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Friday, June 10, 2016
Thursday, June 09, 2016
The Tennessean: New federal overtime rule could hurt Tennessee colleges
by Senator Lamar Alexander -Tennesseans have heard a lot of talk from the Obama administration about making college affordable and keeping costs down. So, it’s hard to see how President Barack Obama can justify the final overtime rule out of his Labor Department this week that could raise annual tuition at one Tennessee college by nearly $850 per student.
One of the most radical, out-of-touch aspects of the Obama administration’s agenda has been its labor agenda, and this new overtime rule is a glaring example of why I say that. It more than doubles the salary threshold under which employees qualify for overtime pay—from $23,660 to $47,476. This is a sudden and dramatic increase that Tennessee colleges tell me may not only impact tuition, but may force them to reduce employees’ hours and even lay off employees they would like to keep but can no longer afford.
Six Tennessee colleges have estimated that the rule could increase their operating costs by over $1 million per year, and two others tell me that the rule could increase their operating costs by $800,000 per year. Three more say their operating costs could increase by more than $500,000 per year.
These Tennessee colleges don’t oppose increasing the salary threshold so more employees qualify for overtime — they think it may be time for a reasonable update — but the administration’s rule does it too high and too fast, and the results will be bad for more than just colleges and students.
According to the National Retail Federation, the proposal could result in workers having their hours and benefits cut, fewer opportunities for advancement, and less flexibility and control over their own schedules.
Imagine how discouraging this rule will be to the working mother who can no longer negotiate her schedule to work from home when she needs, or the young restaurant assistant manager who loses his title and is relegated back to an hourly job, or to the job seeker who discovers that the only jobs available are part time.
Tens of thousands of Tennesseans who today are mid-management or professional employees are not going to like it one bit when their employer tells them that under this new rule they're going to be punching the time clock when they go in and out of work. For example, college soccer or baseball coaches aren’t going to like having to clock hours and limit the time they’re able to spend building the best teams possible during their season, as could be the case under this rule.
Today almost 16 million Americans, including 320,000 Tennesseans, already have unwanted free time when they’d rather be working — they’re stuck in part-time jobs while looking for full-time work, or they have no jobs at all. Instead of making our part-time economy worse, the administration should work with Congress to pursue policies that will create an environment for better job opportunities and more workplace flexibility.
I’ve introduced legislation with Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina to ensure the administration pursues a balanced and responsible approach to updating federal overtime rules. I will also introduce a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval to block the administration’s final rule.
Tennessee workers, students, colleges, nonprofits and businesses deserve better than this disastrous rule that will rip the economic ladder of opportunity out from under hard-working Tennesseans, take money out of students’ pockets, and make it even harder for employers and institutions to grow and create more jobs.
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) is chairman of the Senate education and labor committee.
*Also ran in the Knoxville News Sentinel and the Maryville Daily Times
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Alexander: Interest Rate Cuts Will Save 400,000 Tennesseans $1.2 Billion on Student Loans
| Lamar Alexander |
Student loan interest rates fall thanks to Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act
Press release, WASHINGTON, May 12 – U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said today that Tennesseans will save $1.2 billion over the next 10 years because legislation passed by Congress in 2013 tied loan rates to the market, and today’s market rates are at a record low.Alexander, chairman of the Senate education committee and a former president of the University of Tennessee, said: “Nearly 400,000 Tennessee students are going to have $1.2 billion back in their pockets thanks to our bipartisan bill that established a market-based solution for determining interest rates. Students’ loans are cheaper, simpler and more certain, now that rates aren’t subject to the whims of Congress.”
Background:
Under the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act signed into law in 2013, student loan interest rates are tied to the government’s 10-year borrowing cost – specifically the yield on the last auction of the U.S. Treasury 10-year Note held before June of each year. The rates for undergraduate loans are the 10-year Note plus 2.05 percentage points—an addition to cover costs of defaults, collections, deferments, forgiveness, and delinquency. The legislation capped undergraduate rates at 8.25 percent, so students will never have to pay more than 8.25 percent interest on their loans.
For loans issued on or after July 1 for academic year 2016-17, the interest rate on undergraduate loans will be 3.76 percent, down from the current rate of 4.29 percent. The rate on graduate loans will be 5.31 percent, down from 5.84 percent. And the interest rate for PLUS loans for graduate students and parents will be 6.31 percent, down from 6.84 percent.
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Court: No right to carry concealed weapons in public
Today the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said people do not have a right to carry concealed weapons in public under the 2nd Amendment. Also, the court ruled that before people can get a carry permit they may have to prove a need to be armed beyond a general claim of a need of self-defense. For more on this story see, Court: No right to carry concealed weapons in public.
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Rep. Black Blasts Vanderbilt University Insurance Policy on Transgender-Related Surgeries
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| Diane Black |
“Our institutions of higher learning exist to graduate students who are career ready and are prepared to compete in the global economy, not to play politics by providing insurance coverage of medically unnecessary procedures while raking in federal grants. With this stunt, Vanderbilt University has shown itself to be completely out of touch with the values of most Tennesseans, and has surely alienated more than a few students, parents, and donors. I’m especially concerned that, by the university’s own admission, this decision was ‘not deeply debated in any way’ – showing just how little thought went in to such a far-reaching policy.
For all the advanced degrees that exist among Vanderbilt University’s senior administration, there is a painfully obvious lack of commonsense.”
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Vanderbilt adds transgender surgeries to student insurance.
In case you missed it and in case you care, Vanderbilt adds transgender surgeries to student insurance.
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Tennessee = South Africa. Putting America’s economy into perspective by comparing US state GDPs to countries.
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Wednesday, June 08, 2016
What happened at the Council meeting of 6/7/16: Budget hearings, uni-sex bathrooms,
To access the Council agenda, the council staff analysis of the agenda and my commentary on the agenda, follow this link. I am only hitting the high points and listing things I find of interest, so there may something I miss that you find of interest so you may want to watch the meeting for yourself.
Councilman Swope corrects the minutes of the last meeting to reflect that he voted "no" on the bill that banned smoking at the outdoor Ascend amphitheater.
There is a message from the mayor announcing that Metro closed on a $343,975,000 refunding of previously issued general
obligation bonds, which resulted in savings to Metro of more than
$1.1 million annually from 2017 to 2033.
Public Hearing on the Operating Budget: A lot of people speak in favor of the budget and only one in opposition. The one in opposition advocates for more spending. The mayor's budget does not raise taxes but increases metro spending by $119 million dollars. Several people praise the budget for increased spending for libraries and schools and metro employees praise the budget for the pay increases. It seem like the majority of people speaking in favor of the budget are SEIU members. People ask for more spending for affordable housing and the arts and more for employee pay. It is disappointing that no one criticizes the budget and calls for a tax cut, greater efficiency and cuts in wasteful departments and functions. Liberals call for more spending, day in and day out, year after year, while conservatives only show up about once every eight years when a mayor calls for a tax increase. Is it any surprise that taxes always go up and never go down? To view the budget hearing see time stamp 12:55 to 1:14: 38. To read The Tennessean's report on the budget hearing see Nashville's arts, housing advocates request more money.
Following the hearing on the operating budget is the hearing on the Capital Improvements Budget. The CIB is not really a budget but a planning document that list and prioritizes capital improvement projects. One speaker speaking against the CIP and blast the lack of transparency in the plan to build the new jail in South Nashville. Neighborhood activist Margo Chambers also speaks against the plan for jail relocation. To view the hearing on the CIP, see time stamp 1:16:28 to 1:28:59.
Resolutions: All resolutions on the consent agenda pass and none are pulled off of consent, included in those are the resolutions that advances the I-440 greenway. Several resolutions not on consent that have a budgetary impact are deferred to track with the budget. Other resolutions, not on consent that are of interest are these:
RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-219 is a resolution which is part of the effort to bring natural gas compressor stations under the licensing authority of Metro government. Currently local governments cannot regulate the location of natural gas compressor station due to the Federal government's authority to regulate interstate commerce and the Federal government taking the view that if local governments prohibit these stations that that is an illegal regulation of interstate commerce. There is, however, a method for allowing local government to exert some control and this bill is part of that effort to obtain that authority. There are natural gas compression stations planned for Joelton and Antioch and considerable community opposition to them. It is deferred to the first meeting in July.
RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-269 request that the Metropolitan Planning Department prepare and/or submit to the Metropolitan Council maps depicting current locations of federally subsidized housing developments by 50%, 60%, 80%, 120% AMI, as well as affordable and workforce housing units in Nashville & Davidson County. While many people advocate for more affordable housing there is also a concern that affordable housing concentrates poverty. Having the information requested by this resolution, would make it easier to kill affordable housing developments if the project would concentrate poverty. A city spokesman says some of the data is simply not available. The resolution passes. To see the discussion see timestamp 1:46:09 to 1:54:08.
RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-270 request the Employee Benefit Board to establish and implement a parental and sick leave policy allowing maternity and paternity leave for employees of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County. My view of this is that Metro employee benefits are already much more lavish than those awarded employees in the private sector and that this is not appropriate. This is deferred to the first meeting in July.
All bills on introduction and First Reading pass as is customary, except BILL NO. BL2016-133 which is the inclusionary housing bill. It is defered two meetings.
Bills on Second Reading:
BILL NO. BL2016-238 would permit some establishments to have unisex bathrooms. These seem reasonable to me. Read about it here. It passes.
BILL NO. BL2016-239 would provide for free parking for elderly individuals in parking meter zones and public parking facilities after they purchased a $50 sticker. I hate to say it, but I am now "elderly." I don't need charity. I have more disposable income than I have ever had in my life. This is insulting and condescending. If this passes however, I will probably purchase the sticker and enjoy it, but why would one assume "elderly" people need free parking worse than struggling young married people or single mothers? As George Jones said, I don't need your rocking chair, your Geritol or medicare. It is differed to the first meeting in August.
BILL NO. BL2016-240 would establish new rules and fees for developers who close streets or sidewalks during construction.. This sounds reasonable but is more complex than it sounds. It passes. For the discussion see timestamp 2:11:17 to 2:22:12.Bills on Third reading:
BILL NO. BL2016-234 would add “natural gas compressor stations” to a list of facilities regulated as a “major source” of air pollutants which require a local permit and would do some other things. This is part of an attempt to stop proposed natural gas compression stations planned for Joelton and Antioch. Federal law says that local government can not stop these developments and the Federal government has the right to permit them. However, there is a process whereby a local government may gain permitting authority and this is part of that process to gain that authority. It is differed to the first meeting in July.
Due to the requirements regarding the timely passing of the Metro budget, the Council will meet next Tuesday, at 6PM instead of in two weeks.
One learns much more about the important issues before the Council by watching the Budget and Finance Committee meeting than they do watching the council meetings. During committee meetings there is more explanation of bills and more discussion. To watch the Monday June 6th B & F meeting follow this link.
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Mayor Barry and Sheriff Hall settle their differences.
In case you missed it and in case you care, Mayor Megan Barry and Sheriff Daron Hall have papered over their difference, buried the hatchet, kissed and made up, or what ever. Anyway, the spat is over. Below is the official joint press release.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (June 7, 2016) – Mayor Megan Barry
and Davidson County Sheriff Daron Hall have issued the following
statement following a meeting today regarding the construction of the
Criminal Justice Center and the temporary relocation of inmates to
existing facilities at Harding:
“As elected officials, we are both sworn to uphold and protect the
laws of Nashville and act in the best interests of the citizens of
Davidson County.
“In the Capital Spending Plan, there are two requests that we ask to
be funded to meet our needs as a community: $20 million for the Criminal
Justice Center construction project that will be used for temporary
upgrades to the Harding jail facilities in order to support the
temporary relocation of prisoners and staff, and $20 million for the
construction of consolidated DCSO administrative offices that will free
up other properties and result in more efficient operations at the
Sheriff’s Office.
“The $20 million request for the Criminal Justice Center project is
critical to our ability to maximize the space and usage of the new CJC,
while adequately providing for inmates and staff at the Harding
facilities during the reconstruction.
“We believe that moving forward immediately with the construction of
the Criminal Justice Center downtown is necessary for the safety and
well-being of DCSO staff and inmates alike, and that we should construct
the facility in a way that meets the needs of our community now and in
the future.
“Failure to approve these funds will result in a reduction of nearly
250 beds at the new CJC, requiring more inmates to be permanently housed
at the Harding Place complex.
“Additionally, we both agree that it makes financial and logistical
sense for the DCSO administrative functions to be consolidated, and are
committed to an open community engagement process that ensures residents
and business owners near the final location of the future DCSO
administrative offices are supportive of the project.
“In order for this process to move forward, we would request that the
Council authorize the expenditure of $20 million for the headquarters
while a final site is determined.
“We look forward to working together, with the Metro Council and the
community, to work through any other logistical details of these two
projects in a way that protects the interests of the taxpayers and the
safety of the citizens of Davidson County.“
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Tuesday, June 07, 2016
(update) What's on the Council Agenda for 6/7/2016: Budget hearings, expanding Metro employee benefits, unisex bathrooms, free parking for old people.
The Council meets at 6:30PM Tuesday, June 7th and you can go to
the courthouse and watch the meeting in person, if you are so inclined,
but unless you are trying to influence a Council member and think your
presence in the audience will exert an influence, I don't know why you
would want to. Meetings are broadcast live at Metro Nashville Network's Government TV on Nashville's Comcast Channel 3 and AT&T's U-verse 99 and are streamed live at the Metro Nashville Network's livestream site. You can catch them the next day on the Metro YouTube channel. If
you will wait, I will watch it for you and post the video and point out
the good parts so you can go to that point in the video and watch just
that segment. Also, I will tell you what I think about what happened.
Council meetings are really boring and I watch them so you don't have
to. If you are going to watch a council meeting, you really need the agenda and the Council staff analysis or you won't know what is going on.
I am only listing what I think are the most important items and things that I think may generate some controversy.
Confirmation of appointments to Boards and Commissions: There are nine positions on the agenda. Unfortunately, the Council never
rejects an appointment and does not take their responsibility to confirm
appointees seriously. All will no doubt pass without a dissenting vote. If I were on the Council I would cast a dissenting vote and vote against confirmation of the appointee to the Human Relations Commission.
Budget hearings: There are two bills on public hearings. One is the operating budget (BILL NO. BL2016-232) and the other is the capital improvements budget (BILL NO. BL2016-252).
Due to growth, Metro is awash in money. Without raising taxes, this budget is a proposed $2,087,320,200 which is a 6.1% increase over FY2016. The 2016 budget was $1.968 billion, which represented a 4 percent increase over FY 2015. Under this proposed budget, Metro will be spending $119 million more than they are spending in the current year.
Awash in money, the city waste an enormous amount. We do not spend wisely. Barely worn sidewalks are routinely ripped up and replaced instead of expanding sidewalks to streets without them. We unnecessarily fund a public charity hospital that can not fill its beds. The Municipal Auditorium and Farmers Market continue to lose money. We have a Human Relations Commission whose only purpose is to indoctrinate in political correctness and advance a liberal agenda. We should privatize general hospital, sell the municipal auditorium, abolish the Human Relations Commission, put Farmers Market on a short leash and maybe close it or relocate it, and should reduce the rate of budget growth for all other departments across the board. If I were mayor, I would have an outside consulting firm study each department looking for waste, duplication, and inefficiencies so we could better allocate resources, spend more wisely, and cut taxes. Also high on the agenda would be changing Metro's pension system from a defined benefit system to a defined contribution system. This would not immediately save money but would avoid a crisis down the road.
Metro produces a good Citizens Guide to Metro Budget. A few hours study and any citizen can know as much about the Metro budget as any council member.
At the budget hearings expect person after person to call for more spending for schools, parks, libraries, sidewalks, General Hospital, and other pet projects. Unfortunately, Nashville's conservative and tea party activist are not very active and seem not to care a great deal about local government. They only get motivated about once ever eight years to oppose a proposed tax increase. While liberals are active day in and day out and are at every budget hearing asking for more spending, conservatives are not to be seen calling for less spending except in the years of proposed tax increase. It is not surprising that liberals win.
The capital improvements budget is not really a budget. It appropriates no money. It is a planning documents that prioritizes capital spending projects and list the source of the funding. Before something can be funded by the Council, it has to be in the Capital Improvements Budget. A lot of items in the CIB will never be funded. How many of those listed as a high priority get funded depends on how much money the Council puts into debt service to finance projects. Putting something in the CIB does not necessarily mean it will get build, but if it is not there, it won't.
Resolutions: All resolutions are on the "consent agenda" initially but if there are any negative votes in committee they are taken off of consent. Also any council member may ask to have an item taken off of consent or to have his abstention or dissenting vote recorded. All items on consent are passed by a single vote instead of being voted on individually.
There are several items on the agenda adopting new pay plans for different departments, essentially giving pay raises to employees in those departments. These will be deferred to "track with" the budget. There are also bills to issue revenue bonds to fund construction projects that will be deferred to track with the budget. There are quite a few resolution to accept grant money. Some of them require a local match and some do not. There are a couple resolutions to settle law suits out of court. None of the resolutions on the agenda are particularly controversial or of particular interest. This resolutions are of interest.
RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-219 is a resolution which is part of the effort to bring natural gas compressor stations under the licensing authority of Metro government. Currently, as I understand it, local governments cannot regulate the location of natural gas compressor station due to the Federal government's authority to regulate interstate commerce and the Federal government taking the view that if local governments prohibit these stations that that is an illegal regulation of interstate commerce. There is however a method for allowing local government to exert some control and this bill is part of that effort to obtain that authority. There are natural gas compression stations planned for Joelton and Antioch and considerable community opposition to them.
RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-259 approves an application for the Four-Forty Greenway TIGER VIII Grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to construct the Four-Forty Greenway from Melrose/Battlemont Park to Boyd Park. For more on this see the Tennessean's report, City plans I-440 Greenway.
RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-269 request that the Metropolitan Planning Department prepare and/or submit to the Metropolitan Council maps depicting current locations of federally subsidized housing developments by 50%, 60%, 80%, 120% AMI, as well as affordable and workforce housing units in Nashville & Davidson County. I assume this is part of an effort to discourage the development of affordable housing. While many people advocate for more affordable housing there is also a concern that affordable housing concentrates poverty. Having the information requested by this resolution, would make it easier to kill affordable housing developments.
RESOLUTION NO. RS2016-270 request the Employee Benefit Board to establish and implement a parental and sick leave policy allowing maternity and paternity leave for employees of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville & Davidson County. My initial view of this is that Metro employee benefits are already much more lavish than those awarded employees in the private sector and that this is not appropriate.
There are 43 bills on First Reading. I do not read them until they get to second reading. First reading is a formality that allows bills to be considered and they are not evaluated by committee until they pass First reading.
There are 21 bills on Second Reading. Many of them are zoning bills and I do not form an opinion on every zoning bills and only pay attention to those that I assume are controversial or have an impact beyond a single neighborhood. These are the bills on Second Reading that interest me.
BILL NO. BL2016-252 establishes the tax levy for the coming year. This year's budget does not call for increasing the tax levy.
BILL NO. BL2016-235 increases the fees Metro Public Works charges for certain services to reflect the departments cost of providing these services.
BILL NO. BL2016-238 would permit some establishments to have unisex bathrooms. These seem reasonable to me. Read about it here.
BILL NO. BL2016-239 would provide for free parking for elderly individuals in parking meter zones and public parking facilities after they purchased a $50 sticker. I hate to say it, but I am now "elderly." I don't need charity. I have more disposable income than I have ever had in my life. This is insulting and condescending. If this passes however, I will probably purchase the sticker and enjoy it, but why would one assume "elderly" people need free parking worse than struggling young married people or single mothers? I don't need your rocking chair, your Geritol or medicare. This bill needs to be defeated. Or, it could be amended to allow free parking for single mothers, free parking for students, free parking for ministers of the gospel, free parking for young couples with children, free parking for musician and those engaged in the arts, free parking for teachers, firemen and policemen, free parking for African-Americans ....
BILL NO. BL2016-244 wold allow Metro to enter into an agreement with the Trust for Public Land to implement the Nashville Climate Smart Cities Program to assist Nashville with the development of climate-smart green infrastructure. I don't have anymore information on this but it sounds suspicious and hope it gets close scrutiny.
There are 10 bills on Third and final reading. These are the ones of interest:
BILL NO. BL2016-220 would expand the requirements regarding reporting litigation matters to the Metropolitan Council. The Department of Law would have to report to the Council all final judgements against Metro, quarterly have to report to the Council all lawsuits against Metro where the claim is greater than $300,000, and some additional information. This is a positive proposal.
BILL NO. BL2016-221 would remove a section of the code that regulates "dance halls." The provisions of this code are redundant to other provisions of the code. Currently, if an establishment permits dancing they must have a dance hall permit. This removes that requirement. The city will lose about $40,000 a year if this passes but I view this as a positive development.
BILL NO. BL2016-234 would add “natural gas compressor stations” to a list of facilities regulated as a “major source” of air pollutants which require a local permit and would do some other things. This is part of an attempt to stop proposed natural gas compression stations planned for Joelton and Antioch. Federal law says that local government can not stop these developments and the Federal government has the right to permit them. However, there is a process whereby a local government may gain permitting authority and this is part of that process to gain that authority.
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Monday, June 06, 2016
David French decides not to run as conservative alternative to Trump
The anti-Trump folks are still without
a candidate.
David French, a lawyer and staff writer for the National
Review, has announced that he won't be running for president as a
conservative alternative to Donald Trump. (link)
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(update) Nashville selected for a "Promise Zone"
HUD Awards Nashville Communities with Promise Zone Designation
Designation allows for technical assistance and access to federal investment in six subzones
“I’m grateful for the leadership of HUD, MDHA, and the many community organizations who have stepped up to be partners in this program that will create opportunity for Nashville’s most vulnerable populations,” said Mayor Megan Barry. “By working together, by sharing data and by making resources available to community leaders, we have a chance to turn deserts of poverty into oases of hope.”
The mission of the Nashville Promise Zone is to foster intensive partnerships among Nashville’s organizations that serve high-poverty neighborhoods, improve the collective impact of their service, and address revitalization in a collaborative way.
The Promise Zone designation provides ten years of significant federal support including: priority access to federal investments that further communities’ strategic plans; a federal liaison to help local leaders navigate federal resources; and five full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members to strengthen the capacity of Promise Zone initiatives.
“Nashville’s designation as a Promise Zone community by the Obama Administration and HUD speaks volumes to the commitment of Mayor Barry and the leadership of the city to continue to build on a strong commitment and momentum to help those confronted with the pain of poverty and unemployment,” said Ed Jennings, Jr, HUD SE Regional Administrator. “Through the Promise Zone program working closely with our federal government partners and local and business leaders serves as the real door opening opportunity for positive and enduring change especially for those hoping for a brighter future through job creation, improved educational opportunities, reduced violent crime in their communities.”
The Nashville Promise Zone partners will address six primary goals: 1) increase access to quality affordable housing; 2) create jobs; 3) increase economic activity; 4) improve educational opportunities; 5) improve community infrastructure, and 6) reduce violent crime.
“The Obama Administration is committed to providing local leaders with proven tools that advance their vision for change in their respective communities, helping to ensure a decent living for hard-working Americans,” said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams. “The U.S. Economic Development Administration is pleased to be working with our Federal partners through the President’s Promise Zones initiative to support local plans to create economic opportunity and jobs. We congratulate Nashville on their designation!”
The Nashville Promise Zones will operate with the combined efforts of 94 supporting partners from government, local institutions, nonprofits, and community organizations. The Promise Zones are broken into six subzones each with its own captain: Martha O’Bryan Center, Marsha Edwards, President and CEO; Edgehill Coalition, Austin Sauerbrei, Community Organizer; Woodbine Community Organization, Tony Woodham, Executive Director; Conexión Américas, Renata Soto, Co-Founder and Executive Director; Urban League of Middle Tennessee, Latrisha Jemison, Board Chair; St. Luke’s Community House, Corey Gephardt, Executive Director.
“This grant was a team effort,” said MDHA Executive Director Jim Harbison. “Special thanks to staff from MDHA and the Mayor’s Office for their leadership on this project. And to the 94 partners, organizations and elected officials who put their support behind the Nashville Promise Zone, thank you for your commitment to our city.”
Promise Zones have already shown great success in cities that have begun to implement them. The IndyEast Promise Zone in Indianapolis has secured nearly $10 million in grants from federal agencies. This has helped to create jobs, opportunity through workforce training to formerly incarcerated individuals, and more energy efficient housing for low-income senior citizens.
Seventeen agencies are providing preferential access in 69 programs. Promise Zones' federal partners include the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Department of Education, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the Small Business Administration (SBA).
“This is an incredible opportunity for Nashville. Everyone deserves a chance to succeed in the It City,” said Congressman Jim Cooper (TN-5). “Promise Zones will bring a focus to jobs, schools and safety in communities that need it most.”
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