Cocke County Mayor Iliff McMahan, Jr. has just been officially notified that Cocke County, in partnership with the City of Newport, has received a Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) grant from the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA).

The total amount the county will receive is $238,745.00 and the project timeline for this money to be invested is June 1, 2009 through May 1, 2010. This is a fully funded grant project. Cocke County will not have to provide a dollar match.

The purpose of the grant program is to purchase blighted, abandoned and foreclosed properties for the redevelopment of safe, affordable housing. This will improve the appearance of the community, and in turn, instill pride in the residents that their neighborhoods are beautiful and safe places to live.

Cocke County and the City of Newport will work together, in partnership, to identify blighted, abandoned and foreclosed properties that are available for purchase, and are in high areas of need, as identified by THDA. Once the properties have been identified and purchased, the county and city will contract to have the sites cleared of structures, debris and overgrown vegetation.

Then, the cleared land will be donated to Cocke County Habitat for Humanity for the construction and the selling of houses using their normal procedures. As per grant guidelines, no structures older than 50 years will be involved in the proposed project.

"From the moment that Cocke County Finance Director Anne Williams was contacted by Donna Emerson, East Tennessee Development District, we had less than a week to write and submit a proposal for this grant", said County Mayor Iliff McMahan, Jr.

McMahan added, "Immediately, Anne recognized a prime opportunity to partner with the City of Newport, and she called Mayor Connie Ball. After discussing different options in how to invest this money in our county, we all decided that the best application would be through providing properties at no cost to our Cocke County Habitat for Humanity.  It's a true win-win for everyone."

Ed Lemmond, Chaplin at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County and President of the Cocke County Habitat for Humanity, said, "Habitat affiliates, for a long time, have focused only on building new houses for 'Gods people in need.'  There have been increasing initiatives from Habitat International encouraging affiliates to get into rehab, demolition and redevelopment.

"The NSP grant will give Cocke County Habitat for Humanity the opportunity to work with county and city governments, plus several community organizations, to acquire and redevelop foreclosed or abandoned properties that detract from the natural beauty of our area." 

"We look forward to working with moderate to low income families who cannot afford to buy a home. They will be able to partner with Cocke County Habitat for Humanity to build an affordable home, and help other families in need obtain their dream of a home," Mr. Lemmond said.   

County Mayor Iliff McMahan, Jr. added, "I want to offer a special thank you to Donna Emerson, East Tennessee Development District, Cocke County Finance Director Anne Williams, and Vice President of Operations for the Cocke County Partnership Sherry Butler for all their tenacity, hard work under an extremely short deadline and dedication to our community for making this grant happen.

"I also want to thank Mayor Connie Ball and City Alderman for working with us as partners on helping those folks who are served by our Habitat for Humanity. And I would also like to thank Habitat for Humanity Board President Ed Lemmond and his board for allowing us the vehicle by which we can add new homes for our citizens." 

"This is a prime example of the good deeds that can be accomplished when folks come together and work, in partnership, for the overall betterment of our community and to improve the quality of life for our citizens," said Mayor McMahan.