Homeless complex not among mayor’s requests for federal dollars

WASHINGTON — Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield has been aggressive in pursuing federal funding for economic development and other city projects but not for a downtown consolidated homeless services center on East 11th Street.

Mr. Littlefield said he has not sought federal funding for it because he has not found any suitable federal programs that deal specifically with the kind of center he has proposed.

“When you have something that’s a universal problem (such as homelessness), it’s not that easy to obtain funds,” he said. “We do request funds for homeless programs and homeless services, and we’ve been fairly successful with that.”

The mayor said most of the city’s earmark requests are for economic development.

The city is seeking funds for the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Enterprise South industrial park. The center will provide training for jobs at an automotive or other manufacturing plants that locate there and received about $500,000 in federal appropriations this past year.

Mr. Littlefield said the city also is seeking $1 million to help build a new firefighter training center on an undeveloped area of Enterprise South and $1 million for the relocation of the police firing range at Moccasin Bend.

“We stay in communication with our representatives as much as we can to make sure these requests are put in and go through the proper channels,” Mr. Littlefield said.

Federal funding may not come this year, though, as Congress, in the midst of an election year, is intent on demonstrating fiscal restraint.

Rep. Zach Wamp, R-Tenn., a member of the House Appropriations Committee, has called for a moratorium this year on earmarks, which provide federal money that is directed toward specific projects by members of Congress.

“We may not have any earmarks this year,” Rep. Wamp said. “I’m honest with them about that. We usually take four or five requests from the city and county and try to boil it down to their top request or two, and I tell them if it’s a federal responsibility to partner here, we’ll do our best.”

Corker stays neutral on homeless complex

Mr. Littlefield, who is scheduled to give his third State of the City address on Thursday, two years ago proposed developing the abandoned Farmers’ Market site across from the Community Kitchen on East 11th Street into a consolidated homeless services center.

Residents and businesses in the M.L. King neighborhood have opposed the mayor’s plan, saying the complex would degrade a revitalizing area and lower property values.

Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., a former Chattanooga mayor, said he is staying neutral on the project.

Sen. Corker, who led the city from 2001-05 and oversaw the drafting of its first 10-year blueprint to end chronic homelessness, said he has not been approached by Chattanooga officials seeking federal funding or input for the complex.

“We were able to get some sizable funding for the (original) 10-year plan. I realize Mayor Littlefield has taken a very different approach to that, which is absolutely your prerogative as mayor,” Sen. Corker said. “If there are ways we can help with initiatives that are ongoing, we want to be able to do so.”

The City Council authorized the mayor to purchase the land at the old Farmers’ Market site in March 2006 for $775,000.

The Southeast Tennessee Human Resource Agency has announced plans to break ground on a $1.5 million transit and training center on the site in the fall, and the Interfaith Homeless Network of Greater Chattanooga has proposed a $500,000 day center and office building.

The Union Gospel Mission and Salvation Army also are considering locating their shelters at the site.

Sen. Corker said he maintains a good relationship with Mr. Littlefield and does not want to publicly judge any of his successor’s actions, saying he appreciated the same courtesy from his predecessor, former Mayor Jon Kinsey.

“Obviously I have a tremendous personal investment in the city, and I want to help in any way I can, but it’s up to the people in charge to decide which direction the city needs to go,” Sen. Corker said. “That’s what being mayor is all about.”