City of Kingsport responds to Rural King fee

The City of Kingsport would like to provide clarification about an economic development fee being imposed on customers at the new Rural King at the Fort Henry Mall.

The City of Kingsport wants the community to know, this economic development fee is NOT a city-mandated fee, the funds DO NOT go to the City of Kingsport and the city played no part in instituting the fee. The decision to impose this fee falls solely on Rural King.

According to signs posted at Rural King, the business is imposing a 1% economic development fee on all purchases, with the funds from the fee going to help pay for the costs of improvements at the Rural King development.

A screenshot of the sign began circulating on social media over the weekend with many people in the community asking questions about the fee.

“We understand there may be some confusion regarding the “economic development fee” being charged at Rural King. This fee is not a part of any economic development project by the City of Kingsport, rather it is a private fee implemented at the discretion of the business,” said Kingsport Economic Development Director Steven Bower. “We have been in communication with Rural King and greatly appreciate their investment but look to them to add clarification regarding their fee.”