UTC supports successful proposal for Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant

The ceremonial $50-million check presentation at the July 18, 2024, celebration of the HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant award. From left: Hamilton County Commissioner Warren Mackey, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, Chattanooga City Council member Raquetta Dotley, Chattanooga Housing Authority Board of Commissioners chairperson Jim Levine, One Westside Community leader Cassandra Robinson, CHA Executive Director Betsy McCright, Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and HUD Regional Administrator Jennifer Riley Collins and General Deputy Assistant Secretary Dominique Blom.

A crowd of more than 200, including elected officials and local residents, gathered Thursday, July 18, for groundbreaking ceremonies and a celebration of a $50-million federal funding award to support Chattanooga Housing Authority’s Westside Transformation Plan.

The successful funding proposal includes a commitment of education and other resources to be provided by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga College of Engineering and Computer Science (CECS). The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced earlier this week that Chattanooga Housing Authority’s One Westside, formerly known as Westside Evolves, is one of six programs in the country awarded a highly competitive Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) grant.

The $50-million grant will be used to redevelop the One Westside community, and the funding win was celebrated Thursday morning along with the groundbreaking on the James A. Henry Hub facility to be built within One Westside.

Dr. Ahad Nasab

“We are privileged to have been invited to contribute to the development of this successful proposal, and we look forward to fulfilling our commitment of resources,” said interim CECS Dean Ahad Nasab. “This project provides a perfect opportunity for us to uphold UTC’s dedication to serving as a vital community resource, fulfilling its role as ‘Chattanooga’s University’ and as a regional comprehensive university that provides outstanding education to over 11,000 students from across Tennessee and beyond.”

The University’s commitment via CECS to supporting the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative over the eight years of the implementation grant involves academic and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs, computer skills training and career readiness support at no cost to the initiative. Those include:

Campus-based basic computer skills training

Twelve essential computer skills training sessions, each with a capacity of 24 students, will be offered annually at UTC. This resource is intended to enhance digital literacy and provide valuable skills for the evolving world of technology.

The curriculum is expected to be initially foundational and may be revised based on College Hill Courts residents’ needs. This adaptive approach is intended to ensure that the program evolves to meet the changing requirements of participants.

UTC student clubs and educational support

Student clubs will support fostering an environment of educational support for residents of College Hill Courts through on-site tutoring and academic coaching. This collaborative effort is intended to empower residents academically and ensure they have access to resources that contribute to their educational success.

UTC will provide weekly one-hour group tutoring sessions for up to 20 participants each session at College Hill Courts. The University’s commitment provides for 40 sessions a year over the eight-year grant implementation period.

STEM summer camp

Robotics, 3D printing, rocket building, laser engraving and other STEM topics will make up the programming for a weeklong summer camp hosted yearly at UTC for College Hill Courts residents 12-18 years old. The week-long camps will offer hands-on learning and an immersive experience for up to 30 participants a year.

The initiative is intended to ignite a passion for science, technology, engineering and mathematics, fostering innovation and curiosity among participants and other community members.

Career Development Program

UTC’s Student Success Center will provide resources to enhance the career readiness of College Hill Courts residents via regular workshops and counseling sessions to provide personalized support four times per semester. At UTC, the center offers students quality academic advising, job search techniques, prospects for community engagement and professional development opportunities. It further provides tutoring and supplemental instruction in addition to programs and services to promote student academic success.

At College Hill Courts, the Student Success Center will provide personalized support through workshops four times per semester, with the goal of equipping residents to pursue successful careers.

Experiential Academic Exploration

The University will host “Experiential Academic Exploration” visits by College Hill Courts students to the UTC campus with the goal of providing an in-person, hands-on look at college life and academic opportunities. Participants will meet with faculty and peers and get a firsthand look at robot programming, rocket workshops, chemistry experiments, and UTC facilities and labs.

Visits will be hosted four times a year.

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UTC’s commitment of resources to the CNI grant proposal is part of its “People Plan,” described by organizers as linking residents with tools for setting and achieving their personal goals. These tools are a wide-ranging collection of opportunities to identify housing, employment, education and health goals and related supportive service needs. UTC is among more than 20 organizations and a network of partners involved in these efforts.

The UTC College of Engineering and Computer Science houses five academic departments with nine degree programs: mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, engineering management, construction management, mechatronics technology, computer science and computer engineering. Enrollment of almost 1,700 includes undergraduates and graduate students and is an active driver in the region’s economic development through workforce training, industrial problem-solving, internships, and student clubs and organizations.