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1. City Closed For MLK Jr. Day
2. Leadership Training Class Registration Deadline is Approaching
3. Don’t Forget: Neighborhood Achievement Awards Nominations are Open
4. Improve Health in Your Neighborhood in 2026
5. New Traffic Calming Program Accepts Applications Until Jan. 31
6. Housing and Neighborhood Development Holds Public Meeting
7. Board of Zoning Appeals Meets Next Week
8. PARC Quarterly Meeting Is Scheduled
9. Funding Available for Residential Historic Preservation
10. Planning to Host Public Meetings to Update One Year Plan
11. YWCA Hosts Diversity Day and Race Against Racism
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1. City Closed For MLK Jr. Day
The City of Knoxville offices, including 311 and the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment, will be closed Monday, Jan. 19, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Waste Connections will operate on its normal residential garbage and recycling routes on Jan 19. Downtown trash and recyclables will also be collected on their regular schedule.
As a reminder, Thanksgiving and Christmas are the only holidays when residential curbside trash and recycling are not collected as scheduled.
The City's four recycling drop-off centers will be open, and the Goodwill attendant will be available to accept donations of household goods.
The City's Solid Waste Facility, 1033 Elm St., will be closed between Saturday, Jan. 17 and Monday, Jan 19, resuming regular hours on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
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2. Leadership Training Class Registration Deadline is Approaching
The deadline to register for the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment’s Building Strong Neighborhood Organizations (BSNO) leadership training course is Monday, Jan. 26, at 4:30 p.m.
This FREE, eight-week training series meets on Monday evenings from Feb. 9 through April 6, with graduation to follow.
- Neighborhood Organization
- Reason for wanting to participate
This training program is designed for city residents who participate in or lead resident-led, resident-controlled, democratically run neighborhood organizations. It is also open to individuals interested in learning how to start and sustain neighborhood groups.
Along with learning from City staff, as well as other participants, each participant will receive resources including a three-ring binder full of how-to articles on building and sustaining community-based organizations.
Space is limited, so residents are encouraged to register soon.
For questions, contact Hayley Howard at hho...@knoxvilletn.gov.
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3. Don’t Forget: Neighborhood Achievement Awards Nominations are Open
The Neighborhood Achievement Award recognizes the work of the City of Knoxville's neighborhood organizations to improve, protect, and enhance their neighborhoods. This is one of several honors that will be presented honoring at the Neighborhood Awards Dinner in early March.
Neighborhood organizations of all sizes and stages can be nominated. And yes, you can nominate your own neighborhood organization. We highly encourage it!
Award recipients will receive $100 for their neighborhood organization to use toward future projects. Don’t miss this opportunity to be recognized for the work neighborhood has done throughout 2025. Awards will be given at the invitation-only, Neighborhood Awards Dinner this spring.
You can nominate neighborhood organizations by completing the nomination form on the City’s website. Save the PDF to your computer and attach it in an email to sri...@knoxvilletn.gov.
You can also mail your completed form to City of Knoxville, Office of Neighborhood Empowerment, Suite 546, P.O. Box 1631, Knoxville, TN, 37901.
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4. Improve Health in Your Neighborhood in 2026
Looking to improve your overall health and wellbeing in 2026? It can be even more impactful when you do it alongside your neighbors. Invite others in your community to participate in the Office of Neighborhood Empowerment’s (ONE) Healthy Knoxville Program (HKP)!
The HKP is designed to strengthen neighborhoods in the City of Knoxville by supporting a wide range of community-based initiatives focused on health and wellbeing.
The HKP’s goals are to increase healthy outcomes for neighbors by planning activities in at least three of the four categories:
- Physical Activity / Utilizing Outdoor Spaces
- Nutrition / Healthy Food Access
- Tobacco / Vaping Cessation
- Mental Health and Wellness
Do you and your neighbors go for walks in your neighborhood? That counts! Do you all share healthy recipes on social media with one another? That counts! Do you pick up cigarette butts in your neighborhood’s park? That counts! Share coping skills with each other? That counts! We want to celebrate what you are doing to improve the health of you and your neighbors.
Currently participating neighborhoods include Edgewood Park Neighborhood Association, Timbercrest Neighborhood Association, West Hills Community Association, and Westwood Homeowners Association. Who else is interested?
Neighborhood groups, which are recognized by the ONE, wishing to participate in this program will need to contact Hayley Howard at hho...@knoxvilletn.gov. You have until the end of 2026 to complete your programming, and neighborhoods that participate will be honored at the Neighborhood Awards Dinner in March of 2027.
Let’s improve the health of Knoxville’s neighbors this year!
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5. New Traffic Calming Program Accepts Applications Until Jan. 31
The City of Knoxville’s new, streamlined Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program (NTSP) is now accepting applications from neighbors who want their local streets considered for traffic-safety measures, including speed humps.
The application window will be open throughout the month of January and applications can be completed online. Please note that only local streets are eligible to apply for this program. If your street can be found in the Major Road Plan, that means it is NOT a local street and therefore it is ineligible for the NTSP.
After the application window closes, Transportation Engineering will review all submissions and conduct thorough studies of the streets that have been submitted. This includes collecting data on street speeds, traffic volumes, proximity to schools, accidents, and other relevant factors. Following these studies, the streets will be ranked based on this data.
Approved projects will be prioritized for construction in 2027. The selection process will be data-driven, ensuring that the most pressing safety concerns are addressed first. To keep everyone informed, all updates regarding the status of applications and projects will be made available on the Transportation Engineering website.
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6. Housing and Neighborhood Development Holds Public Meeting
The City’s Housing and Neighborhood Development Department invites neighbors to attend a public meeting tonight, Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 5:30 p.m. at the Public Works Building, 3131 Morris Ave.
The meeting will focus on development of the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan, which guides funding decisions related to affordable housing, homelessness, and non-housing community development activities.
A virtual option will be available for those who cannot attend in person. Visit www.knoxvilletn.gov/development the day prior to the meeting to find the Microsoft Teams link.
The Annual Action Plan updates the Five-Year Consolidated Plan and outlines the proposed use of U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnerships Act, and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) funds for program year 2026-2027.
At the meeting, the Housing and Neighborhood Development Department will:
- Review priority goals and objectives from its 2025-2029 Five Year Consolidated Plan;
- Provide a description of unmet needs and gaps identified through consultation meetings with stakeholders, regarding: Non-housing Community Development needs; Homelessness needs; and Affordable Housing needs;
- Discuss anticipated HUD and local funding for the fiscal year 2026-2027 projects/programs starting July 1, 2026;
- Describe the process for developing the draft 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan, including proposed priority goals/objectives and how the public may provide input; and
- Inform agencies on how they may apply for grant funding to meet priority goals/objectives.
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.
An individual with a disability who requires an accommodation to participate, may contact the City of Knoxville’s ADA Coordinator, Stephanie Brewer Cook at 865-215-2034 or SC...@knoxvilletn.gov no less than 72 hours prior to the meeting.
If you have Limited English Proficiency (LEP) and want to request language translation services, please contact the Human Resources Department at tit...@knoxvilletn.gov, or 865-215-3100 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.
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7. Board of Zoning Appeals Meets Next Week
The Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) will meet next week on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. in person in Conference Room 461, fourth floor, in the City County Building located at 400 Main Street,
There is a Zoom attendance option available upon request. If you need to request a link, please email jher...@knoxvilletn.gov before 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting.
If you wish to speak on a property or be advised of an appeal, please be sure to sign the sign-in sheet.
New business on the agenda:
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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8. PARC Quarterly Meeting Is Scheduled
The Police Advisory Review Committee (PARC) will hold its quarterly meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, from 6 - 8 p.m. at the South Community Center, 522 Maryville Pike.
PARC works to strengthen the relationship between Knoxville residents and the Knoxville Police Department by providing a timely, fair, and objective review of community complaints.
Please use this form to sign up to speak during the public forum portion of the PARC meeting. Speakers will receive a confirmation email from PARC. Community members may also sign up in person on the day of the meeting between 5:30-6 p.m. For any issues or questions regarding Public Forum, please contact Josie Russell at 865-215-3966 or jrus...@knoxvilletn.gov.
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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9. Funding Available for Residential Historic Preservation
The priorities of this program include the preservation and stabilization of historic residential structures, creation/maintenance of affordable housing, community revitalization, and prioritization of exterior repairs in the City of Knoxville's historic neighborhoods.
Residential buildings located within H or NC overlay districts, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, or deemed eligible for listing by Knoxville-Knox County Planning/Tennessee Historical Commission are permitted to apply for funding. Residential properties that do not fit this criterion may apply for RHPP funding with the submission of additional information (i.e. age of structure, risk of building failure, location of structure, etc.).
Funding is provided in the form of a zero-interest, short-term construction loan, due upon construction completion or within 12 months of RHPP construction loan closing, whichever is sooner. All funding is provided on a reimbursement basis. Each project may be reimbursed for a maximum of $200,0000 towards qualifying redevelopment costs.
Applications are awarded as funding allows. Applications are due no later than 5:00 pm, the second Wednesday of each month. If applications are received, the RHPP Application Review Committee will convene and score applications on the first Wednesday of the following month. Applicants may complete and submit by email the fillable PDF application, found on the City of Knoxville’s website, along with all supplemental attachments, to Jillian Love — Economic & Community Development Project Manager — at JL...@KnoxvilleTN.gov.
For additional information or questions regarding the RHPP, please email or call Jillian Love at 865-215-2042. Please consult program guidelines for additional information regarding eligibility requirements, program guidelines, and application submission dates.
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10. Planning to Host Public Meetings to Update One Year Plan
Knoxville Knox County Planning has started the process for the City of Knoxville’s One Year Plan’s annual update, and the public is encouraged to participate. The One Year Plan serves as the foundation for zoning decisions and is based on the land-use goals, objectives, and policies found in the City’s comprehensive plans.
Staff have not proposed any substantive changes to the 2026 One Year Plan. Appendix A has been updated to reflect plan amendments that were approved in 2025.
Two virtual meetings have been scheduled to give community members the opportunity to review the plan, ask questions, and discuss any additional proposed changes.
- Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, at 12 p.m. via Zoom
- Thursday, January 29, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. via Zoom
The meetings will begin with a presentation explaining the basis and function of the One Year Plan, followed by an explanation of the proposed change, and then open discussion.
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11. YWCA Hosts Diversity Day and Race Against Racism
The 5k race will begin at 9 a.m. with the one-mile walk following at 9:45 a.m., and the Kids Fun Run will start at 10:15 a.m. You can register for the event online. All proceeds go to Phyllis Wheatley Center’s free after school programming for East Knoxville Youth.
Light refreshments will be provided along with vendor booths, live entertainment, a distinguished guest speaker, and a brief awards ceremony.
The YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Diversity Day is more than an event. It's a movement toward unity and understanding. This family-friendly occasion brings together people from all walks of life to celebrate diversity and promote dialogue on the importance of inclusivity. The Race Against Racism 5K, a highlight of the day, is a symbol of our collective commitment to eradicating racism and promoting a more inclusive society.
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12. What’s Happening for King Week 2026
January is coming with a full week of reflection, unity, service, and celebration. The MLK Commemorative Commission invites you to join them as they honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a powerful lineup of events for all ages.
- Interfaith Prayer Service: Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 12 p.m. at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, 2500 Maryville Pike
- Leadership Educational Symposium: Thursday, Jan. 15, from 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at the UTK Student Union
- Thomas “Tank” Strickland Leadership Awards Luncheon: Thursday, Jan. 15, from 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. at the UTK Student Union
- Community Forum: Friday, Jan. 16, at 7 p.m. at the Beck Cultural Exchange, 1927 Dandridge Ave
- MLK Youth Symposium: Saturday, Jan. 17, from 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Austin East High School, 2800 MLK Jr. Dr
- Night with the Arts Tribute: Sunday, Jan. 18, from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Community Evangelistic Church, 2650 Boyds Bridge Pike
- MLK Jr. Memorial Tribute Service: Monday, Jan. 19, from 12 – 2 p.m. at Overcoming Believers Church, 211 Harriet Tubman St.
From tributes in the arts, Community Forums, Youth Summit, and Interfaith Prayer, to the new MLK Basketball Classic, Luncheon, and Memorial Services, this year’s schedule brings our community together in meaningful ways.
Take a moment to look over the full list of events and mark your calendars now.
One community, one purpose, one dream, and a call to action.
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13. Knoxville Neighborhoods Calendar (click link for online calendar)
To add your 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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