BettyeLynn Smith waves to a Glenwood resident who lives across the street from a house that was helped by Community Impact. Smith is the executive director of Community Impact, which is going to dissolve.BY THE NUMBERS$11 million invested in seven neighborhoods160 neighbor-hood leaders recruited and trained50 crime hot spots eliminated60 new home buyers attracted through home purchase incentive program79 blighted properties eliminated130 facade rehabs to improve curb appeal on targeted blocksSource: Community Impact of Chattanooga
There’s going to be a void when Community Impact of Chattanooga dissolves, said executive committee member LaMonte P. Vaughn.
“Somebody else must pick up the banner to help build communities,” he said. “There are still communities that need services like Community Impact provided.”
Community Impact directed more than $11 million in government and private funding to revitalize seven inner-city communities and provided funding and technical assistance to build more than 150 homes and buildings. The organization will dissolve March 31.
“It dissolved primarily because of finances,” said Pete Cooper, board member and executive director of the Community Foundation, which helped fund the organization. “We knew it wasn’t going to be a permanent organization when we started, but we wanted to show a dynamic that works.”