News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Sparta will apply for a $100,000 Broadband-Ready grant, designed to improve on technology infrastructure across the community.
Aldermen approved the application Thursday night. Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said the grant could provide computers at the Senior Center and upgrade technology at several city facilities.
“If we don’t apply for this we’re leaving right at $100,000 on the table,” Lowery said. “And its gotta be used for something for our citizens and we just think it would be better for them help with the senior citizen education and various other things that go on. So it could be really something good for our community and positive for the city to help in some of those areas.”
The $100,000 grant through the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development. Lowery said the grant is more about helping the citizens than the city itself.
“We think it’s going to be really good,” Lowery said. “None of this money is gonna be used to enhance the city or any kind of salaries or anything like that. It’s to help the citizens with internet activities and education-type stuff. So we don’t want any of that money to be left on the table. So we are looking at all the things that we can do to try to get our best bang for the buck as far as people and helping our citizens on various things that they need technology-wise.”
The city is looking to buy four to five computers and iPads to put in the Senior Citizen Center, boarding pass printers for the Public Library, and sound and presentation equipment for the Civic Center. Lowery said there are possibilities that the city could get a city app with the grant.
In other business, Police Officer Justin Cunningham resigned. The board approved soliciting applications to fill the position. The board approved appropriations for financial aid to public service, nonprofit, and charitable organizations for the upcoming fiscal year.
