The City of Knoxville hosted a pair of ribbon-cuttings Thursday to celebrate the completion of two retail business projects in the Lonsdale Community developed with the help of empowerment zone funding.
The events - also hosted by Knoxville's Community Development Corporation - began 1 p.m., Thursday, April 28, at the corner of Heiskell Avenue and Rudy Street.
Mayor Daniel Brown was on hand to cut the ribbon along with representatives of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Community Development Director Becky Wade and representatives of the Lonsdale Community.
The first ribbon cutting was at the renovated Dadu Market, which has reopened as a Shell Service Station and convenience market.
The second ribbon-cutting was next door at the Lonsdale Market and Deli building - which is home to four different businesses.
Both enterprises opened earlier this spring.
The City's Community Development Department worked with D&D Development to renovate Dadu Market, the Shell Station, and with Triple M Development to build the Lonsdale Market and Deli, which also features a Charlie Biggs chicken franchise and a payment center with a Western Union agent.
Dadu and Riyaz Kherani are the owners of the Dadu Market and Maurice McDowell developed the Lonsdale Market and Deli building.
"The Community Development Department is excited about the opening of the commercial development in Lonsdale, and we are proud to have played a part in their development," said Community Development Director Becky Wade. "Improving and expanding neighborhood businesses such as these helps to stabilize neighborhoods and provide job opportunities for local residents."
"One of our core priorities is strengthening neighborhoods and projects such as this one demonstrates how public and private funds can be used to meet that goal."
The City invested a total of $1,080,000 in federal Empowerment Zone funds in the projects - which were chosen from among business proposals submitted in response to an open request by the city - and leveraged an additional $1.1 million in private investment from the business owners.
The now-concluded Knoxville Empowerment Zone program was established several years ago by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The intent of the EZ program is to spark economic development and other opportunity in neighborhoods located in the core of the city.
The two new developments have added 26 new jobs to Lonsdale as well as conveniences and quality services previously unavailable.
The project is another in a series of locally- and federally-funded projects in the Lonsdale community in recent years - including KCDC's renovation of Lonsdale Homes; the City's overhaul of Lonsdale Park and upgrading of infrastructure (streets, curbs, alleys).
Additionally, the City's Community Development Department has made an intense investment through the My Front Yard residential façade program, property acquisitions to facilitate housing development, owner-occupied rehabs, and infill housing constructed by housing nonprofits in Lonsdale.
Most of these housing programs are funded by the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony also highlights the 25th anniversary of National Community Development Week, which focuses local as well as national attention on the numerous outstanding accomplishments of the CDBG and HOME programs.
To reach the two businesses from downtown take Interstate 275 to the Heiskell Avenue exit and go right off the exit.