HUD Awards Nashville Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant

Congressman Jim Cooper addressing the audience

Nashville is one of 10 cities awarded the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The $500,000 grant will fund a comprehensive neighborhood revitalization plan for the Napier Place and Sudekum Apartments housing developments. The award ceremony was held on July 1, 2016 at the Napier Place Community Room and was attended by representatives from Metropolitan Development Housing Agency (MDHA), HUD's Nashville Field Office, Nashville Mayor's Office, Senator Lamar Alexander's office, residents, and Congressman Jim Cooper.

Sernorma Mitchell, HUD Nashville Field Office Director, stated that "HUD's Choice Neighborhoods grants will allow neighborhoods to create comprehensive plans around three main goals: replacing distressed public housing with higher quality mixed-income housing; improving education outcomes and economic mobility; and incentivizing public and private investment in underserved neighborhoods"

MDHA will use the grant to plan the revitalization of the two public housing developments based on HUD's Rental Assistance Demonstration program.

MDHA served as the lead grantee, with Martha O'Bryan Center as the co-grantee. Twelve key partners also played a role in the grant process: Family and Children's Service, the Metro Public Health Department, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Abigail Ministries Incorporated, Belmont University, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Harvest Hands, Neighborhood Health, Napier Community Center, Trevecca Nazarene University, Wayne Reed Christian Child Care Center and the Metro Nashville Planning Department.

(Left to right) Will Biggs Metropolitan Development Housing Agency (MDHA), Tosha LeSure HUD Nashville Office, Congressman Jim Cooper, Sernorma Mitchell HUD Field Office Director, Nashville, Jim Harbison (MDHA) Executive Director

"We are excited to begin Choice Neighborhood Napier/Sudekum planning," said MDHA Executive Director Jim Harbison. "With the help of Napier and Sudekum residents and the surrounding community, we plan to transform this neighborhood, foster future growth and improve opportunities for our residents and their families."

"Martha O'Bryan Center and MDHA are invaluable resources to Middle Tennessee," said Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-5). "I'm honored to celebrate with them as they receive the Choice Neighborhood Planning Grant."

Choice Neighborhood planning focuses on three core goals: Housing, People and Neighborhoods. To achieve these goals, the plan will guide the Rental Assistance Demonstration resourced recapitalization of public housing apartments, while simultaneously leading the transformation of the surrounding neighborhood and improving opportunities for resident families.

Choice Neighborhood Nashville Planning Grant Check Presentation

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