JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Beth Duggar, city commissioner for South Pittsburg, has recently unveiled plans to apply for a Downtown Improvement Grant (DIG) under Southeast Tennessee Development District (SETD).
During the meeting, Commissioner Duggar stated her and City Administrator Michael Hudson had recently spoke with SETD to apply for a DIG grant worth $500,000 to conduct structural improvements across South Pittsburg’s historic downtown. The grant was established by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) to allow government bodies and organizations to apply for funds pertaining to improving local downtowns.
She explained the city has previously received DIG funds for several of the community’s iconic buildings, such as the historic Opera House on South Cedar Avenue. The grants applied within the past estimated $50,000 each, with Duggar and Hudson looking to apply for a much larger amount of funds in order to look into potentially overhauling other structures throughout downtown.
“Five hundred thousand dollars is a lot of money. It is not a matching grant by the city, but a matching grant for property owners that are selected to receive part of that money,” explained Duggar.
Beth also noted how grants within the past have allowed significant turnarounds to be made for different structures within the community, with other business owners looking to receive additional funding to help improve upon different buildings across town. The grant is due Friday, September 12 for application and a committee dedicated to DIG grant applications is also set to be established upon the city earning the DIG grant. When asked by Commissioner Mike Allen if whether property owners would have to match with the amount of funds they receive, Beth replied the property owners would have to match 20% to 25% of what is awarded to them.
“If they’re awarded $10,000, they have to match 20% to 25% of that, and they get the rest of it from the state,” replied Beth.
It was also mentioned the city is looking to further set up the town as a “Main Street Community” within Marion County. The term means that under specific requirements, the board can apply for bigger grants for larger scaled projects within the future, a goal which is currently in the works.