October 1, 2014 - The City of Knoxville's Department of Community Development is updating its five-year Consolidated Plan to identify needs across Knoxville neighborhoods. And it wants your help! There is a short online survey available at www.surveymonkey.com/s/knoxvilleplan or in Spanish at www.surveymonkey.com/s/knoxvilleplanespanol, and everyone is encouraged to fill it out.

The City has to update its Consolidated Plan every five years, under federal law. The plan guides the Department of Community Development as it sets priorities for the use of federal funds from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment and other programs. These programs are generally aimed at low- to moderate-income groups and individuals.

"This is a great opportunity for us to reach out across the city and ask people to tell us the greatest needs and challenges they see in their communities," said Becky Wade, the City's Director of Community Development. "We have limited resources, and so we want to make sure we are directing them to the places where they will do the most good."

Community Development staff will be conducting focus groups with organizations and agencies working in affordable housing, senior services, health care and youth issues. There will also be efforts to reach out to a range of disadvantaged and minority communities.

There will be a public meeting to solicit input on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 5:30 p.m. at the John T. O'Connor Senior Center, 611 Winona St.

Questions and comments may also be submitted to Linda Rust at 865-215-2120 or [email protected].

Click here to read the City's Consolidated Plan for 2010-2015.