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August 6, 10a-3p
Robotics Revolution: A STEM Awareness Event presented by TVA (details and tickets
here)
August 7-13
National Farmers Market Week
August 9, 6p
Stepping Ahead Together! an East Knoxville neighborhood tour,
Jackie's Dream (details here)
August 15,
1-3p
CDBG East Region Public Meeting, Farragut Town Hall
August 27
ETPA Summer Supper:
Big Bash at Buck Brothers,
Lenoir City
August 30-31
Aspire Appalachia: Collaborations in Rural Development,
Johnson City (details here)
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September 21,
8:30a-1p,
4th Annual Grant Conference with Sen Ken Yager,
Roane State Community College, Harriman
September 21-23
TAPA/TSITE Conference:
Taking to the Streets,
Knoxville
Crowne Plaza Hotel (more here)
October 18-20
Tennessee Stormwater Association Annual Conference: Go with the Flow,
Fall Creek Falls State Park, Pikeville (details here - early registration ends 8/31!)
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USDA Seeks Applications for Community Facilities Relending Program:
The Community Facilities Relending Program targets CDOs working in high poverty and persistent poverty areas. Interested organizations should contact their local USDA Rural Development Office today. The application deadline is August 8. (more details here)
Transportation Alternative Grants applications are open July 1 to Oct 3. Funds can be used to build sidewalks, bike and pedestrian trails and to renovate historic train depots and other transportation related structures. The impact of some of the projects is primarily local, whereas the wildflowers grown on roadways across the state can be enjoyed annually by thousands of Tennesseans and tourists. (details here)
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Creative
Placemaking:
Meet our Mural Artist!
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 Over the next several weeks in August, artist Brandon J Donahue will be transforming the south wall of the park with a mural depicting Chilhowee Park's rich history.
Photo credit: University of Tennessee Knoxville
Funds for the project were made available by East Tennessee Foundation, TN Arts Commission Creative Placemaking Challenge Grant, and the Public Arts Commission.
To learn more about our artist and see his amazing work,
follow this
link
.
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Building a Culture of Health...One Step at a Time!
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The conversation is building momentum and it's all about building good health within our environment.
On July 13, the newly formed Knoxville Health Advisory Board convened with a mission to work with clinical and community leaders for a Bold Goal to make health easier and to make Knoxville 20% healthier by 2020. The Health Advisory Board will take the partnership ideas identified during a May Clinical Town Hall meeting, and will develop working teams to see them through.
Also on July 13, ETQG had the pleasure of sponsoring the Future of Nursing: Campaign for Action conference. Nurses across the nation are working to establish voices in leadership to positively impact the health of communities. They shared resources to back their initiative, like RWJF's County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. One of the memorable statements from the conference:
"The social determinants of Health are given very little attention in our current systems of health care and social welfare, despite the disproportionate role they play in determining life outcomes."
Ian Lockwood
, of Toole Design Group, arrived in Knoxville July 26-28 with inspirational stories of communities placing higher priority on non-car transportation, and heard his ideas for improving our urban streets. 
The big takeaway from his visit is that truly walkable places have six components: comfortable, engaging, accessible, connected, convenient, and legible. He also shared wonderful resources, like an online resource to determine a location's walk score, as well as
Boston Complete Street guidelines.
Lastly, on July 28, engagement with the
Mobility Plan 2040 committee included an overview of the
draft project list which is now live and open for comments. Check it out
here.
May we continue to take great strides as a community and as a region. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, so take the first step! |
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Transportation, Connectivity, and the Last Mile: Many of the region's counties and municipalities are currently engaged in planning exercises that include transportation, ordinances, land use, public space, etc. Below are selected examples of some case studies that reflect on connectivity and creating more access for disadvantaged communities:
US Department of Transportation Smart City Challenge awardee, Columbus OH's' plans to include connecting underserved populations to opportunity by solving public transportation's "first and last mile gap." More information here.
A case for integrated planning- Expanding Transit in the Twin Cities to improve access to jobs for disadvantaged communities. More information here.
Growth Strategies for Rural Communities:
"Many rural communities have seen farmland eroded by encroaching development, or are losing young residents to places with more amenities and greater opportunities. Whether drained by sprawl or struggling to compete, how can rural communities address these challenges while remaining true to their unique character?"
Read about the strategies here.
The
TNECD state of broadband access study is now available. While the report shows that only 13% of Tennesseans do not have
access to broadband,
over one third of rural household do not have broadband. More information here.
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ETQG has been celebrating the 100
th
anniversary of Federal Parks by telling a story about the parks, byways, and monuments in our region.
This month's feature story celebrates the East Tennessee Crossing Byway.
Learn more about the East Tennessee River Valley MapGuide project or sign up for the newsletter by clicking here.
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Tennessee Historical Commission awardees: Jefferson (Hickman Tavern) and Knox (Ramsey House) Counties
TNECD's Tourism Enhancement Grants were awarded to the following East Tennessee counties: Anderson, Hamblen, Monroe, and Scott. The grants will assist communities with tourism infrastructure assets. (more here)
Claiborne County: one of the eleven
ThreeStar
Competitive Enhancement Grantees.
Grant funds were made
available for
local programs that will be transformative in addressing public safety, health, education and workforce development.
IACMI-The Composites Institute announces project to reduce cost of carbon fiber automobile structural parts (more here).
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