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1. Knoxville SOUP is Back!
2. Regas Square Condos Registered with City
3. The Neighborhood Resource Fair is Coming in August
4. Board of Zoning Appeals Meets Next Week
5. Parks & Rec Challenge Grants Are Open
6. KEMA Offers Community Emergency Response Training
7. Watch for Misleading Registration Solicitations
8. Get Outside and Celebrate the International Day of Play
9. Knoxville Neighborhoods Calendar (click link for online calendar)
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1. Knoxville SOUP is Back!
Knoxville SOUP, a micro funding event, is back on Thursday, June 25, at the Kerbela Temple, 315 Kerbela Ave.
Up to four worthy causes will pitch their community-enhancing projects to the audience in hopes of winning the SOUP “pot.”
With a suggested minimum donation of $5, attendees get to enjoy soup and other goodies donated by local businesses, listen to presentations on creative projects to improve the community, and vote on their favorite project to win the pot of money collected at the door.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with brief presentations and Q&As starting at 6 p.m., with dinner and voting to follow. The winning project will be announced around 8 p.m.
SOUP is currently accepting applications from anywhere in Knox County to present projects. Visit their website and use the link under Knoxville SOUP Proposals to fill out a brief form about your project. The deadline to submit a proposal is Tuesday, Sept. 16.
For those who are in the food service industry, they are looking for donations of soup, salad, bread/cornbread/biscuits, or dessert. While they are expecting approximately 170 attendees, they ask food vendors to provide enough of whatever they are donating to serve 50, with hopefully several places donating.
Items for a raffle are also being accepted. The raffle is a successful part of the event and helps to fund future SOUP events as well as, helps fund future SOUP events while also helping promote your business as a SOUP supporter.
If you have food donation or raffle items, please send an email to con...@KnoxvilleSOUP.org. In exchange for your contribution, your business will be recognized on their Facebook page, on the KnoxvilleSoup.org web page, and in a printed program at the event. Knoxville SOUP is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, so all donations are fully tax deductible.
SOUP was started in Knoxville in March 2015 and so far, has raised nearly $13,000 for community projects. It is modeled after the most well-known, Detroit SOUP. Today, more than 200 SOUP dinners are held throughout the world - including Canada, Africa, Australia, the Caribbean, South and Central America, Asia, and Europe.
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2. Regas Square Condos Registered with City
Regas Square Condos neighbors have officially registered with the City of Knoxville, taking an important step toward strengthening their neighborhood and enhancing the resident experience. This milestone reflects a growing commitment to staying connected and engaged within the downtown community.
Alongside this effort, the Regas Condos Neighborhood Association boundaries are now available on the KGIS website.
With these efforts underway, Regas Square Condos is working to create a more connected, vibrant, and welcoming place to live.
If your neighborhood is located within the city and you would like to register with the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment, please contact Debbie Sharp at dsh...@knoxvilletn.gov.
Photo from Regas Square Condo website.
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3. The Neighborhood Resource Fair is Coming in August
Last year this event had over 90 vendors offering information and goodies for residents, alongside entertainment, kids’ activities, free food, and door prizes.
Registration will be required for all attendees. While registration is not yet open, it will be available beginning in early July, so be sure to stay tuned for more details on how to sign up!
To make things even more exciting, attendees who preregister will receive extra chances to win door prizes, so it pays to plan ahead. If you’re unable to register in advance, don’t worry; registration will also be available on-site the day of the event.
Speaking of door prizes, we’ll have a variety of door prizes available to win during the event, and we’ll be announcing them on our Facebook page in the weeks leading up. Be sure to follow along so you don’t miss a sneak peek at what you could win!
This event is a great opportunity to connect with City Departments, organizations, and agencies that serve our community. A wide range of nonprofits, as well as city and county vendors, will be on hand to share resources, answer questions, and showcase the services they provide.
We look forward to seeing you there and sharing a day of community, connection, and celebration!
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4. Board of Zoning Appeals Meets Next Week
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) will meet next week on Tuesday, June 16, at 4 p.m. in person in the Small Assembly Room, in the City County Building, located at 400 Main St.
Properties to be discussed are:
- 1535 Folsom Ave.
- 1021 West Nokomis Circle
- 647 Kenesaw Ave.
- 4239 Holston Dr.
If you have questions about attending, or about alternate options to attend, please email bldgins...@knoxvilletn.gov or call the Development Services office at 865-215-4311. If you wish to speak on a property or be advised of an appeal, please be sure to sign in on the sign-in sheet that will be on the table as you enter the room. There is a Teams attendance option available upon request. If you need to request a Teams link, please contact the Development Services office before noon on the day of the meeting.
The City of Knoxville ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services.
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5. Parks & Rec Challenge Grants Are Open
The 2026 City of Knoxville, Parks and Recreation Challenge Grants are now open and due on Friday, June 26.
Who can apply: non-profits, community groups, homeowners' associations, scout troops, and similar organizations registered as a Charitable Organization with the State of Tennessee.
Funding amount: Recipients can be reimbursed 50% of the cost of a single project up to $3,000.
Project Examples: Playground equipment, water fountains, benches, landscaping, community classes (fitness, painting, etc.).
Locations: The project must be on City property or public space.
Visit the City’s website for more information and to find the application.
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6. KEMA Offers Community Emergency Response Training
See the schedule below:
- July 2026, Unit 1: Disaster Preparedness
- August 2026, Unit 2: Response
- September 2026, Unit 3: First Aid
- October 2026, Unit 4: Triage
- November 2026, Unit 6: Fire Safety
- December 2026, No CERT - Happy Holidays!
- January 2027, Utility Safety
- February 2027, Unit 5: Disaster Psychology
- March 2027, Weather Safety
- April 2027, Unit 7: Search and Rescue
- May 2027, Unit 8: CERT and Terrorism
- June 2027, Disaster Exercise
CERT teaches participants about hazards that could affect our community, how to prepare for and how to help family members, neighbors, or coworkers in the immediate aftermath of an emergency before responders arrive. CERT is a nationally supported initiative hosted by the Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency (KEMA) in partnership with local emergency response agencies. The Knox County CERT+ program goes beyond the federal curriculum. CERT+ is focused on personal preparedness training for disasters and connecting people with local volunteer agencies for response opportunities.
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7. Watch for Misleading Registration Solicitations
Neighborhood organizations are encouraged to stay alert for misleading mail solicitations that may look like official government notices.
Recently, a Knoxville neighborhood leader shared a mailing that appeared urgent and official but was actually from a private company offering to file required paperwork for a fee significantly higher than filing directly through the state. While these solicitations are not necessarily illegal, they can be confusing and may lead organizations to pay for services they do not need.
The City of Knoxville recommends that neighborhood groups take a moment to review any unexpected correspondence requesting payment or action. If something seems unclear or suspicious, consider verifying the information before responding.
For organizations filing annual renewals, you may be able to complete the process directly through the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website at a much lower cost.
To help protect your organization:
- Be cautious of unsolicited mail, emails, or messages that create urgency or request payment.
- Verify whether the communication is coming from an official government source.
- Consult with your organization’s treasurer, attorney, or accountant if you are unsure.
- If you receive a communication that claims to be from the City of Knoxville, but seems suspicious, you can contact the city by calling 311 to be directed to the appropriate department.
You can also find helpful guidance on avoiding fraud and identity theft from the Federal Trade Commission at consumer.ftc.gov.
While the City cannot provide legal advice, we encourage neighborhood organizations to take proactive steps to verify information and avoid unnecessary expenses.
DISCLAIMER:
The City of Knoxville is a Tennessee municipal corporation that cannot dispense legal advice to private persons. Consult with an attorney for legal advice and/or legal representation.
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8. Get Outside and Celebrate the International Day of Play
The United Nations has designated June 11, as International Day of Play. For 2026, that will be this Thursday, June 11.
The theme for this year is Protect Play, Protect Childhood.
Why is play important?
Children learn best through play. It creates powerful learning opportunities across all areas of development – intellectual, social, emotional, and physical. Through play, children learn to forge connections with others, build a wide range of leadership skills, develop resilience, navigate relationships, and social challenges, as well as conquer their fears.
71% of children say that play is important because it makes them happy, and 58% say that it helps them make friends and have a good time with others.
It is estimated that 160 million children around the world are working instead of playing or learning. Only 1 in 4 children play out regularly in their neighborhood compared to their grandparents’ generation where almost ¾ said that they played outside a few times per week.
What will you do to encourage the children (and adults) in your life to play outside? You can take them to Kid A’Riffic in the Park, you could take them to any City Park, to the Zoo, or Ijams Nature Center, Muse Knoxville, or even invite friends over. There are so many options in Knoxville. We hope you’ll take time to enjoy the day through play and outdoor activity
Celebrating the International Day of Play with neighbors can count as Healthy Knoxville programming if your neighborhood is participating. Contact Hayley Howard at hho...@knoxvilletn.gov to learn more about the Healthy Knoxville Program.
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To add a neighborhood event or meeting to the Google calendar, call 865-215-3232.
Other Calendars
Additional online calendars that cover events outside the neighborhood realm include:
The City of Knoxville requires a permit to operate a short-term rental property. Details and a list of short-term rental permits are located on the City’s website here.
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About This Newsletter
** This Advisory is produced on most Tuesdays of the year.
** Ideas and contributions are welcome. We reserve the right to edit submissions.
** Deadline for news & calendar items: 5 p.m. Mondays
** May be copied and forwarded via neighborhood e-
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