The City of Columbia has been awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) by the Tennessee Economic & Community Development Department in the amount of $630,000. Columbia is one of 47 municipalities that will share in $27.3 million in CDBG, used to help fund sidewalk improvements on East 8th Street and South High Street, which are main pedestrian arteries.
Improvements include replacing the existing sidewalks on the south side of East 8th Street and repairs to the sidewalks on both sides of High Street in order to improve pedestrian flow and meet ADA standards. All surrounding neighborhoods will be able to link to the improved walkways and have much better access to the downtown district. Residents will have better access to the transportation shelters, which in turn, gives them access to the city as a whole.
“We are very excited to announce today the City of Columbia has been awarded a $630,000 CDBG grant.,” stated Mayor Chaz Molder. “These monies will be spent replacing sidewalks on East 8th Street and repairing them on South High Street. The East Eight Street project is the first step towards a streetscape project for this historic section of Columbia and the South High Street project will help us in our efforts to enhance the Columbia Arts District.”
The national objective addressed by this project is to serve low to moderate income people. The sidewalk improvements will enhance the connectivity of predominantly low-income, minority neighborhoods to the downtown district. Additionally, the improvements will enhance safety, accessibility, and promote good health.
The total estimated cost of this project is $830,150. The City of Columbia is investing $200,150 from the budget to help fund the sidewalk improvements and represents a 17 percent match rate needed to receive the grant funds.
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