PUBLIC MEETING CONCERNING City of Rockwood Downtown Improvement Grant 5 p.m. Monday, April 27, 2026
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) recently awarded the City of Rockwood a Downtown Improvement Grant (DIG) in the amount of $100,000. At least 50% or $50,000 of this funding will go toward the City of Rockwood’s Façade Improvement Subgrant Program.
This competitive grant program is managed by the TNECD’s Community and Rural Development Division and aims “to preserve and maintain older buildings in a downtown district while creating new economic opportunities for the community and to improve the general appearance and livability of the downtown.” The City of Rockwood will serve as the “primary grantee” and will create a “subgrant” program under which the City will accept applications from owners of property located within the City’s downtown district. To be eligible for the Rockwood Façade Improvement Subgrant Program, properties must be at least 50 years old and be a for-profit or non-profit commercial business (active religious facilities and municipal buildings are not eligible). Projects are required to follow TNECD DIG Design Guidelines and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties, as relevant. All eligible subgrant applicants will be scored and selected by a committee.
The City is hosting another public meeting on Monday, April 27, at 5pm EST at the Rockwood City Municipal Building (110 North Chamberlain Avenue) to re-introduce the program, answer questions, and invite interested property owners to submit a letter of intent. The letters of intent will be due by 4:30 pm EST on May 29, 2026.
This project is funded under a grant contract with the State of Tennessee.