The Joint Economic and Community Development Board:

In 1998, the Tennessee Legislature enacted legislation requiring local governments in each county to adopt a comprehensive growth plan. The purpose of the legislation was to eliminate disputes between cities and counties and to make annexation a more orderly process. The legislation required among other things, the establishment of a Joint Economic and Community Development Board (County JECD) by inter-local agreement. The purpose of this Board is to foster communication relative to economic and community development between governmental entities, industry and private citizens.