City Of Kingsport

The City of Kingsport, a U.S. local government entity headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee, receives federal formula grants and project grants as a prime recipient to fund transit operations, infrastructure, and public safety programs, with no federal contract prime footprint. The city operates as a grant recipient across multiple federal agencies, with seventy prime awards (76% of recent activity) supporting public transportation, housing, and community development initiatives.

Kingsport's federal activity centers on transit and infrastructure modernization through the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). Recent prime awards include a $1,983,200 Section 5307 formula grant (CFDA 20.507) awarded January 16, 2026, to support Kingsport Area Transit System (KATS) operations and preventive maintenance through March 2032; a $132,292 Buses and Bus Facilities grant (CFDA 20.526) awarded April 30, 2026, to procure one replacement ADA-equipped bus; a $2,051,600 Section 5307 formula grant awarded September 16, 2024, for transit operations and preventive maintenance from July 2024 through March 2029; and a $740,758 Section 5307 award dated May 14, 2024, to replace three ADA-equipped transit buses and two staff vehicles. An earlier $4.34 million Federal Transit Formula Grants award supports phase two of a comprehensive transit center project, including construction of a new bus storage facility with wash bay, with completion scheduled for March 2030.

Beyond transit, Kingsport receives federal support for community development and economic development. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development has awarded Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) on a recurring basis for housing, economic opportunity, and community development activities; four CDBG awards appear in recent history with ultimate completion dates ranging through September 2033. The Economic Development Administration awarded $6.46 million under the Economic Adjustment Assistance program (CFDA 11.307) on April 26, 2022, to upgrade existing water pump stations and support future industrial growth in Sullivan County, with completion targeted for August 2025. Kingsport also received a $706,587 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (CFDA 97.044) from FEMA on August 29, 2022, to enhance firefighter safety and emergency response capabilities.

Customer concentration is heavily weighted to the Federal Transit Administration (27 awards), the Department of Housing and Urban Development (16 awards), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (11 awards), accounting for 76% of recent awards. The city also receives recurring justice assistance and public safety grants from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, including Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) and block grants supporting police equipment such as in-car video cameras and tactical equipment for SWAT operations. In its sub-recipient role (22 awards, 24% of activity), Kingsport receives sub-awards primarily through state pass-through entities including the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Tennessee Department of Finance and Administration, supporting water treatment improvements, lead service line inventory work, and homeless services.

Activity has remained relatively steady over the past five years (five awards each in 2022 and 2023, seven in 2024, four in 2025, two in 2026 through April), with only one award carrying an ultimate completion date within the next twenty-four months, presenting minimal near-term recompete exposure. The city has one named subsidiary, Kingsport City Schools, a U.S. local government school district entity, which does not appear in the disclosed federal grant awards.