SEVIERVILLE, Tenn. — Sevierville was among a list of different Tennessee communities that received state grant money to be used to improve downtown areas.
The city received around $159,600 from the grants, which only went to Tennessee Downtowns and Main Street communities. Those areas include communities that show how they could specifically improve areas. According to Ashley Burnette-Davis, the executive director of the Sevierville Commons Association, the money is mostly meant to improve the looks of buildings.
"The Downtown Improvement Grant focuses on exterior spaces. So, it is very largely a facade-type grant to help improve the look of buildings, whether that be, you know, their fronts and awnings, or perhaps a back patio — really, the aesthetics that go into making a downtown look amazing and inviting and welcoming for people," she said.
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that 16 other communities were getting the grants. A total of around $4 million was given in grants, with amounts ranging from $300,000 to $150,000.
"We always want to look our best, and we want to welcome people. So, Sevierville is very, very big on rolling out the red carpet and being hospitable. We want people to feel right at home, and so beautiful spaces can do that," she said.
She also said leaders plan to make announcements in the next few weeks on how the money will be used.
"Very largely, this grant depends on business owners and projects that they are looking to do in the downtown area. We don't completely pay for those projects, obviously, but we can offer a little support for projects that they are planning," said Burnette-Davis.
She said leaders already spoke with businesses who could be interested in receiving support and plan to stay in touch with them as the grant process continues.