OVERVIEW
The funding resources available to Knox County and used by Knox County Community Development to achieve its Mission are primarily distributed in the form of grants. There are two primary sources of this funding - Knox County Government and the United States Government.
Knox County funds consist of money from the General Fund (property/sales taxes and fees) and the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund (hotel/motel room taxes). The amount available each year from the General Fund is contingent on the funds remaining when the critical needs of the County are budgeted for. The amount available from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund is contingent upon the amount returned to the County in fees collected from occupants of hotel/motel rooms. Grants awarded from the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund are restricted to use by organizations that are either a tourist attraction or a promoter of tourism.
Grants issued with Knox County funds are referred to as Community Grants and are intended for projects and/or service programs whose duration and funding is within one fiscal year (July through June).
Funding from the United States Government consists of money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The amount available each year is contingent on an allocation formula. The money is available for grants under one or more programs, each having specific restrictions but all being made available to serve low to moderate income persons.
Grants issued with HUD funds may cover a variety of projects and service programs. While grants for projects may span a fiscal year, the duration and funding of grants for service programs is within one fiscal year (July through June).
ADMINISTRATION
Beginning with the invitation to community agencies to apply for funding, throughout the process of request review, grant award, goal definition, and performance monitoring, Knox County Community Development is responsible to provide accurate and timely information and assistance.
In addition to publishing information on the website, personalized invitations to apply, notifications of award status, and invitations to Orientation sessions are mailed to well over one hundred agencies. The application process is reviewed every year and any necessary changes are made and communicated to the community.
Orientation sessions are held every year for those whose grant applications have been approved and the reporting expectations and methodology are explained in detail.
As the funding year progresses, on going communication in the form of email, telephone, and site visits takes place to ensure grant recipients are complying with all aspects of their grant requirements and that they are being provided all available assistance to ensure success. As timetables are met and reporting requirements are achieved, payments are processed by KCCD in accordance with the prescribed process and financial tracking takes place to ensure that internal control requirements are met and grant recipients receive the appropriate payment in a timely fashion.
Finally, the staff of Community Development makes every attempt to visit as many grant recipients as possible to communicate our interest in the vital services being provided our community. We value our partnerships and feel these visits give us the opportunity to experience first hand the needs of our agencies and the benefits afforded by our services and the grant dollars received.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Through planning, administration, implementation and monitoring of the county’s Community Development Block Grant and HOME Investment Partnership Grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), we take the lead and are responsible for the community development needs of Knox County. This includes activities to:
- Improve the lives of the citizens of Knox County
- Improve the condition of housing in the county
- Add affordable housing to the existing housing stock
- Build and strengthen neighborhoods in Knox County
- Support other county departments through access to additional revenue sources
Within the HUD program structure we regularly assess community needs and identify gaps in services. Strategies and plans are developed to address shortfalls by developing affordable housing, providing infrastructure to support neighborhoods, providing for the social services needs of Knox County citizens, and supporting the economic development of Knox County.
