Mike Harrison and Mayor Jim Sells, June 2025 The First Tennessee Development District mourns the passing of Rogersville’s longest-serving Mayor, Mr. Jim Sells. Mr. Sells devoted nearly five decades of his life to public service, serving the Town of Rogersville with distinction as Mayor for an extraordinary 48 years before retiring in June 2025. Sells was the sixth-longest continuously serving mayor in the United States at the time of his retirement. His unprecedented tenure stands as a...

The First Tennessee Development District (FTDD) is assisting homeowners with applications for USDA Rural Development grant funding for homes that remain impacted by Hurricane Helene.   To help residents learn more about this assistance, FTDD will host an informational meeting for homeowners who are still seeking repairs to their homes. The first meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Johnson County Long-Term Recovery Group office, located at 2 3 03...

FTDD's Leslie Thompson (center) with panel members Megan Spurgeon (left) and Kaki Reynolds (right) First Tennessee Development District (FTDD) is proud to recognize Leslie Thompson, TOPI Grant Manager, for her participation as a panelist at the ALICE Summit, a national conference hosted by United Way and held in Miami this week . Her involvement reflects FTDD’s continued commitment to advancing thoughtful, evidence-based strategies that strengthen economic stability for individuals and...