City of Columbia Receives $810,000 in HOME Grant Program Funds

Issue #239

13 Oct

In this What’s Up Columbia issue…

🗓 List of Upcoming Events

🌤 Columbia Weather - Partly cloudy with a high of 87

📰 City of Columbia Receives $810,000 in HOME Grant Program Funds

📌 October 19-20: Homemaker Conference at Hardison Mill 

🎉 Today: Mount Pleasant Bicentennial Celebration

🎵 Today’s Live Music

🍁 Check out The Ultimate Guide to Fall Fun Things in Middle Tennessee Here

⛑ Looking For Ways to Help Victims of Hurricane Helene? Click Here

📣 We Want To Spotlight Your Business! Apply Here

🗓 Know of Some Local Events Not Listed? Send us the Details!

Upcoming Local Events

🗓 Have an event to add? Send us the Details!

Sunday, October 13th

Monday, October 14th

Tuesday, October 15th

Wednesday, October 16th

Thursday, October 17th

Friday, October 18th

More events coming soon!

City of Columbia Receives $810,000 in HOME Grant Program Funds

The City of Columbia has been awarded $810,000 in HOME Grant Program funds from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA), following an initial announcement in May. These funds, provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will enable the City to support the rehabilitation and repair of single-family homes for low-income residents in Columbia.

“We recognize that maintaining affordable housing is crucial for our residents, especially during this period of exponential growth, and this grant will help us realize our goal of ensuring that all parts, and all people, of our community succeed. We all do better when we all do better,” said Mayor Chaz Molder.

The HOME Grant Program aims to promote the preservation of affordable housing for low-income households. With these funds, the City of Columbia plans to assist 8-13 homeowners in completing much-needed home repairs, depending on the scope of repairs required for each eligible property. The focus will be on ensuring that all homes receiving support meet residential building code requirements upon completion of the project.

City Manager Tony Massey remarked, “As the City of Columbia continues to grow, it’s essential that we prioritize the needs of our long-time residents and ensure that they aren’t left behind.”

To kick off the program, the City will host a public meeting on October 29, 2024, to provide details and distribute applications. Applications will be accepted for 30 days following the meeting, with a submission deadline of November 29, 2024. After the submission deadline, applications will be reviewed, selections will be made, and a contractor will be hired to perform the work on the selected homes. Applicants will be assessed according to THDA and HUD guidelines, with priority given to low-income homeowners. The South Central Tennessee Development District will administer the grant on behalf of the City of Columbia.

“The City of Columbia makes a point to apply for all state and federal dollars that can benefit our community,” said Assistant City Manager Thad Jablonski. "The cost of buying and owning a home right now is high and rising. We understand that, and we are especially focused on programs that provide quality of life assistance to Columbia residents."

The City of Columbia remains committed to leveraging all available resources to enhance the quality of life for its residents. This grant aligns with the City's ongoing mission to ensure that all citizens have access to safe, sustainable, and affordable housing. For questions regarding applications and eligibility, please contact Tia Lockridge, Director of Housing for the South Central Tennessee Development District, at 931 379-2957 or via email at [email protected].

October 19-20: Homemaker Conference at Hardison Mill

The Homemaker Conference is a two day gathering for women to come together, share, and learn about the meaningful and fulfilling role of being a homemaker. Through discussions, workshops, and interactive sessions, attendees will learn and foster a supportive community while gaining a deeper understanding of God's original role for the homemaker.

Topics covered will include bread making, canning and preserving, homeschooling, time management, meal planning, and the why behind being a homemaker, plus a time for music and reflection. Come join us in learning and sharing together. It will be an unforgettable weekend.

If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to: [email protected]

Today: Mount Pleasant Bicentennial Celebration

Join us on October 13th from 3-5 PM at Manor Hall as we celebrate 200 years of Mount Pleasant! Let’s honor the past, present, and future of our amazing city with an afternoon of community, live music from the Murphy Ridge Band, and, of course, birthday cake! 

This is a celebration you won’t want to miss. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors to share in the fun!

216 Pleasant St, Mt. Pleasant

🎵 Today’s Live Music

Sunday, October 13th

TBD, Natchez Hills Vineyard, 1-4 PM
Murphy Ridge Band, Manor Hall, 216 Pleasant St, Mt Pleasant, TN, 3-5 PM
Apollos Hand, The Rebel, 4-7 PM
Mary Lou, Puckett’s, 6-7:30 PM

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