The recently-passed state budget allocates some $2.5 million to Putnam County to help in the construction of the Jessica Rector Clark Welcome Center at the new Fairgrounds and Expo Center.
Clark was one of the 19 people lost in the 2020 tornado. Representative Ryan Williams said that she was a dedicated city employee and fair board member.
“She would take vacation days from her full-time job so she could make the fair better,” Williams said. “Our fair and our community is better because of Jessica Rector Clark and we’re just honored to recognize her. And now every citizen of Tennessee and from around the world that comes through our fair will ask the question ‘Well who is Jessica Rector Clark?’ And we’ll be able to tell about her and her service to her community. ”
Williams said that the welcome center will also serve to honor the other tornado victims and their loved ones. He said that the welcome center will be a great addition to the expo center.
Williams said that the next steps will be to have Putnam County Mayor finalize designs with the architect before the next fiscal year begins on July 1st.
“Of course, the actual specifics of the land development, the land purchase for the expo center, Mayor Porter had already scheduled to do that in this calendar year through issuance of bonds or cash if they had sold the other property, ” Williams said. “But this, the number we derived was based upon architect estimates on what it would cost. Now that we have $2.5 million in starter money, there may be a little desire to make it a little more ornate maybe or spend a little extra revenue on it and I understand that Mayor Porter and the County Commission will take that up as it comes.”
Williams said that the expectation would be that the $2.5 million would build the new facility entirely.
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