| OCTOBER | ARCHIVES |
Mayor Celebrates Millions in Grants and Those Who Applied for the Funds.
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Honoring City Employees Takes Center Stage
 The City’s success is a direct result of your efforts and this month we got to celebrate just how valuable our employees are!
In a span of just one week, Mayor Kincannon handed out more than 180 awards to employees at 2 different annual ceremonies: the Employee Appreciation Luncheon and the Employee of the Year Awards.
Both events are organized and carried out by our Special Events and Human Resources teams—and they were filled with reminiscing, inspirational stories, and lots of smiles.
Click the button below to learn more about the winners.
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KPD Welcomes New Officers and
KFD Promotes 12
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Parks Partnership Maps Neighborhood Walking Routes
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Urban Forest Master Plan
Reaches Development Phase
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Join the City Team: Check Out These Job Opportunities
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 Are We Prepared as We Head into Cold and Flu Season?
Important health information as we head into the fall, especially because we are already seeing an uptick in flu cases.
The Center now has flu vaccines available for all employees, covered spouses and dependents, and covered retirees.
To get your shot you can call the Center at 865-215-6150 to make an appointment, take advantage of an upcoming flu shot clinic (date TBD) at the City County building, or you can get your shot at the Benefits Fair on November 2nd.
It’s also worth noting that the Federal Government is once again offering free, at-home COVID tests.
Go to
Covid.gov/Tests
to sign up.
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Annual Awards Celebrate Impact of Diverse Businesses
 The 8th Annual Diversity Business Enterprise Awards Ceremony held on Sep. 28 may have been the best yet. The weather was perfect, the food from Soul Elegance Catering was delicious, and the program was upbeat and precise – and included video of each of the DBE honorees.
The Purchasing team behind this annual awards event is top notch – thanks to Penny Owen, Pamela Cotham and Luis Garcia for knowing exactly how to honor these small, women- and minority-owned businesses that help the City achieve our goals.
Congratulations to the departments that received internal awards and this year’s winner of the Employee Advocate of the Year Award.
Click below to learn more about all the winners and see their videos.
ARPA Funds Wide Range of City Projects
 Since 2021, Knoxville has invested $62.5 million for public safety, water quality, street paving and other projects, thanks to the American Rescue Plan Act.
“We’re extremely grateful for the ARPA funding,” Mayor Indya Kincannon said. “These important projects need to get done, but they’re so expensive, Knoxville could not have done this alone. The game-changing effects of ARPA will be felt for generations to come.”
The most recent of the roughly 40 ARPA-funded projects that are benefiting Knoxville – a water-quality study to address Chilhowee Park flooding – was authorized last month.
Other ways that ARPA is helping Knoxville and City employees:
• “Hero pay” for first responders during the pandemic – $2.15 million
• Funds to help renovate the closed St. Mary’s Hospital into the new Public Safety Complex, and to purchase adjacent property for an urgent care and behavioral health facility – $3.4 million
• Street paving – $7.3 million
• Jackson Avenue and other sidewalk improvements – $1.9 million
• Support for Community Action Committee programs – $2 million
• Grants to United Way non-profits – $1 million
• Grants to support local artists and non-profits, administered by the Art and Culture Alliance – $1.3 million
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This month’s Mystery Employee has been hired by the City twice.
She has lived in East Tennessee for her entire life, loves country cooking and has never met a potato she wouldn’t eat.
And her husband is also a City employee.
Have you guessed who it is?
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 Happy anniversary to employees hired in the months of September and October!
Congratulations to the individuals and departments that recently won awards and KUDOS.
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Our Public Works operators tested their acumen at the annual Heavy Equipment Rodeo, held September 20, 2023, at the Blackstock lot. They completed challenges on the knuckleboom, mini-excavator, backhoe, and remote-controlled mower. Those with the best scores get to compete statewide later this year.
Check out their skills in the video below.
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CITY COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT |