Tuesday, December 13, 2016 10:09 am

MIKE WEST photo State Rep. Mark Pody is all smiles as he presents the Governor's ThreeStar certification to Diane Hickman and County Executive Mike Gannon. The program is administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD

Cannon County received the Governor's ThreeStar certification this week.

The ThreeStar Program, administered by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (ECD), is designed to help communities build a healthy and educated workforce supported by a strong and stable local government that provides security and safety and promotes county progress in the areas of economic development, responsible fiscal management, public safety, health and education.

The ThreeStar program has been a key part of economic development since 1980. Economic development for Tennessee communities is about more than recruitment and incentives. Communities must be making constant strides in improving their quality of life to be globally competitive for jobs. The ThreeStar program can guide Tennessee communities on that journey.