| OCTOBER 2021 | ARCHIVES |
Mayor Kincannon talks COVID, Voting and Halloween in this month’s Check in With the Mayor.
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 Seeing the Results of the City’s $16.6M Commitment to Affordable Rental Housing
Members of the City’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Department will celebrate the completion of more new affordable rental housing when they join Mayor Kincannon and others to cut the ribbon at Burlington Commons on Nov. 17.
The 49-unit affordable apartment complex on Holston Drive was built on the site of a condemned trailer park that was vacant for many years. Jake Varner and David Varner of Southeast Capital Group purchased the property and approached the City to request support for the project from the Affordable Rental Development Fund (ARDF). City Council approved an allocation of $1.47 million.
Burlington Commons is one of several affordable apartment complexes the City has supported with funds from the ARDF since it was established in December 2017. So far, $16.6 million has been committed to the creation of affordable rental housing. You may have heard of or personally experienced the high demand for housing in Knoxville. Home prices and rents are up, which can leave many families struggling.
While the City doesn’t build or manage housing, it can support its creation through the ARDF and other programs managed by the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department. It was exciting to share the good news about the City’s investments in affordable rental housing; you can learn more about completed projects and those coming down the pike in the news release.
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$1 M Proposed for Behavioral and Mental Health Services
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$1 M Committed to Neighborhood Traffic Calming
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KAT Thanks City for Jump-starting Bus Shelter Upgrades
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Mayor Proposes $750,000 for Commercial Façade Redevelopment Program
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Open enrollment for benefits starts November 1, 2021, and this year we have some exciting changes you will want to know about!
Click the Read More button below to watch an important video message about your benefit changes--in this month’s Need to Know.
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Captain Mayme Taylor Lives Life to the Fullest
 When Knoxville Fire Department Captain Mayme Taylor was recently profiled in KnoxTNToday, readers learned what her KFD colleagues already know: Taylor is a committed firefighter, talented woodworker and all-around high-spirited person.
Taylor joined KFD in 1997 and has been stationed at Station 10 on Sevier Avenue for the past 15 years. The West High School graduate maintains several hobbies and side hustles, including a woodworking business and two classic cars -- a 1956 pink Cadillac and 1961 red Corvette.
We think you’ll enjoy getting to know Captain Taylor by reading Tom King’s article here:
Christmas in the City Events Return for Holidays
 While you’ve been planning a costume or carving pumpkins into a jack o lanterns, City crews have been wrapping trees with tiny lights in anticipation of the most wonderful time of the year.
Christmas in the City celebrations will return in 2021. Some activities were amended for safety reasons in 2020, including the annual WIVK Santa Claus Parade and Christmas at Chilhowee. Both events return this year for families to enjoy. It all begins on the day after Thanksgiving with the opening of the Holidays on Ice open-air skating rink on Market Square and Regal Celebration of Lights.
Read ahead to see what a fun holiday season our Special Events team has planned.
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This month's mystery employee recently won statewide recognition for his many years of superior service to the people of Knoxville.
He began his 30-year service with the City as a Public Service Worker. Since then, he has held various Equipment Operator positions.
Can you guess who it is?
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 Congratulations to these City employees celebrating significant anniversaries, including one who has been with the City since our nation’s bicentennial!
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CITY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT |