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The Tennessee Conservative [By Jason Vaughn] –
Governor Lee says the number of distressed counties in Tennessee has decreased to a historically all-time low while seniors across the state are experiencing the highest poverty rate in more than ten years.
The Governor’s Office issued a press release noting that two more counties, Grundy and Morgan, were removed from the distressed designation list this year. The number of counties on that list has decreased from 15 to only 8 since 2019. Click here to see interactive map of Tennessee County Economic Status for fiscal year 2024.
Lee attributes this to the work his administration has done to push for change in rural Tennessee.
“In 2019, we began an administration-wide mission to expand opportunity for Tennesseans in rural areas, and our strategic workforce and infrastructure investments have resulted in an historic reduction of our state’s distressed counties,” said Governor Lee. “What happens in rural Tennessee matters to all of Tennessee. As Tennessee experiences unprecedented economic growth and job creation, we’ll continue our work to prioritize rural communities so that Tennesseans in every county can thrive.”
Despite 33,000 new jobs and more than $16 billion in capital investments in the state, not everyone seems to be reaping the benefits of economic growth in the state.
More than 10% of people over the age of 65 in Tennessee are living in poverty while the rising cost of food and housing forcing many of them out of their homes or relying on food stamps and food boxes.
Homeless advocate Krista Garofalo noted that, despite an increase in social security benefits, life is not going quite as many seniors had anticipated.
“The retirement that they had envisioned and they thought that they did have enough money,” said Garofalo. “But unfortunately, with the rising cost of, you know, food, gas, the affordable housing supply being in short, even shrinking even more every single day, it’s becoming a little bit harder for them to reach that vision that they had for themselves.”
About the Author: Jason Vaughn, Media Coordinator for The Tennessee Conservative ~ Jason previously worked for a legacy publishing company based in Crossville, TN in a variety of roles through his career. Most recently, he served as Deputy Director for their flagship publication. Prior, he was a freelance journalist writing articles that appeared in the Herald Citizen, the Crossville Chronicle and The Oracle among others. He graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a Bachelor’s in English-Journalism, with minors in Broadcast Journalism and History. Contact Jason at news@TennesseeConservativeNews.com
3 Responses
Rising cost of gas? Haven’t they heard? Susan Lynn says the best way to offset the Lockdown Lee gas tax increase is to buy more groceries. You know, with their food stamps. The more they buy, the more they save!
Plus, we needed gay rainbow pickup trucks and another NFL stadium….for the rural areas…that are Bill’s priority.
This administration and the biden administration have something in common. They both say the economy is doing great. The uniparty is alive and doing well. Fellow Tennesseans make sure to vet whoever you are thinking of voting for very thoroughly this next election. Just because someone has a R behind their name doesn’t mean anything. Especially the republican party here in Tennessee. There really isn’t much difference than the demonrats. The republican party goes out of their way to keep true Christian Constitutional Conservatives off the tickets. We see it happening all the time.
In God we trust not government or man.
Have a blessed day.
BILL LEE might as well come out on the democrat ticket, he has turned his back on the people who elected him. HE is all in on the BLM agenda gay rights and has only listened to the folks that storm the capital shout yell and carry anti gun signs. HE has gone back on most of the promises he made, and the CONSTUTITION OF THE UNITED STATES. LETS face it GOVERNMNET is all in for GOVERNMENT, MORE TAXES and pass more LAWS no one will follow. WE have elected a SHIP OF FOOLS, and if something does not change we will go down with them.