 miles from I-155, which feeds into I-40, I-55 and I-24. It will also feed into the planned route of I-69. The TIGER grants were created as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The grants provide a total of $1.5 billion for surface transportation infrastructure.

When it is completed, the Northwest Tennessee Port could bring as many as 2,300 jobs to the region. During the project, which has no current start date, an estimated 200 construction jobs will be created.

U.S. Rep. John Tanner, D-Tenn., said the combination of the site's location and the area's work force could help recruit new industry to the area.

"The TIGER program is an important one to invest in the creation of private-sector job growth, and we are pleased that others realize the important role Northwest Tennessee plays in our country's economic future," Tanner said in a statement.

Located 116 miles north of Memphis, Union City is home to manufacturers that include Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Tyson Foods, Kohler Co. and Lennox Hearth Products. Goodyear's Union City facility manufactures tires for the Chevrolet Corvette.