Table of Contents
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.