What do a high school STEM program in Burley, Idaho, a town-wide mural restoration in Toppenish, Wash. and a satellite pediatric clinic in Excelsior Springs, Mo. all have in common? They’re all projects now in the works, thanks to T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) Hometown Grants. The latest 25 recipients follow 100 others that have been announced since Hometown Grants began in April 2021 to support the people and organizations responsible for helping small towns across the country thrive. Just a year and a half into the $25 million, five-year initiative, T-Mobile has given more than $5.5 million dollars to projects across 37 states. And this is still just the beginning.
Twenty-five more small towns and rural communities across the country each receive a T-Mobile Hometown Grant up to $50,000 for community development projects spanning technology, education, environment and health care (Graphic: Business Wire)
“At T-Mobile, we go way beyond wireless to do what’s right for communities across the country,” said Jon Freier, President, Consumer Group at T-Mobile. “Through Hometown Grants, we’re empowering people in small towns and rural America to make a difference where they live, and the results have been incredibly inspiring. With 125 recipients and counting, it’s a privilege for the Un-carrier to continue supporting community development projects from coast to coast.”
Check out the next 25 Hometown Grant winners and their projects:
- Leeds, Ala.: Renovate Tri-County Community Center to use for counseling, food pantry, youth tutoring and more.
- Newton, Conn.: Revitalize and expand the use of a worn, but well-loved 1930 gymnasium by access to water, adding a kitchenette, new chairs, portable staging and cosmetic improvements.
- Manchester, Ga.: Adding ADA handicap accessible ramps to The Mill, a high use and 100-year gathering place.
- Keokuk, Iowa: Transform vacant lot into a multi-purpose outdoor space, complete with a performance stage and lawn area and park, to promote gathering for community events.
- Burley, Idaho: Launch after school STEM Forged program and eSports licensing and equipment to develop technology and innovation skills for Burley High School students.
- Galesburg, Ill.: Supply the future Skills Lab with tools and equipment to prepare visitors for the workforce, foster independence, and encourage lifelong learning.
- Mattoon, Ill.: Transform a blighted area of town affected by a tragedy by developing a community pocket park for the betterment of downtown and the enjoyment of residents.
- Versailles, Ind.: Add a splash pad next to the Holdsworth Entertainment Pavilion in the new pocket park on the town square.
- Ellsworth, Maine: A multi-phase project to transform the area along the Union River that will leverage existing riverfront investment focused on sustainability, ecology and river access.
- Freeport, Maine: Transform Town Hall by creating a lawn and amphitheater area to encourage gathering for events.
- Excelsior Springs, Mo.: Build out and renovate vacant space in a school building into a 1200 square-foot satellite pediatric and dental clinic for the community.
- Mars Hill, N.C.: Utilize remodeled space in a 1930s refurbished school building, transforming it into a certified commercial community kitchen.
- Marshall, N.C.: Repair roof and structure to historic Madison County Arts Council building.
- Doña Ana, N.M.: Beautify existing historic Doña Ana Plaza by adding benches and trash receptacles to accommodate attendees for local events.
- Guthrie, Okla.: Construct a pop-up-shop park in the historic downtown district to serve as both a vibrant community space and retail incubator to help jump-start small businesses in the community and diversify our local retail.
- Elizabeth Borough, Penn.: Transform a demolished building area into a greenspace and park for the community.
- Myrtle Beach, S.C.: Replace and install 24 new interpretive signs at Bathsheba Bowens Memorial Park, educating visitors about the local African American culture, history, and environment.
- Palmview, Texas: Create the first community library and youth club for the City of Palmview, while enhancing access to technology and internet services for the community, and academic opportunities for area youth.
- Plainview, Texas: To increase the ambiance of the city’s renovated streetscape and courthouse area, the project will add a new speaker system to broadcast live music from events, parade entries, weather alerts and more.
- Stuart, Va.: Install accessibility playground equipment to existing Dehart Park in Stuart to promote inclusivity and gathering.
- Enumclaw, Wash.: Rainier Foothills Wellness Foundation will renovate an existing building in Enumclaw’s downtown core to create a Community Connections Center, creating a community hub for volunteerism and community service while enabling RFWF to maintain and expand services including senior food delivery, weekly community meals, weekend food support for students, community-based mental health interventions and health care access.
- Toppenish, Wash.: Repainting the town’s 78 historical murals, one mural at a time.
- Rice Lake, Wis.: Build first ever public ADA kayak launch and ramp access at lake for the community and area tourists to enjoy.
- River Falls, Wis.: Provide access to connectivity with hot spot devices and free wi-fi service for community use at River Falls Public Library.
- Cody, Wyo.: Develop the local Outlaw trailhead into a safe, accessible, and eco-conscious outdoor meeting space through the establishment of designated parking, outdoor sitting areas, and proper signage.
To select Hometown Grant recipients, T-Mobile works with Main Street America and Smart Growth America, two organizations that have decades of experience helping to build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities. Together, the organizations assess applications based on level of detail and completeness, potential community impact, project viability and other factors.
“We’re proud to work with T-Mobile and Smart Growth America to support these innovative projects in rural communities across the country,” said Main Street America’s Interim CEO Hannah White. “These grant recipients represent the creativity and passion for place we’ve long seen in Main Street communities, and we are excited to see how the projects positively impact these areas in the coming years.”
Each quarter, T-Mobile awards Hometown Grants for up to 25 towns with a population of less than 50,000 and anyone with a vision for how to make their community even stronger than it is today can apply.
Commitment to Rural America
Hometown Grants are part of the Un-carrier’s massive 5-year commitment announced in April 2021 to bring 5G to rural America, open hundreds of new stores and support economic development in small towns by providing $25 million in funding.
Beyond amazing deals on plans and new devices, the Un-carrier launched Home Internet last year. With T-Mobile, more than 40 million households – a third of them in rural America – are eligible for 5G Home Internet.
For full details on how to submit a proposal for Hometown Grants, visit https://www.t-mobile.com/brand/hometown-grants.
For more information on past Hometown Grant recipients, visit the T-Mobile Newsroom here, here, here, and here.
For more information about T-Mobile’s commitment to small towns, visit T-Mobile.com/AcrossAmerica.
Follow T-Mobile’s Official Twitter Newsroom @TMobileNews to stay up to date with the latest company news.
5G Home Internet not available in all areas; customers ineligible for 5G may be eligible for 4G LTE or other fixed wireless options.
About T-Mobile
T-Mobile US Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America’s supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile’s customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Sprint. For more information please visit: https://www.t-mobile.com.
About Main Street America
Main Street America has been helping revitalize older and historic commercial districts for over 40 years. Today, it is a network of more than 1,200 neighborhoods and communities, rural and urban, who share both a commitment to place and to building stronger communities through preservation-based economic development. Since 1980, communities participating in the program have leveraged more than $89.57 billion in new public and private investment, generated 687,321 net new jobs and 154,435 net new businesses, and rehabilitated more than 303,836 buildings. Main Street America is a program of the nonprofit National Main Street Center, a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information, visit www.mainstreet.org.
About Smart Growth America
Smart Growth America envisions a country where no matter where you live, or who you are, you can enjoy living in a place that is healthy, prosperous, and resilient. We empower communities through technical assistance, advocacy, and thought leadership to realize our vision of livable places, healthy people, and shared prosperity, https://smartgrowthamerica.org/.
