Wlaf1450NASHVILLE, TN (WLAF) – Today, Governor Bill Lee provided an update on Tennessee’s efforts regarding COVID-19 relief.
Gov. Lee’s daily press conferences can be viewed live this week Monday through Thursday at 3 p.m. CDT here. Gov. Lee has also established a website specific to COVID-19 updates which can be found here.
Economic Recovery Group
Gov. Lee has appointed Department of Tourism Development Commissioner Mark Ezell to oversee the Economic Recovery Group who will work in coordination with several state departments, legislative leadership, local mayors, health care professionals, and representatives of impacted industries to develop a strategy to safely reboot the state economy.
The state will create industry-specific guidance so that businesses can be fully prepared to operate safely and protect their employees and customers.
It is also important to hear from Tennesseans as solutions for economic recovery are developed. Please visit tn.gov to share how COVID-19 is affecting your business and what you need most from the state in this process. Additional information can be found here.
Members of the group include:
Mark Ezell, Director
Sammie Arnold, Chief of Staff
House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R – Portland)
Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R – Franklin)
Brandon Gibson, Senior Advisor to Governor Lee
Bob Rolfe, Department of Economic and Community Development
Greg Gonzales, Department of Financial Institutions
David Gerregano, Department of Revenue
Dr. Charles Hatcher, Department of Agriculture
Dr. Jeff McCord, Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Hodgen Mainda, Department of Commerce and Insurance
Tony Niknejad, Governor’s Office
Brig. Gen. Scott Brower, COVID-19 Unified Command
Dr. Morgan McDonald, TN Dept. of Health, Deputy Commissioner
Butch Eley, Department of Finance & Administration
Jim Brown, National Federation of Independent Business
Bradley Jackson, TN Chamber of Commerce
Beverly Robertson, President & CEO of the Memphis Chamber of Commerce
Rob Ikard, TN Grocers & Convenience Store Association
Rob Mortensen, TN Hospitality & Tourism Association
Colin Barrett, TN Bankers Association
Fred Robinson, TN Credit Union League
Dave Huneryager, TN Trucking Association
Will Cromer, TN Hospital Association
Mayor Kevin Davis, President of TN County Services Association
Mayor Jill Holland, President of TN Municipal League
Jeff Aiken, TN Farm Bureau
Tari Hughes, Center for Non-Profit Management
Roland Myers, TN Retail Association
Clay Crownover, President & CEO of Associated Builders & Contractors of Tennessee
Administration Actions
Stimulus Financial Accountability Group
Gov. Lee announced the creation of the Stimulus Financial Accountability Group to ensure proper fiscal management of stimulus funds received by the state through the CARES Act. The State of Tennessee projects a distribution of approximately $2.3 billion from the Fund. The first meeting of the Stimulus Financial Accountability Group will be held remotely on April 22nd.
Members of the group include:
Governor Bill Lee
Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally
House Speaker Cameron Sexton
Senator Bo Watson
Senator Raumesh Akbari
Representative Pat Marsh
Representative Harold Love Jr.
Justin P. Wilson, Comptroller of the Treasury
Commissioner Butch Eley, Finance & Administration
Stuart McWhorter, COVID-19 Unified Command
Additional information on the group can be found here, and additional information from the U.S. Department of Treasury on the CARES ACT can be found here.
Current Department of Health Testing Results (as of 2 p.m. 4/16)
|
Confirmed Cases |
Hospitalizations |
Fatalities |
Recovered |
Total Tests |
|
6,262 |
691 |
141 |
2,789 |
85,049 |
For more information on COVID-19 in Tennessee, please visit the Tennessee Department of Health’s website here. (WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED – 04/16/2020-6:30PM)