The Smithville-DeKalb County Chamber of Commerce has been awarded a $25,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for downtown Smithville. The CDBG funding will be used for commercial façade improvements on the west side of the public square including new awnings and signs, painting, building repair and other upgrades. Chamber Director Suzanne Williams will begin training soon to learn the needed requirements set by the State.
“Community Development Block Grants play an important role in helping communities across Tennessee prepare for future economic development opportunities and continued growth,” Gov. Bill Haslam said. “Working with our communities in making these improvements helps bring us one step closer toward our goal to making Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs.”
“Community development sets the stage for burgeoning economic development and when a community invests in itself, the private sector is more likely to invest in it as well,” ECD Commissioner Bill Hagerty said. “I am pleased to see so many communities across the state eagerly taking steps not only to attract new business and encourage future growth, but also to create better living conditions for the families that reside there.”
The Chamber application process for West Public Square buildings (4th, West Walnut, West Main, West Market) should begin around the first of the year. The 75/25 grant match will allow property owners to apply for up to $2,000 per building in exterior improvements and receive up to $1,500 back. “So much has already been accomplished in downtown Smithville through our work with the Tennessee Downtowns Program, and we are very grateful for being awarded the CDBG grant and the opportunity to continue the downtown renovations,” says Williams. For more information, call the Chamber at 597-4163.
The CDBG program is administered in Tennessee by the Department of Economic and Community Development.
Pictured l-r:
Economic & Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty, State Senator Mae Beavers, Chamber Director Suzanne Williams, State Rep. Terrie Lynn Weaver, Governor Bill Haslam
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