Now is the time for the governor and the state legislature to use the money they have to make things better for working families.

• Dave Kamper is senior state policy strategist for the Economic Policy Institute.

President Ronald Reagan loved to say that the nine most terrible words in the English language were, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”

The American Rescue Plan Act, enacted three years ago in March, proves Reagan wrong: Government action − when timely, targeted, and sufficient in size − can make all the difference for people across the country. It’s a model we’d do well to follow in future crises. It’s also a model that Tennessee seems to have ignored, to the disadvantage of the state’s working families.

One of ARPA’s key elements was sending $350 billion directly to state and local governments with few strings attached. These State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) were designed to tackle the myriad ills plaguing communities in the wake of COVID, and it did its job. 

Here’s how other states are using their ARPA funds

Typically when the federal government gives cash to state and local governments, it’s for specific uses at specific times − so many dollars for fixing roads, or buying new fire trucks, or securing our elections, that sort of thing.

But when President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, his team knew that if ARPA tried to micromanage how state governments spent the money, it would have missed the mark. Instead, SLFRF could be used for effectively anything responding to the pandemic or the economic impact of the pandemic such as making up lost government revenue, hero pay for frontline workers, or infrastructure spending, whatever the state thinks is best. 

Some states have used their funds in inventive and helpful ways. Minnesota allocated $500 million in “hero pay” for frontline workers. Connecticut announced a plan to pay off the medical debts of thousands of families with fiscal recovery funds. Other states used the money to rebuild public services, which had never fully recovered from budget-cutting that many states adopted in the decade following the Great Recession.

States closer to Tennessee have also used these funds to strengthen their economies and rebuild public services. Kentucky spent $168 million to repair and renovate school buildings. North Carolina spent almost $500 million in grants to businesses to help recover from COVID. Georgia spent $1 billion of ARPA money in 2022 to give cash assistance to poor families.  

Nearly 90% of Tennessee funds have not been spent yet

And Tennessee? Tennessee has barely touched the money. According to the latest data available from the U.S. Department of the Treasury,

Tennessee has spent just 10.5% of the $3.7 billion it received in fiscal recovery funds in 2021. While other states have rebuilt infrastructure and supported working families, Tennessee has done almost nothing.

More: Nashville OKs use of COVID-19 relief funds to stabilize rocky Fisk University finances

While the state rolled out an ambitious plan for using the money, very few of those paper plans have been approved by the legislature, and even less money has gone out the door. $500 million was allocated for broadband, but only $44.6 million has been spent. $1.3 billion was budgeted for wastewater infrastructure – just $36 million has been spent. $15 million was earmarked for Habitat for Humanity to support low-income housing, but none of those funds have yet been appropriated by the legislature. 

It’s an open question whether they ever will. Tennessee only has until Dec. 31 to formally obligate the funds, or it loses them forever. Now is the time for the governor and the state legislature to use the money they have to make things better for working families. If they don’t, they will have wasted a once-in-a-generation chance to do good.

Dave Kamper is senior state policy strategist for the Economic Policy Institute.

JACKSON, Tenn. — It’s pageant time once again in the Hub City as night one of the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant kicks off.

This pageant is all about the Volunteer State, and more importantly about crowning a new Tennessee representative for the next national pageant.

Night one of the 5th annual Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant began Wednesday night at the Carl Perkins Civic Center. The competition sees 35 contestants from across the state vying for the title of Miss Tennessee Volunteer.

“They’re so excited. We’re so excited to see who the next Miss Tennessee Volunteer is,” said Emily Anne Sparks, executive director for Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant.

From Wednesday to Friday each contestant will participate in three categories of preliminary competition: Fitness and Wellness, Talent, and Evening Gown.

A fourth category, Interview, was completed Tuesday.

“When you come and you support this program, on stage you are seeing girls that go to school here, that were born here, that wills start their families here,” said Sparks.

In the previous years, the pageants would have the same production each night, however, this year they decided to have a different production each night that correlates with a themed song and dance routine.

“Jackson is very fortunate, they have the national pageant in June and then turn around in July and have the Miss Tennessee Volunteer Pageant, so how can we not do the same thing so you’re not watching the same pageant,” said Sparks.

So, night one is a 70s theme, night two is ‘Christmas in July’ and night three is a ‘Night of Hope.’ A night about what the contestants have overcome to get where they are.

“So a Night of Hope and Friday night, I promise you, you want to be at the Carl Perkins Civic Center because it is going to blow your socks off,” said Sparks.

Current title holder, Jada Brown, will crown the new Miss Tennessee Volunteer on Saturday night.

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The world of College Football has been consumed by seemingly one talking point for the last month in the midst of the offseason… EA Sports’ College Football 25. Yes, it’s a video game, but it’s been the biggest storyline in the lead up to this fall’s real football that’s upon us.

The Tennessee Volunteers are ranked No. 15 overall in the game, and they have plenty of weaponry to use and plenty of lessons about the 2024 Tennessee Vols. Here are three things we’ve learned about Tennessee from playing College Football 25.

1. James Pearce Jr. is Over Powered
If there’s one consistent piece of feedback from players of this game… defense is hard. What makes it much easier is having perhaps the game’s best pass rusher in James Pearce Jr. He’s the highest-rated EDGE rusher in the game and he gets home on the quarterback extremely quickly. It’s something that NFL Draft Analysts are expecting from Pearce in what most believe to be his final college football season.

2. Nico Iamaleava’s Legs Are Crucial
There was a significant drop-off offensively a year ago for Tennessee. Part of that was due to a step down in performance throwing the ball, but the running game took a hit from a healthy Hendon Hooker and what Joe Milton’s legs provided. Nico’s running ability is palpable in this game, and it was obvious his legs were a threat against Iowa in his lone start. Iamaleava’s ability to add to the run count with dynamism is going to alleviate pressure.

3. Mike Matthews Needs to Play
If the real life roster works anything like the video game, Mike Matthews will need to make an impact on this roster this fall. He’s rated an 83 OVR, which makes him the fourth highest rated target on the roster, but he’s the second fastest wideout behind Squirrel White and it’s obvious he needs to be subsituted immediately upon playing with the Vols.

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