NASHVILLE – Members of the Downtown Rutledge Steering Committee for the Tennessee Downtowns program recently traveled to Nashville for an initial training session to kick off Round 10 of the program.

Steering Committee members from the seven downtowns selected in the Round 10 cohort gathered at the Tennessee State Library and Archives Tuesday, May 6 to learn about the two phases of the 24-month program. The cohort was introduced to the program schedule, educational components and project ideas, as well as grant and other programs available to certified Tennessee Downtowns.
The first phase of the program will be focused on education, building resources and organization. Tennessee Main Street staff will conduct a site visit to Downtown Rutledge and provide a preliminary assessment to the steering committee, followed by virtual and in-person training sessions to be completed by steering committee members.

A community project will be the focus of the second phase of the program. The project will be funded by a $20,000 reimbursable grant by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD). Clinch-Powell RC&D will provide the initial funding for the project and will be reimbursed upon its completion.

Upon graduating the program, Downtown Rutledge will be eligible for additional TNECD State initiatives as a certified Tennessee Downtown.