During the past six months, more than 900 citizens shared their opinions and ideas through surveys and in public meetings about how Knoxville should best allocate its federal grants in neighborhoods.

Staffers with the City’s Community Development Department listened, and they’ve drafted a strategy for addressing the needs identified by the community. Now, they’re inviting Knoxvillians to review that strategy at an April 7 public meeting.

Feedback on both an annual plan and a five-year plan – the 2015-16 Annual Action Plan and the Five-Year Consolidated Plan – will be gathered at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7, at the John T. O’Connor Center, 611 Winona St. 

“This is very specific and tangible,” Linda Rust, the Community Development Department administrator who’s managed the citizen surveys, said about the annual plan. “You can read it and see exactly what’s being proposed for funding, which agencies are proposed to receive grants, and what we anticipate outcomes to be.” 

For example, the Annual Action Plan suggests redeveloping a portion of the Lonsdale neighborhood into a “model block” that would transform blighted properties that have been and will be acquired.

A $400,000 Community Development Block Grant is proposed to be used by the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee for emergency and minor home repairs that would rehabilitate 108 houses.

A $250,000 grant to the City’s Commercial Façade Improvement Program would promote economic development by rehabilitating or assisting eight businesses.

Those are just a few of the dozens of projects outlined in the plans. Review of the plans and comments are welcome. Besides the City website, copies of the plans can be reviewed at the following locations:

*  The City Department of Community Development, fifth floor, City County Building, 400 Main St.
* Lawson McGhee Library, 500 W. Church Ave.
* The main office of the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee, 2247 Western Ave. 

Citizens can also get a copy of the draft plans by calling the Community Development Department at 865-215-2120.

The Five-Year Consolidated Plan outlines Knoxville’s needs, priorities and strategies for homeless assistance, affordable housing, and non-housing community development for program years 2015-19. The 2015-16 Annual Action Plan details the proposed use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME), and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds for the first year of the Five-Year Plan, beginning July 1, 2015.

Comments may be made on the plans through April 16.

Feedback will be gathered at the April 7 public meeting, or comments may be sent anytime before April 16 to Linda Rust via email at [email protected] or in writing by postal mail to Linda Rust at City of Knoxville, Community Development Department, P.O. Box 1631, Knoxville, TN 37901; fax comments to 865-215-2962 or call 865-215-2120 for additional information.

Anyone attending the April 7 meeting and needing a disability accommodation should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Cook, at [email protected] or 865-215-2034. For an English interpreter, contact Gwen Winfrey, Community Department, at 865-215-2290 or at [email protected].