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We interrupt Drink Up Week with some news from the City Council, which just approved Mayor Tim Kelly’s One Chattanooga Relief and Recovery Plan.
The plan will utilize $30 million from American Rescue Plan Act funds to invest in 36 community initiatives. Each initiative could honestly have its own article, so get ready for a doozy.
Homeless Prevention + Recovery | $5.3 million
- New low barrier shelter
- Step Up on Second Street, to provide supportive housing services
- Eviction Prevention Initiative, to help prevent evictions
Affordable Homeownership + Home Repairs | $1.56 million
- Purchase-rehab-resale program through Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise (CNE) + The City of Chattanooga’s Department of Community Development
- Home repair projects through World Changers Chattanooga
Affordable Rental Housing Creation | $5.8 million
- 30 affordable rental units through Kingdom Partners
- New affordable housing community for seniors through Greater Tucker Community Development Corporation
- 143 units for low-income families (15 for residents who are chronically homeless + have a mental health diagnosis) through The AIM Center and CNE
Workforce Development Initiatives | $5.9 million
- New skill-building + workforce readiness initiative through HCS
- Help low wage workers of color gain credentials in high-growth industries (like IT) through The Urban League
- Expand low/no-cost broadband connectivity to low-income households through The Enterprise Center
Expanding Access to Entrepreneurship | $2.9 million
- Development of a city-led minority business resource center
- New Founder’s Fund for minority-owned startups + small biz through CO.LAB
- Alton Park business district revitalization through the Net Resource Foundation
- Development of a teaching kitchen + kitchen incubator through RISE and LAUNCH
Public Safety + Youth Engagement | $3.7 million
- Design of an evidence-based violence interruption initiative through Community Haven
- Small organizations for youth engagement initiatives in every city district
- New multi-organization mentorship network through Kingdom Partners
- Wraparound services for vulnerable youth + families through The Pursuit of Happiness, Y-CAP, and Reach One Teach One
- Help youth build music production + chess skills through Dynamo Studios and Kingship Chess Academy
- Help workers whose first language isn’t English through The Chattanooga School of Language
Improving Access to Mental Healthcare | $1.225 million
- New mental health program through LifeSpring Community Health
- Increased access points for mental health services through First Baptist Cares + the Volunteer Behavioral Health Care System
- Increase + diversify the city’s mental health workforce through Richmont Graduate University
Strengthening our Early Learning System | $3.6 million
- Renovation of the historic James A. Henry school into a neighborhood hub through Westside Evolves + Chattanooga Housing Authority
- New childhood learning facilities through Purpose Point Learning Academy + Pneuma Ministries
- Improve recruitment and retention at existing early learning centers through Chattanooga 2.0
Find more details on the initiatives being funded + overall plan here.
