Tennessee RiverLine Contributes to UT Knoxville’s National Recognition for Innovation and Economic Engagement
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has earned the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ (APLU) 2025 Innovation and Economic Prosperity (IEP) Economic Engagement Connections Award—the organization’s highest honor for innovation, partnership, and community impact.
The Connections Award recognizes institutions whose projects demonstrate exceptional results across three categories of economic engagement:
Talent and workforce development
Innovation, entrepreneurship, and technology-based economic development
Place development through public service, outreach, and community engagement
UT Knoxville received the top prize for its broad-based impact on innovation and regional development through collaborations that strengthen Tennessee’s economy and quality of life. Among the initiatives highlighted in UT’s award-winning portfolio was the Tennessee RiverLine, an initiative of UT Extension in partnership with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
A Transformational Vision for the Tennessee River Valley
The Tennessee RiverLine reimagines the 652-mile Tennessee River as a continuous system of outdoor recreation experiences—a 1.2-million-acre river park that connects and enriches the lives of the people and communities it touches. Through partnerships with 58 cities and counties in four states, the RiverLine helps local leaders enhance quality of life, promote stewardship of natural and cultural resources, and grow the region’s $29.6 billion outdoor recreation economy, particularly in rural areas.
Faculty and students from seven UT colleges have played key roles in advancing the initiative, contributing to research, design, and community engagement efforts that have supported more than $11 million in new investments in river access and amenities across the region. These efforts exemplify how UT’s academic expertise and land grant mission come together to build stronger, prosperous, and more connected communities.
“Our partnerships with communities and organizations throughout the region are what make the impact of the RiverLine initiative and this recognition possible,” said Brad Collett, executive director of the Tennessee RiverLine and professor at UT Knoxville. “The RiverLine is proud to help advance and innovate UT’s land grant mission, demonstrating the transformational impact that can occur when the resources and expertise of higher education are activated as a connector between a regional vision and local needs and opportunities.”
A Shared Commitment to the Region’s Future
The RiverLine’s inclusion in UT Knoxville’s IEP award underscores how collaborative, place-based initiatives can advance economic prosperity while honoring natural and cultural heritage. As implementation of the Tennessee RiverLine 2025–2027 Strategic Plan continues, the initiative will expand outdoor recreation access, strengthen community capacity, and inspire new generations of river stewards.
This national recognition affirms that when partnerships, innovation, and community engagement converge, they can chart a course toward a more vibrant, opportunity-rich future for the entire Tennessee River Valley.