East Tennessee Development District

The East Tennessee Development District (ETDD) is a voluntary association of municipal and county governments that are located in the mid-east region of Tennessee. ETDD provides sixteen counties and fifty-six municipalities with planning and development services while also serving as a forum for local governments to solve common problems associated with economic development and growth. Organized in 1966, the East Tennessee Development District continues to be a vital force in helping local governments plan for the future by coordinating the establishment of regional and local priorities within the fields of economic and community development.

Statement From The Executive Director

Regionalism works in East Tennessee. Created in 1966 by an act of the Tennessee State Legislature, the East Tennessee Development District has always been a strong leader of regional development and cooperation within our sixteen county service area. Our success is due to the fact that ETDD provides important and meaningful planning and development services to our constituent governments.

First and foremost, ETDD is an association of local governments. Our primary mission is to provide planning services within the fields of economic and community development to the local governments that we serve. Because the development district boundaries encompass multi-county areas, ETDD is able to focus on issues of regional importance - on issues that impact more than one city or county.

The role of the East Tennessee Development District will become increasingly important as we face the future. Shrinking federal, state and local resources will require communities to band together to face and solve common problems associated with community and economic growth. Working together, the sixteen counties and fifty-six municipalities of the East Tennessee Development District will be able to successfully meet the challenges of the 21st century.