State Awards $2.6M for Site Development in Sullivan County

Grants will fund due diligence work and infrastructure improvements at two industrial parks

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has awarded a combined $2.6 million in grants to two Sullivan County sites - $100,000 to NETWORKS for due diligence work at the Northeast Tennessee Business Park/Airport Parkway Site in Kingsport, and $2,537,381 to the Bristol IDB for property grading and roadway improvements at the Bristol South Industrial Park.

Why it matters

These grants will help prepare the sites for future industrial development and position Sullivan County to compete for advanced manufacturing and other high-value projects that can drive long-term economic growth and job creation in the region.

The details

The grants were awarded through the state's Site Development Grant program, which has provided over $130 million in funding for 210 projects across Tennessee since 2016. The economic development teams from NETWORKS, the City of Bristol, and other local partners worked together to secure the grants by pitching the sites to the state selection committee.

  • In 2024, the state awarded BTES a $2 million grant for property grading at the Bristol Industrial Park and a $100,000 due diligence grant to NETWORKS for the Bristol South Industrial Park.
  • NETWORKS acquired the Airport Parkway site from Kingsport in 2024 with plans to prepare the site for future industrial use.
  • The due diligence work funded by the latest grant is expected to take 6-9 months to complete.

The players

NETWORKS

A regional economic development organization that secured the $100,000 grant for due diligence work at the Northeast Tennessee Business Park/Airport Parkway Site.

Bristol Industrial Development Board (Bristol IDB)

The recipient of the $2,537,381 grant for property grading and roadway improvements at the Bristol South Industrial Park.

Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD)

The state agency that awarded the $2.6 million in grants as part of its Site Development Grant program.

Clay Walker

The CEO of NETWORKS.

Tom Anderson

The director of economic development for Bristol, Tennessee and staff liaison for the Bristol IDB.

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What they’re saying

“None of us could do this without everyone else on the team. It's very much the ecosystem as a whole that has accounted for us continually to get these grants.”

— Clay Walker, CEO, NETWORKS

“Along with the Bristol Industrial Development Board, I wish to thank the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development for its faith and investment into our city. I would also like to thank BTES in its commitment to economic growth in Bristol.”

— Tom Anderson, Director of Economic Development, Bristol, Tennessee

What’s next

The due diligence work funded by the $100,000 grant to NETWORKS is expected to take 6-9 months to complete, which will then position the Northeast Tennessee Business Park/Airport Parkway Site for a future application seeking additional state funding for full site development and infrastructure improvements.

The takeaway

These grants demonstrate the state's continued investment in preparing industrial sites in Sullivan County and the region's collaborative approach to economic development. By working together, local partners have built a track record of success that is helping to attract further state support and position the area for future growth and job creation.