The First Tennessee Development District is excited to announce that the well-earned retirement of Ken Rea, a dedicated and clear-thinking leader who has served the District for 39 years, including 15 years as the Deputy Director for Economic and Community, is at hand. For much of that time, Ken was the only development district director in the state to hold an Economics degree. His guiding principle is simple: "Do the best you can for your communities."
Ken's dedication to the team has been evident in countless ways and has proven his worth as a leader in the regional, state, and national economic development community. Ken has built the Economic and Community Development Department from scratch, with no initial funding, and has secured $332 million in funding for 852 projects since 1989. This includes the extension of water lines to over 4,000 people and helping businesses expand and communities throughout our region thrive.
Among Ken's proudest achievements are:
Carter County: During a drought, a water line was extended into Little Milligan so that the local community had access to clean water.
"Lives were saved because of Ken’s work in Little Milligan. He made sure we had clean water at a critical time and I don’t know how he made that happen." – Carter County Mayor Patty Woodby
Exit 23 Development: Built out vital infrastructure at the exit that has led to major employers locating in the area.
"Since I came to office in 2018, Ken Rea has been an indispensable asset to us in applying, receiving, and executing literally dozens of grants and projects that have been transformational to our community’s economic development. Jobs and prospects have come to our county due to his dogged persistence in the form of TDEC grants, ARPA & CARES Act funding projects like county-wide Broadband, and vital infrastructure at Exit 23. Ken played a huge part in guiding us and making that happen.” – Greene County Mayor Kevin Morrison
Mountain City: Growing an already strong system of water and sewage.
"Ken Rea has done a lot for Mountain City. He has greatly increased the strength of our water and sewer systems, and because of that, we're living in a safer, more secure Mountain City." – Mountain City Mayor Jerry Jordan
Phipps Bend Industrial Park: Extending essential infrastructure including water, sewer, roads, and grading.
"We owe the current almost-full state of Phipps Bend Industrial Park, the businesses located there, and many of the families who live in Hawkins County to work in at Phipps Bend in part to Ken. It’s not just Ken’s work that makes this statement true—it’s also his vision." – Hawkins County Mayor Mark DeWitte
Tri-County Industrial Park: Completed several rounds of funding for water, sewer, roads, and grading in the industrial park.
“Ken’s ability to unite counties for a shared vision was unprecedented. The Tri-County Industrial Park stands as a testament to his collaborative spirit and commitment to the region.” – Sullivan County Mayor Richard Venable
Unicoi County: Sewer extension to Specialty Tires, Unicoi Elementary School, and The Town of Unicoi.
“These efforts not only enhance our community’s quality of life but also lay the groundwork for sustainable growth. His commitment to Unicoi County's future is deeply appreciated." – Unicoi County Mayor Bubba Evely
Washington County: Developing water, sewer and electric infrastructure for the industrial park.
“Ken’s work in Washington County has laid the foundation for our industrial park’s success. His efforts in creating a reliable utility network have opened the door for future opportunities.” – Washington County Mayor Joe Grandy
Ken also highlights his achievements in establishing a loan program that enabled regional companies to hire 800 employees through 165 loans, exemplifying true economic development.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve the people of Northeast Tennessee,” said Ken Rea. “I’ve loved working on grant applications and moving projects forward. This work has been a labor of love, especially with such a talented and dedicated staff.”
Ken’s leadership has been instrumental in the success of the past three years, which has seen exponential growth in opportunities for the Economic and Community Development Department. He credits this success to the collaborative efforts of his team, community leaders, and partners at the state and federal levels.
Ken’s legacy of infrastructure development, job creation, and community growth will continue to benefit the region for generations. Ken’s retirement will take effect on June 30, 2025.
“Thank you, Ken, for your decades of service and dedication. Your impact on Northeast Tennessee is immeasurable, and your legacy will inspire future generations to keep building better communities.” – The Staff of the First Tennessee Development District
For questions about this or other District News, please contact Mark Stevans, mstevans@ftdd.org.