This agreement will provide dedicated disaster project engineering capacity to lead the planning, design, bidding, management, and construction oversight of post disaster recovery and sustainable…

The Department of Agriculture Forest Service R8-Southern Region awarded a $3.124 million Cooperative Agreement to Greene County Trustee on June 24, 2026, under the Good Neighbor Authority program (CFDA 10.691) to establish dedicated disaster project engineering capacity for post-hurricane recovery and sustainable recreation infrastructure following Hurricane Helene.

Greene County Trustee will serve as the lead entity for disaster-resilient project development, procurement, and contract administration. A Disaster Project Engineering Manager will expand the county's technical capacity to deliver disaster-driven and sustainability-focused recreation redevelopment projects across National Forest System lands interface areas in Tennessee. The funded work encompasses planning, design, bidding, management, and construction oversight of post-disaster recovery infrastructure, with all phases integrating best management practices in hazard mitigation design, resilient recreation infrastructure, watershed and trail stabilization, and sustainable post-disaster site restoration.

Performance period runs from June 24, 2026, through June 1, 2031. Work is performed in Tennessee. The Good Neighbor Authority permits the Forest Service to enter cooperative agreements with counties to conduct restoration and recreation services across jurisdictional boundaries, with all authorized NEPA decisions remaining the Forest Service's responsibility.

This agreement will provide dedicated disaster project engineering capacity to lead the planning, design, bidding, management, and construction oversight of post disaster recovery and sustainable recreation infrastructure following the impacts of hurricane helene. All functions will operate under county authority, with the local county serving as the lead entity for disaster resilient project development, procurement, and contract administration. The disaster project engineering manager will specifically expand greene countys technical capacity to deliver disaster driven, and sustainability focused recreation redevelopment projects across national forest system lands interface areas. The manager will ensure that all phases - planning, design, engineering, environmental compliance, and construction oversight - integrate best management practices in hazard mitigation design, resilient recreation infrastructure, watershed and trail stabilization, and sustainable post disaster site restoration.