State Officials Break Ground on State-of-the-Art Facility To Train Water Professionals, First Responders

The WET Center will provide comprehensive, practical water education.

State officials broke ground last Friday on the Water Education and Training (WET) Center, a comprehensive, state-of-the art facility that will instruct the next generation of water professionals to better understand how water impacts roads, bridges, culverts, communities, and public safety.

The hub will include education and practical training in water and soil management, infrastructure, and emergency response. The facility is scheduled to open in 2027 and is expected to boost the economy in Hardeman County and the region.

The concept for the WET Center was spearheaded by the West Tennessee River Basin Authority, in partnership with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC), the University of Tennessee, Loan Oaks Farm, and state and regional supporters. Officials participating in Friday's event included U.S. Rep. David Kustoff; State Sen. Page Walley; Hardeman County Mayor Todd Pulse; Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner David Salyers; West Tennessee River Basin Authority Executive Director David Blackwood; University of Tennessee President Randy Boyd; and Alison Franklin, executive director of the WET Center.

"I'm excited to share the beginning of this unique training center that will shape the future of our state," Blackwood said. "I don't think we even realize how big of an impact the WET Center will have on Tennessee, the region, or even the nation."

"It's exciting to have one place to educate and train people to address such a wide array of water needs," said Salyers. "We are blessed to have such an abundant natural resource in Tennessee, and we have a responsibility to manage it responsibly. The WET Center will enable us to do just that."

The WET Center will strengthen Tennessee's workforce, improve infrastructure decision-making, and help communities prepare for and respond to water-related challenges. The center will offer applied learning that cannot be replicated in a traditional classroom setting.

The partners saw a critical need for the center, as Tennessee communities face more frequent flooding, aging infrastructure, and rising demand in public safety and public works systems. With funding from Gov. Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly, the WET Center is a long-term investment in prevention, preparedness, and practical education that will benefit Tennessee for decades to come.

More information on the facility and the educational opportunities it will offer may be found on the WET Center's website.