Nine Tennessee Counties Are Considered Distressed

Tennessee now has nine counties that are considered distressed, one county more than a year ago and now including Haywood County.

A distressed county is one among the 10% most economically distressed in the nation, as determined by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

This year, Clay County dropped off the list while Haywood County and Grundy County were added to the list.

The Appalachian Regional Commission factors in a three-year rate of unemployment rate, per capita market income and poverty rate.

Last year, Governor Bill Lee’s staff announced the state’s drop to eight distressed counties after having sixteen in 2019.

Tennessee now has thirty-one counties considered at-risk after having twenty-eight a year ago.