Campbell County is located in the Upper East Tennessee area of Tennessee. It consists of 480 square miles, has a population of approximately 40,000 people, in 16,461 households. The median, Household income is $41,769.00, with per capita income of $24,670.00, persons in poverty hovers between 22.7 and 25%. (Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2020)
It is nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, and contains many former coal towns. The Appalachian Regional Commission, for the 2022-2023, has rated Campbell County as an “at risk” county for economic disaster, the same rating as 2021-2022.
Inside the borders of Campbell County are more distressed areas, former coal towns, with higher percentages of poverty, that the Appalachian Regional Commission has deemed “distressed” and need additional help and resources.
Duff, Tennessee is one of those distressed areas in need of additional help. Duff is 49.25 square miles, with a population of approximately 1456 people in 551 households, median household income is $23,203.00. The poverty rate is 25-30%. It consists of the old coal towns of Chaska, White Oak, Morley, Little White Oak, Anthras, Tacket Creek, Westborne, Duff, Russell Fork, Wynn, Cotula and Remy areas.
As anyone who is actively involved in animal issues in the South can tell you, the Southern states do not fit in the square box of national averages, especially where pets are concerned. We estimate that 80 percent of our population own pets, with an additional 70% who have more than one pet.
SpayCC is collaborating with Friends of Campbell County Tennessee Animals (FCCA) and the Campbell County Animal Shelter Spay/Neuter Clinic on a special project deemed “Clean Sweep” to address the animal overpopulation in the more distressed, and remote, areas of Campbell County. We are actively seeking funding through grants, donations and fundraising to raise the needed funding for this special project.
The Duff Project
On January 3, 2023, the Duff Project launched after much work and collaboration. We have received an initial new project grant from Two Mauds, Inc., to get this project rolling and are now accepting applications for these services. Funds are limited, first come first serve. All services for this special project will be performed at the Campbell County Tennessee Animal Shelter Public Spay/Neuter Clinic.
In the 2022-2023 fiscal year 63 services were subsidized in this Special Project.
In 2023-2024 Fiscal year 115 services were subsidized in this Special Project. In January 2024 the area known as Newcomb was added to the project.
Another Funder has stepped up and invested in this project: Leslie L. Alexander Foundation.