NASHVILLE, Tenn. – State Rep. Dan Howell and State Rep. Kevin Raper, both of Cleveland, announced $1 million in grant funding has been awarded to the City of Cleveland and Meigs County Government to restore local historic buildings.
The funds are from the Tennessee Historic Development Grant Program, approved by the General Assembly in 2021, which will provide $6.1 million in awards to assist in renovating and preserving historic buildings around the state.
“The Cherokee Hotel and Meigs County Courthouse are prominent landmarks in the community, and deserve to be brought back to their former glory,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement. “These restorations wouldn’t be possible without the hard work of our local leaders and assistance from TNECD. We can’t wait to see the projects come to life soon.”
The city of Cleveland will receive $500,000 to restore the Cherokee Hotel, which will soon be home to the new city hall. Meigs County will receive $500,000 to restore the 120-year-old courthouse in Decatur.
Each grant application was reviewed by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) and Tennessee Historical Commission (THC) to ensure the grantees’ plans would rehabilitate the structures while maintaining the historical integrity.
For additional information on grantees, the required criteria for eligible structures and the application, visit the TNECD website: https://tnecd.com/.
Dan Howell represents District 22 which includes Meigs, Polk and part of Bradley Counties.
Kevin Raper represents District 24 which includes part of Bradley County.
