NEWSLETTER
	The Neighborly Notice is an "almost weekly" newsletter that provides news and tips important to Knoxville's resident-led, resident-controlled, democratically run neighborhood organizations.
	Sign Up For Newsletter
	View Newsletter Archives
	NEIGHBORHOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL
	The Neighborhood Advisory Council provides advice and input to the City Administration, including the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment, on topics important to Knoxville's residential neighborhoods.
	Learn More
	CALENDAR
	Neighborhood Google Calendar
	ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Office of Neighborhood Empowerment offers a wide variety of activities, programs, and services to support resident led, resident controlled, democratically run neighborhood organizations in the City of Knoxville. 


GRANTS


The Neighborhood Small Grants Program provides competitive grants to neighborhood organizations in the city. The goal of the program is to improve the quality of life in the neighborhood while building the capacity of the neighborhood organization to better serve the community. To be eligible to apply for a grant through this program, a representative from your organization must attend one of the three mandatory pre-application workshops. For information about placemaking and other project ideas, check out ONE's Placemaking Guide. 

Micro Grants: For start-up groups that have been in contact with ONE, for established groups that would like to start a new project/event, OR for neighborhood organizations that have an active participant attend our "Building Strong Neighborhood Organizations" leadership workshop series, we have up to $500.00 to offer by way of a Micro Grant.  Please review the guidelines prior to filling out an application.  Grant funding for 2025 has been approved by City Council and will be distributed in early January. Check back for more information on the 2026 grant cycle.


EVENTS AND AWARDS


Awards: During the annual Neighborhood Awards Dinner held in March, one person wins the Good Neighbor of the Year Award (recognizes outstanding commitment and service to neighbors and to community building activities). Various neighborhoods win Neighborhood Achievement Awards (recognizes the work of the city's neighborhood organizations in improving, protecting, and enhancing our residential neighborhoods). One officer wins the Office of the Year Award.

Kickball  & Wiffleball Tournaments: Our 2024 Kickball Tournament Winners were the Westwood Homeowners Association. Office of Neighborhood Empowerment also sponsors a Wiffleball Tournament each year for neighborhoods to enjoy. Our 2024 Wiffleball Tournament Winners were the Westwood Homeowners Association.
Learn More

Neighborhood Resource Fair: This event helps Knoxville neighbors get the opportunity to learn about all of the resources they have within city government, county government, and non-profit organizations. 
Learn More 

Neighborhood Workshops: Workshops on a variety of topics are offered regularly throughout the year. The Office of Neighborhood Empowerment welcomes your ideas for workshop topics. 
Learn More   

Neighborhood Events in City Parks/Facilities: For your neighborhood organization's convenience, we have compiled a quick overview of how to reserve a spot in a City Park/Facility for your neighborhood events.
Learn More


PROGRAMS


Community Wildlife Habitat Certification: The City of Knoxville is Certified as a Community Wildlife Habitat through the National Wildlife Federation. Several of our neighborhoods are also certified as Community Wildlife Habitats. 
Learn More

Emergency Preparedness: Our Emergency Preparedness Program raises awareness, provides speakers from various emergency agencies, and helps neighborhoods develop disaster preparedness plans at the block and neighborhood levels.
Learn More 

Healthy Knoxville: This program, fashioned after the Bill Haslam's Healthier Tennessee program, was in a pilot during 2021 and  has become an official program of Office of Neighborhood Empowerment.  It focuses on helping groups to organize around exercise, eating healthy, smoking cessation and/or looking at mental health and wellbeing. 
Learn More

Leadership Training: "Building Strong Neighborhood Organizations (BSNO)" is a leadership training series which works to give neighborhood members tools to strengthen their groups.   
Learn More

Neighborhood Entrance Signs: Neighborhood Signs are important for neighborhood identity.  If your group wants to install a sign, learn how to receive a city permit.
Learn More

Tennessee Smart Yards: A residential yard that is in balance with the local environment for the benefit of both people and our ecosystem. The 2022 NoogaKnox Challenge encouraged Knoxville and Chattanooga communities to improve their yards for the benefit of our region’s stormwater quality and the health of our watersheds and ecosystems.
Learn More 

Traffic Calming:  The Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program (NTSP) is currently being redesigned in hopes of improving the experience for those that apply in the future. The waitlist for the redesigned Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program is closed. 
Learn More


NEIGHBORHOOD RESOURCES


Blighted Property & Neighborhood Revitalization: The Office of Neighborhood Empowerment works with various city departments that grapple with abandoned, blighted, and vacant properties, both residential and commercial, that present a challenge to residential neighborhoods. See Blight above for ways neighborhoods can address this opportunity.   
Learn More

Directory: If you are a neighborhood person looking for your neighborhood contact, a developer trying to reach a contact in the neighborhood, a political candidate that would like to speak at a neighborhood meeting, or City staff needing to reach out to a neighborhood contact, please check our Neighborhood Directory.
Learn More 

Maps: Maps of the boundaries of city neighborhood organizations - along with contact information for these groups - can be found in the KGIS Neighborhood Groups Viewer.
Learn More


CONTACT US


If you have a suggestion for the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment or for this Website, please contact us.

Mailing Address:
c/o Community Empowerment
P.O. Box 1631
Knoxville TN 37901

Debbie Sharp
Neighborhood Coordinator
Suite 546, City-County Building
[email protected]
865-215-3232

Hayley Howard
Assistant Neighborhood Coordinator
Suite 546, City County Building
[email protected] 
865-215-3232

Shannett Riley
Event Planner / Administrative Assistant
Suite 546, City County Building
[email protected]
865-215-3232