CONTACT INFORMATION
Kate Armitage, Director
Arts, Recreation, Parks &
Communications
City of Millington
K.Armitage@MillingtonTN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SHELBY COUNTY RECEIVES $60 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT IN NATIONAL DISASTER RESILIENCE COMPETITION
MILLINGTON, TN (February 4, 2016) – The U.S Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made $1 billion in CDBG-DR funding available to state and local governments impacted by disasters in 2011 – 2013 for the purpose of promoting innovative resilience projects to better prepare communities for future storms and other events through the National Disaster Resilience Competition (NDRC). A total of 67 eligible applicants competed in Phase I of the competition and 40 were chosen to move to Phase II. Finalists were then asked to submit specific projects that would make their communities more resilient to future disasters.
According to HUD, “More than 25 federal agencies or offices, and 100 industry experts were involved in the implementation of the 16-month long competition.” On January 21, 2016 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julian Castro and the Rockefeller Foundation announced the winners of the NDRC including Shelby County, Tennessee. The $60, 445,163 award for Shelby County “will support the Greenprint for Resilience Project which will build a network of green infrastructure projects that will increase resilience to future flooding while increasing amenities, such as trails and recreation areas, for area residents. In addition to relocating areas exposed to repetitive flooding, the Greenprint project will develop new floodplains and create wetlands and detention areas to create more storage for floodwaters,” according to HUD.
The following winners will receive funding for resilient housing and infrastructure projects:
STATES:
California $70,359,459
Connecticut $54,277,359
Iowa $96,887,177
Louisiana $92,629,249
New Jersey $15,000,000
New York $35,800,000
Tennessee $44,502,374
Virginia $120,549,000
CITIES / COUNTIES
New York, NY $176,000,000
New Orleans, LA $141,260,569
Minot, ND $74,340,770
Shelby County, TN $60,445,163
Springfield, MA $17,056,880
“This is one of the largest grants ever awarded to Shelby County Government. It’s unique in that it will allow us to protect neighborhoods from future flood damage and give us new opportunities to expand the greenways and recreation areas along the Mississippi River and its tributaries,” said Shelby County Mayor Mark H. Luttrell, Jr. Millington has hosted numerous public meetings in the past 16 months to gather public input to utilize in the grant application including those at the Millington Public Library, Harvell Civic Center, online surveys and the Shelby County Front Porch even made an appearance at Millington largest festival in September to gather information. The Shelby County Public Works Division, assisted by the Memphis and Shelby County Office of Sustainability, Shelby County Housing Department, and the City of Memphis Engineer’s Office worked jointly for months devising resiliency projects in some of the most vulnerable areas of Memphis and Shelby County prone to flooding.
Shelby County will be required to use the grant in four ways:
• Big Creek Wetland and Recreation Area near Millington-a new flood plain will be created to reduce damage to nearby neighborhoods. The project will also create wetlands and nature wildlife areas.
• Wolf River Restoration and Greenway-in Raleigh and Frayser near Rodney Baber and Kennedy Parks. They’ll be improved to guard against flood waters.
• South Cypress Creek Watershed and Neighborhood Development in Southwest Memphis-the grant will pay for the relocation of homeowners near Weaver Park.
• Resilience Research-Will identify the risks from floods, earthquakes and other catastrophes.
The projects are under design now and should be completed in three years.
Mayor Mark Luttrell, Jr. and members of his team will be present at the Millington Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting on February 8, 2016 at 6:00 PM to provide a presentation on the award the expected impact on the Millington area. The public is encouraged to attend.
ABOUT MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE
Located just minutes from Memphis, Millington enjoys an exceptional quality of life for an estimated 10,000 citizens. Quality education, recreation and economic growth make Millington a great place to live, work and play. Millington is home to the Millington Municipal School District as well as a variety of public and private, faith based schools and various colleges, universities and technical institutions are in the area. In 2004, The University of Memphis opened its Millington Campus and offers undergraduate and graduate courses in numerous fields of study. Millington is home to Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Ingram Micro, Memphis International Raceway, USA Stadium, Mirimichi and other golf courses providing opportunities for economic growth and world-class recreation. Millington’s West Tennessee Regional Business Center, a publicly owned business and industry center, features 1900 acres of prime industrial space with easy access to the Millington Regional Jetport and the Canadian National Railroad. True intermodal transportation and shipping, makes Millington the perfect place for business. Widely known as “Flag City, USA,” Millington offers the best of the Mid-South.
