About Us

Who We Are & What We Do                                                                   

The Southwest Tennessee Development District serves an eight county region that includes Chester, Decatur, Madison, McNairy, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, and Henderson Counties.

SWTDD is making a lasting difference in West Tennessee by promoting rural/urban renewal and revitalization in our communities through the betterment of its economic base, physical infrastructure, and improved quality of life for citizens.

These goals are achieved through our Aging & Disability staff and our Economic & Community Development staff.


Southwest Area Agency on Aging & Disability

The staff of the “Southwest Area Agency on Aging & Disability” (SWAAAD) works tirelessly to help the elderly and disabled in our region – who can become some of society’s most vulnerable citizens. SWAAAD staff screen and evaluate clients to determine needs, suggest services and do follow-up assessments. A primary goal of the “aging” staff is to provide a way for elderly and disabled consumers to be able to stay home as long as is safely possible. With that goal in mind, they are able to assist through needs assessments, referring consumers to other service agencies, working with local support groups and providing education/outreach when needed. Staff members provide one-on-one counseling for both consumers and caregivers on all available long-term care services and supports. In addition, SWAAAD is the public conservator for the public guardianship for the elderly and protects patient rights and quality care through our long term care ombudsman.


Economic & Community Development

Our Economic & Community Development team seeks to build a better region through strengthening the economic base, the physical infrastructure and the educational attainment levels in the area. SWTDD’s ECD team has experts in multiple disciplines who work primarily with county/city governments to help connect them with state/federal services and opportunities.  This can include the writing of grants to help pay for such things as a new ambulance, tornado sirens, improved parks, disaster assistance, or improved sewer and water systems. SWTDD has both a grant writer and a grant administrator on staff to help our member governments improve the safety and the quality of life in their communities. (Grants are written for free by SWTDD for our city/county governments). In addition, SWTDD also has staff experts in strategic planning [SOAR], regional planning, solid waste, environmentals, historic preservation, housing, small business loans, and rural roads/transportation-related issues.


Nuts & Bolts of SWTDD

Southwest Tennessee Development District is an organization created by the Tennessee General Assembly under the Tennessee Development District Act of 1965. Like all districts, SWTDD provides comprehensive planning and promotes economic, community and human resource development in a defined geographic area.

As a public non-profit association of local governments, SWTDD serves Chester, Decatur, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, McNairy and Madison Counties. An Executive Director & Board of Directors (including member government officials, state representatives and minority representatives) manage SWTDD. Its 24-member Executive Committee meets six times per year to set policy and conduct business.

Organized in 1971, SWTDD is staffed by 31 people with expertise in district management, economic development, community development, housing, environmental planning, regional planning, aging assistance, social work, nursing, grant writing, educational assistance, and public guardianship for the elderly. Financial support is provided from EDA; THDA; Tennessee Departments of ECD, Transportation and Environment & Conservation; TACIR; TN Commission on Aging & Disability; TennCare; Delta Regional Authority; USDA Rural Development and others.

Funds received from the Commission on Aging & Disability are distributed through contracts to senior centers and regional service provider agencies. SWTDD also receives fees for grant management services rendered for member governments and income from its small business loan program. SWTDD is designated as a regional clearinghouse for projects under Executive Order 12372 and acts as the Regional Affiliate Data Center for the Bureau of the Census. 

It is the policy of Southwest Tennessee Development District to ensure compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 49 CFR, Part 26; Related statutes and regulations to the end that no person shall be excluded from participation in or be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance on the grounds of race, color, sex, age, disability or national origin. Equal Opportunity & Title  VI Policy

Administrative Staff

Joe Barker Image

Joe Barker

Executive Director

(731) 668-6402

Email

Charley Brown Image

Charley Brown

Information Technology Manager

(731) 668-6425

Email

Debbie Dunaway  Image

Debbie Dunaway

Executive Assistant / Public Information Officer

(731) 668-6439

Email

Kim Essary Image

Kim Essary

Fiscal Director

(731) 668-6401

Email

Kim Hampton Image

Kim Hampton

Human Resource Manager

(731) 668-6400

Email

Economic & Community Development Staff

Teresa Sanders Image

Teresa Sanders

Loan Administrator

(731) 668-6428

Email

Melissa Davis Image

Melissa Davis

Community Development Specialist

(731) 668-6417

Email

Thomas Skehan Image

Thomas Skehan

Regional Planner / Historic Preservationist

(731) 668-6429

Email

Shelton Merrell Image

Shelton Merrell

Regional Planner / RPO Coordinator

(731) 668-6430

Email

Casey Smith Image

Casey Smith

Community Development Specialist

(731) 668-6412

Email

Jill Holland Image

Jill Holland

Local Government & Special Projects Coordinator

(731) 668-6437

Email

Aging & Disability Staff

Jessica Rice Image

Jessica Rice

Director

(731) 668-6413

Email

Dana Holmes Image

Dana Holmes

Programs Manager

(731) 668-6424

Email

Eric Wiseman  Image

Eric Wiseman

Management Information Specialist

(731) 668-6441

Email

Summer Howell Image

Summer Howell

AAAD Admin Assistant

(731) 668-6419

Email

Angie Scott Image

Angie Scott

Financial Manager

(731) 668-6440

Email

Shannon King, LPN Image

Shannon King, LPN

CHOICES Manager

(731) 668-6406

Email

Darla Hall Image

Darla Hall

CHOICES Intake

(731) 668-6427

Email

Lisa Pusser Image

Lisa Pusser

CHOICES Support Clerk

(731) 668-6422

Email

Lynda Settle Image

Lynda Settle

CHOICES Nurse

(731) 668-6416

Email

Danielle Frick Image

Danielle Frick

CHOICES Nurse

(731)668-6446

Email

Andrea McDermott, LPN Image

Andrea McDermott, LPN

Options Counselor

(731) 668-6414

Email

Ellen Hernandez Image

Ellen Hernandez

Options Counselor

(731) 668-6451

Email

Mya Spivey Image

Mya Spivey

Options Counselor

(731) 668-6426

Email

Allison Hurst Image

Allison Hurst

TN SHIP Coordinator

(731) 668-6409

Email

Gloria Stewart Image

Gloria Stewart

TN SHIP Volunteer Coordinator

(731) 668-6450

Email

Dorothy Montague Image

Dorothy Montague

Information & Assistance Specialist

(731) 668-6404

Email

Kayla Kitchen Image

Kayla Kitchen

Information & Assistance Specialist

(731) 668-6408

Email

Angela Weber Image

Angela Weber

Nutrition Administrator

(731) 574-9271

Email

Renee Young Image

Renee Young

MyRide Coordinator

(731) 668-6420

Email

Public Guardianship for the Elderly Staff

Kichisa McGoughy Image

Kichisa McGoughy

Public Conservator

(731) 668-6405

Email

Charleston Croom Image

Charleston Croom

Assistant Public Conservator

(731) 668-6407

Email

Long Term Care Ombudsman

Norma Bell Image

Norma Bell

Long Term Care Ombudsman

(731) 668-6411

Email

Careers

Open Positions

There are no open positions at this time.