To promote equity and create opportunities in East Knoxville, the City Council has approved $150,000 in grant funding to be distributed among ten organizations as part of the African American Equity Restoration Task Force’s (AAERTF) strategy to reinvest in the community. The grants, announced last Tuesday, are aimed at bolstering key areas identified by the Task Force, including education, community engagement, homeownership, and entrepreneurship.

Recipients include C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Ministries and East TN Housing Development Corp receiving $20,000 each, while Girl Talk, Inc., and Karate Five Association each garnished a $10,000 share, among others, the funds will be utilized for various projects through the spring, summer, and fall of this year, providing support for programming stipends and payments among other services directly connected to the Task Force's goals. The African American Equity Restoration Task Force, as reported by the City of Knoxville, was founded in December 2020 with a focus on addressing disparities in the local African American community and fostering generational wealth.

The selection of grant recipients followed a competitive application process that kicked off in November of the previous year, with reviews conducted by the Task Force’s Investment Committee who then provided recommendations on the most deserving initiatives and the suitable amount of funds to allocate. This vetting procedure was critical in ensuring that the allocations would effectively target the strategic areas for community development and empowerment.

The implementation and oversight of these projects will fall under the purview of the City’s Office of Community Safety and Empowerment, they will not only monitor the progress but also offer technical assistance and guarantee that project reports and financial documentation are submitted as necessary, this effort aims to promote best practices and foster an environment of collaborative improvement amongst the various grant beneficiaries, as detailed on the official announcement from the City of Knoxville. In addition to project monitoring, the office is expected to encourage the sharing of ideas and successful strategies among funded organizations to maximize the impact of these collective efforts.