Chattanooga neighborhood organizations can now apply for up to $2,500 from the city to support projects within their communities, a funding source that was paused during the pandemic.
The grant application opened Monday and will remain so for 90 days, closing at 4 p.m. Jan. 15. The funding is open to registered neighborhood associations, homeowners associations or other neighborhood-based groups that demonstrate a commitment to improving and engaging the community, according to a news release from the city.
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Neighborhood associations have been regularly requesting the return of the program during roundtables and meetings with the city, said Perrin Lance, manager of the city's neighborhood services division.
"This is one of the No. 1 things they were asking for, and we're happy to do it," Lance said in a phone call.
The city has set aside $25,000 for the grants. The program dates to the 1990s, he said.
Broadly, the city is hoping to fund three different kinds of projects. The first would be any kind of media, including books or videos, about neighborhood history. Many neighborhood associations represent communities that used to be their own towns, Lance said, including St. Elmo, Bushtown and North Chattanooga.
"We just think that if more Chattanoogans understand their own history, it's to the betterment of all things," he said.
Second, the city aims to support projects designed to increase membership in neighborhood associations, which could include mailers, block parties and T-shirts. Finally, officials want to fund beautification projects, including banners or sign toppers, that identify individual communities like Hill City and Highland Park.
Organizations can register with the city and fill out an interest form for the program at chattanooga.gov/neighborhoods. Groups must register with the city to be eligible for funding.
The neighborhood services division will host several grant writing workshops to guide interested organizations through the application process. Contact Neighborhood Program Specialist Steve Lamb at 423-643-7344 or slamb@chattanooga.gov for more information.
Chattanooga had 150 registered neighborhood associations before the pandemic, Lance said, but that number dwindled to a low of 52 due in part to social distancing restrictions. The city is now at 88, and officials want to reach 140 by June 30, he said.
"We're seeing tremendous interest out there," Lance said.
The groups offer a collective voice to communities to address issues that may otherwise go unresolved, Lance said.
"Every time a neighborhood association makes a statement, attends a City Council meeting, passes a resolution, we take notice and respond, and we have to because that means that more than just one person has an issue or has an opinion," he said.
Contact David Floyd at dfloyd@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6249.