Tennessee State University secures land lease for aerospace campus expansion in Shelbyville

The Tennessee State School Bond Authority convened on March 24, 2025, to discuss significant funding requests from the University of Tennessee (UT) and Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU). The meeting focused on proposals for leasing arrangements aimed at enhancing educational facilities and programs.

The University of Tennessee presented a request to approve a lease for the UT Health Sciences Center. This lease involves 11 two-bedroom units in Chattanooga, intended to support medical and dental students during their clinical rotations. The average annual cost for this lease is projected at $508,728 over a five-year period. The proposal received unanimous approval from the board members present.

Following this, MTSU sought approval for an amendment to an existing lease with the city of Shelbyville. This amendment will add 4.8 acres to the current lease, expanding the total area from 16 acres to 20.8 acres. The additional land is designated for the development of MTSU's aerospace programs, including a new aerospace campus project. The Shelbyville City Council had previously approved this amendment on February 13, 2025. The total lease term remains unchanged at 40 years, and the project aims to enhance facilities for flight training and other aerospace-related educational activities.

Both proposals highlight the ongoing commitment of Tennessee's educational institutions to expand and improve their facilities to better serve students and meet industry demands. The board's approval of these requests marks a significant step in supporting the state's educational infrastructure and workforce development in high-demand fields.