Orchard Knob Neighborhood, photo courtesy of Community Impact
Urban Design Forum, photo courtesy of RiverCity
Glenwood Neighborhood, photo courtesy of Community Impact
Healthy neighborhoods are the building blocks of a vibrant city. A safe living environment, social cohesiveness, a reverence for history, and revitalized public spaces can empower a community with a sense of identity and pride in their place. At the heart of the Benwood Foundation's support for neighborhood and community development is the recognition that strong neighborhoods and a flourishing downtown area key to the city's well-being.
In the past, the Foundation has supported the efforts of various organizations that embody these ideas, including Community Impact, River City Company, and the SimCenter. Through the visions of these organizations over the past several years, Chattanooga has undergone major changes that have affected the way it is used by citizens and visitors every day.
By empowering citizens to invest in their neighborhoods, Community Impact has helped improve the quality of life for many of Chattanooga's diverse communities, including Bushtown, Highland Park, M.L. King, Southside, Churchville, Glenwood, and Orchard Knob. River City Company has focused its efforts in the sustainable development of the downtown area with retail recruitment, incentive packages for businesses, and the Urban Design Forum. By increasing the number of residents downtown and strengthening commercial activities there, River City hopes to animate it as a place where residents can spend leisure and recreation time, in addition to working hours. As a national research and educational center for computational engineering, the SimCenter has provided high tech learning opportunities for students and employment for scores of Chattanoogans. In addition, its presence in the city is a major draw for businesses interested in utilizing its advanced technological resources.
The Foundation will continue its support for local community and neighborhood needs, especially those that connect local development with the inner city and distressed area opportunities. Organizations that best fit the Foundation's priorities will be invited to submit grant proposals.
Shared Knowledge
Click here to view the Benwood Community Development Report.
Grants Awarded
2010
Chattanooga Chamber Foundation
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the Targeted Downtown Recruitment Initiative.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$10,000
For the creation of an urban design forum in Chattanooga, broadening the base of interest and participation of those interested in creating a well-planned sustainable community and a vibrant downtown.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$15,000
For the Downtown Chattanooga Events Fund.
Chattanooga, TN
$250,000
For projects improving the quality of life in participating neighborhoods through support of neighborhood associations and partnerships with key organizations.
Ochs Center for Metropolitan Studies*
Chattanooga, TN
$50,000
For the State of Chattanooga Region Report, analyzing conditions in Hamilton County in the areas of health, public safety, the local economy, education, and community development.
*Formerly known as Community Research Council
Chattanooga, TN
$10,000
For the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership, to animate the downtown district.
Chattanooga, TN
$15,000
For establishing a branch of the Church Koinonia Credit Union at St. Andrews Center to prevent predatory lending practices and educate in financial literacy.
University of Chattanooga Foundation, Inc.
Chattanooga, TN
$750,000
For the establishment of the SimCenter, a non-profit collaboration between the National Center for Computational Engineering and the University of Tennessee Chattanooga, founded to provide high-technology computational services to Chattanooga and the region.
2009
Chattanooga Chamber Foundation
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the Targeted Downtown Recruitment Initiative.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the Public Art Program of the City of Chattanooga Parks and Recreation.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$16,500
For Calvin Donaldson Elementary School and Alton Park Community.
Chattanooga, TN
$250,000
For projects improving the quality of life in participating neighborhoods through support of neighborhood associations and partnerships with key organizations.
Chattanooga, TN
$100,000
For STAND, a program to engage the
community to express their ideas for the future, organizing around common
purposes and translating vision into action.
Chattanooga, TN
$750,000
For the construction of a 12 screen movie theater in downtown Chattanooga.
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the Chattanooga Downtown Partnership, to animate the downtown district.
Chattanooga, TN
$15,000
For establishing a branch of the Church Koinonia Credit Union at St. Andrews Center to prevent predatory lending practices and educate in financial literacy.
TN Chapter of the American Planning Association
Chattanooga, TN
$1,500
For a Food Economy track at the TAPA Fall Conference held in Chattanooga.
University of Tennessee Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$1,000,000
For the establishment of the SimCenter, a non-profit collaboration between the National Center for Computational Engineering and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, founded to provide high-technology computational services to Chattanooga and the region.
2008
Chattanooga Chamber Foundation
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the Targeted Downtown Recruitment Initiative.
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the establishment of the SimCenter, a non-profit collaboration between the National Center for Computational Engineering and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, founded to provide high-technology computational services to Chattanooga and the region.
Community Foundation/SimCenter
Chattanooga, TN
$56,818.82
For the establishment of the SimCenter, a non-profit collaboration between the National Center for Computational Engineering and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, founded to provide high-technology computational services to Chattanooga and the region.
Chattanooga, TN
$250,000
For Community Impact Cohort II, the revitalization of inner-city neighborhoods to include the new neighborhoods of Churchville, Glenwood and Orchard Knob.
Chattanooga, TN
$150,000
For the State of Chattanooga Region Report, analyzing conditions in Hamilton County in the areas of health, public safety, the local economy, education and community development.
Chattanooga, TN
$200,000
For the hiring of a downtown retail coordinator to recruit market-based retail opportunities, provide an incentive toolkit and oversee the development of the Downtown Gift Card to stimulate retail activity in the downtown area.
Chattanooga, TN
$75,000
For the animation of Downtown Public Parks.
Chattanooga, TN
$15,000
For student urban design and sustainability projects for downtown Chattanooga.
2007
Community Foundation of Greater Chattanooga
Chattanooga, TN
$25,000
For the establishment of the SimCenter, a non-profit collaboration between the National Center for Computational Engineering and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, founded to provide high-technology computational services to Chattanooga and the region.
Chattanooga, TN
$250,000
For community Impact Cohort II, the revitalization of inner-city neighborhoods to include the new neighborhoods of Churchville, Glenwood, and Orchard Knob.
Chattanooga, TN
$31,000
For the State of Chattanooga Region Report, analyzing conditions in Hamilton County in the areas of health, public safety, the local economy, education, and community development.
Chattanooga, TN
$205,000
For the hiring of a downtown retail coordinator to recruit market-based retail opportunities, provide an incentive toolkit, and oversee the development of the Downtown Gift Card to stimulate retail activity in the downtown area.
2006
American Institute of Graphic Arts-Chattanooga Chapter
Chattanooga, TN
$5,000
For sponsorship of the 2007 Ten Show, bringing together Chattanooga's business, design and arts community.
Chattanooga, TN
$69,000
For the State of Chattanooga Region Report, analyzing conditions in Hamilton County in the areas of health, public safety, the local economy, education, and community development.
Chattanooga, TN
$15,000
For the creation of an economic development plan for Chattanooga's Central Business District.