New Tenn. governor orders agencies to assess impact on distressed rural counties, suggest ways to serve them better

Gov. Bill Lee, right, succeeded Bill Haslam. (Tennessean photo)

In his first executive order, Tennessee's new governor has ordered all 22 executive-branch departments to assess their impact on distressed rural counties, "along with recommendations on how they will accelerate plans to serve rural Tennesseans better," Andy Sher reports for the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

Bill Lee, Tennessee's first Republican governor to succeed another Republican, pledged in his campaign "to step up state efforts to focus on the state's 15 economically distressed rural counties" as defined by the Appalachian Regional Commission, Sher reports.

"My administration will place a high emphasis on the development and success of our rural areas," said Lee, a businessman who took office Saturday. "Our first executive order sends a clear message that rural areas will be prioritized across all departments as we work to improve coordination in our efforts."

The order requires departments "to provide comprehensive descriptions of initiatives adopted or funded over the past four years to specifically address challenges unique to rural communities," Sher reports. "Lee wants departments to report back to him with the rural impact statements by May 31 with recommendations for service improvements due by June 30."