Huntsville celebrates Community Development programs, volunteers

HUNTSVILLE – A signature event celebrates two anniversaries this week — golden and silver.

Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle will join the city’s Community Development Department in two upcoming activities commemorating Community Development Week.

The department will oversee improvements to a home at 1905 Mangum Drive. The improvements are made possible through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program and the city’s CDBG Home Maintenance/Rehabilitation Program.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the CDBG program and 25th anniversary of the city’s Maintenance/Rehabilitation Program.

Community Development each year makes improvements to the homes of residents who meet eligibility requirements. In 2023 Community Development aided approximately 150  homeowners through the Maintenance/Rehabilitation Program.

Battle will visit the work site today at 11:30 a.m., to meet the homeowner and volunteers to learn more about the project.

The mayor will also present awards to volunteers at a noon luncheon Friday at Johnson Legacy Park. The city’s CDBG Maintenance/Rehabilitation Program employed the services of more than 1,000 volunteers in 2023.

“We are immensely proud to commemorate Community Development Week and the remarkable milestones achieved through our programs,” Battle said. “This celebration underscores the power of volunteerism and underscores our unwavering commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant Huntsville.”