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The City Council 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

Source: NoogaToday