The official Marshall County swearing-in ceremony for the newly elected Marshall County positions will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Dixie Theater on the Public Square, Lewisburg, Tennessee.

 

$1.1 Million Awarded

Nashville – The Tennessee Historical Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, has awarded 28 matching grants totaling over $1.1 million from the Federal Historic Preservation Fund to non-profits, local governments, universities, and civic organizations across the state to support the preservation of historic and archaeological resources.

“We are pleased to be able to provide Historic Preservation Fund grants that will help document and restore the important places that make our state so unique. The Federal Historic Preservation Fund grant program allows the Tennessee Historical Commission to make tangible progress in the preservation and study of our state’s treasured historic places,” said Miranda Montgomery, State Historic Preservation Office and Interim Executive Director of the Tennessee Historical Commission. The Federal Historic Preservation Fund reimburses 60 percent of the project costs with a 40 percent match of project funds from the grantee.

This year’s grant awards include a wide variety of historic and architectural projects, all listed below. Some projects this year continue previous projects, such as the stained-glass window restoration at the Lindsley Avenue Church of Christ in Nashville. Other grants will assist in funding preservation planners in seven of the state’s development districts.

One of the agency’s grant priorities is for projects that are in Certified Local Governments, a program that allows the 51 enrolled communities to participate closely in the federal program of historic preservation. Certified Local Government communities are highly encouraged to apply, and for this round five CLG communities received funding, including a grant to the City of Dandridge for roof and masonry restoration at the Hickman Tavern and Hickman Tavern Coach House in Jefferson County.

Additional priorities include those that meet the goals and objectives of the Tennessee Historical Commission’s plan for historic preservation. Properties that use the grant funds for restoration projects must be listed in the National Register.

The next Federal Historic Preservation Fund grant cycle will open in January 2027. Applications are available on our website. A complete list of grant recipients and/or National Register listed sites of the projects include:
Davidson County
Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art: $23,200 to fund Phase III Window Restoration Project
Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County: $51,600 for architectural survey of North Nashville, South Nashville, and Southeast Nashville
Preserve Lindsley Avenue Now: $46,800 for stained glass window restoration at the Lindsley Avenue Church of Christ
Crockett County
Central High Alumni & Associates: $36,000 for window restoration at Central High School
Hamilton County
University of Tennessee at Chattanooga: $75,500 for underwater survey and archaeology of the Tennessee River in Hamilton County
Jefferson County
Town of Dandridge: $66,000 for roof and masonry restoration at the Hickman Tavern and Hickman Tavern Coach House
Knox County
Knoxville-Knox County Planning: $30,000 for the preparation of a historic context for East Knoxville
Loudon County
City of Loudon: $36,000 for the preparation of updated historic design review guidelines
Maury County
African American Heritage Society of Maury County: $9,000 for foundation restoration of the Mrs. A.J. Morton & Son Funeral Home
Maury County Government: $60,000 for roof restoration of the War Memorial Building
Morgan County
Frozen Head State Park: $7,200 to prepare a National Register nomination for the Stonecipher-Kelly House
Obion County
Obion County Government: $60,000 for restoration of the Obion County Courthouse
Overton County
Livingston-Overton County Chamber of Commerce: $15,000 for foundation repairs to the Governor A.H. Roberts Law Office Overton County Government: $30,000 for foundation repairs to the Overton County Courthouse
Polk County
Polk County Government: $60,000 for the restoration of the Polk County Courthouse
Putnam County
City of Algood: $18,000 for floor restoration at White Plains
Rutherford County
Middle Tennessee State University: $39,500 to prepare a National Register nomination for the Castalian Springs Mound Site
Sevier County
Town of Pittman Center: $66,000 for the restoration of the Community Center Home Economics Building (now Pittman Center Town Hall)
Shelby County
Elmwood Cemetery of Memphis Foundation, Inc.: $24,500 for exterior restoration of the Elmwood Cemetery Cottage
Memphis and Shelby County Office of Planning and Development: $12,450 for a Community Education and Outreach Program
Warren County
First Presbyterian Church-McMinnville: $40,292 for the roof restoration of the First Presbyterian Church
Multi-County Grants
East Tennessee Development District – $60,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the East Tennessee Development District
First Tennessee Development District – $43,500 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the First Tennessee Development District
Northwest Tennessee Development District – $39,000 to fund a preservation specialist staff position for the Northwest Tennessee Development District
South Central Tennessee Development District – $50,000 to fund a preservation specialist for the South Central Tennessee Development District

Lewisburg, TN (August 2026) – First Commerce Bank will celebrate the grand opening of its new operations center in Lewisburg, Tennessee, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. The completed project represents a significant investment in the bank’s main campus and provides expanded, purpose-built space to support its employees, customers, and continued growth. The new 17,704 sqft operations center is designed to improve efficiency, organization, and communication across multiple departments.

“We are very excited about completing this project so we can better serve our customers as we grow. We can’t say thank you enough to our customers in all the communities we serve for the unwavering support over the last twenty years. Thank you also for your patience during this project,” says Luke Buckley, President and CEO of First Commerce Bank.

The building exterior presents a clean, professional appearance that will complement the rest of the campus and establishes a strong visual identity for the new facility. Inside, a neutral gray palette is accented by pops of green that add character and carry First Commerce Bank’s branding throughout the space. A reception desk near the main entrance creates a clear point of arrival, while the conference room features glass walls with the bank’s logo applied in decorative film for added privacy and brand recognition. Three separate cubicle areas help organize departments and support efficient workflows, and department-specific workrooms provide dedicated spaces tailored to daily responsibilities. Private offices, storage rooms, meeting areas, and additional support spaces complete the facility, creating a coordinated workplace that encourages collaboration and positions the bank for future success.

Renovations to First Commerce Bank’s existing two-story, 10,120 sqft main office and its 5,822 sqft operations building are now underway. These updates improve the functionality of each space, strengthen connections between departments, and create a more consistent experience across the Lewisburg campus. Combined with the new operations center, the renovations bring the workplace together in a way that encourages communication and greater day-to-day efficiencies.

The overall campus plan was developed to support the bank’s long-term needs. Additional workspaces, enhanced support areas, and more flexible facilities provide the ability to meet changing operational demands while continuing to deliver the personal service customers expect. By investing in both new and existing buildings, the bank will create a campus that is well equipped to serve its team, its customers, and the community for years to come.

First Commerce Bank partnered with Eclipse Brand Builders to provide complete architecture, engineering, and interior design services for the new operations center and related campus improvements. Eclipse worked closely with the bank’s leadership team to develop a coordinated plan that connects the new facility with the existing buildings and creates workspaces suited to the needs of the departments that use them each day.

 

1. The Marshall County Veterans Committee will meet on Tuesday, August 4th at 4:30 pm. This meeting will be held at 230 College Street in Suite 210 Lewisburg, TN.

2. The Marshall County Board of Commissioners will hold a work session on Monday, August 10th at 6:00 pm. This work session will be held at the Courthouse Annex Room 2204.

3. The Marshall County Board of Public Utilities will hold their regular monthly meeting Tuesday, August 18th,2026, 9:00 am at 624 West Commerce Street, Lewisburg, TN in the Doug Rogers Board Room.

4. The Marshall County Budget Committee will meet on Wednesday, August 19th at 8:30 am. This meeting will be held at the Courthouse Annex Room 2204.

5. The Marshall County Budget Committee will hold a special call meeting on Monday, August 24th at 8:30 am. This meeting will be held at the Courthouse Annex Room 2204.

 

 

 

Civil War Sites Preservation Fund Grant Cycle Opening

Nashville – The Tennessee Wars Commission, the Tennessee Historical Commission division responsible for preserving the state’s significant military history, has announced the August 10, 2026 opening of this year’s grant cycle for the Civil War Sites Preservation Fund (CWSPF). This fund is provided by legislation to the Tennessee Historical Commission, whose board approves and awards CWSPF grants. The Tennessee Wars Commission administers the application and grant processes. $2.3 million in funding will be available from the CWSPF this year.

The Civil War Sites Preservation Fund, begun in 2013, is a key source for matching funds for the acquisition and preservation of properties associated with the 38 most significant Civil War sites in Tennessee. Additionally, grants can assist in funding the acquisition and protection of Underground Railroad sites eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, or eligible for designation as a National Historic Landmark.

Applicants must be a 501(c)(3) non-profit. This grant will pay a one-to-one, 50 percent match where the grantee provides the match from a non-state source.

“Since its debut in 2013, over $22 million in funding from this program has helped save approximately eleven hundred acres of threatened Tennessee battlefield lands,” said Tennessee Historical Commission Interim Executive Director, Miranda Montgomery. Tennessee Wars Commission Director of Programs, Nina Scall noted, “Last year the Commission awarded $2,602,273.82 and helped to preserve approximately 22.387 acres of battlefield properties. Those projects focused on core battlefield areas associated with the Stones River, Shiloh, Franklin, Nashville, and Hoovers Gap battlefields.”

The deadline for submissions is October 31, 2026. The grant application process is digital, through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation’s Grant Management System.

For questions regarding the grant process or application procedure, contact Nina Scall, Program Director of the Tennessee Wars Commission via email. More information is available on the Tennessee Historical Commission website.