by Leslie Lytle, Messenger Staff Writer

“We don’t need anything,” said Monteagle Fire Chief Travis Laywer applauding the $294,411 grant award used to purchase fire-fighting equipment and two trucks. “Equipment wise, we’re finally at full capacity for the fire department.” Lawyer speculated when budgeting time came around in March, he wouldn’t need to ask the city for anything. Said Stacie Willoughby, grant coordinator for the project, “It was an extremely successful grant. We were within budget the entire time.”

In fact, Monteagle’s 2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) came in $15,000 under budget. Monteagle purchased 15 sets of turnout gear, both light weight and regular, enough for all the firefighters on Monteagle’s team; a gear washer and dryer; a skid unit; an extractor; and two trucks. Safe Industries came in with the lowest bid on the equipment. The state contractor Wilson County Motors won the bid for the trucks. Monteagle’s share in the matching grant was 15 percent of the total cost including administration and fees.

“On utility projects it astounds me how much all that stuff costs that you just put in the ground. On this grant, the public can see what they get for their money,” said Monteagle Alderman Dean Lay. “We had nothing but junk.”

Director of Project Administration for Southeast Tennessee Development, Willoughby drew a comparison to needing money for infrastructure, “No one sees it until you can’t flush the toilet. This was a gratifying project. You can see it and say, ‘My guys are safe They have turnout gear. They have a truck that can get down a narrow road.’”

“For small communities, these CDBG grants are critical,” said Lawyer. “There’s no other way we can reach for the funding. I tried to make sure this was going to be money spent that would pass on to the community as better insurance rates and ISO ratings.”

CBDG grants are highly competitive. Commenting on Monteagle’s decision to apply for 2026 CDBG funding to facilitate waterline improvement and extension, Willoughby cited Monteagle’s extreme water loss due to leaks and other infrastructure problems as a qualifying factor. “The state likes to put money in infrastructure. They work with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation which has compliance regulations. Any community that has over 40 percent water loss, which you have, will score very high. Monteagle’s grant application is set up to score well.”