CNT Helps Knoxville Pinpoint Ideal Places for Transit and Freight Investments
Friday, May 11th, 2012 at 2:25 pm
Eastern Tennessee is a region graced with natural environmental beauty, a relatively low cost of housing, and a growing trade-based economy. Dispersed housing patterns mean that residents spend nearly 34 percent of household income on transportation, and only 1 percent of regional commuters take public transit to work, based on 2009 data. The high cost of local transportation threatens sustained regional affordability. To address this concern, mayors from each county and municipality within Anderson, Blount, Knox, Loudon, and Union counties have joined with planning agencies to draft Plan Eastern Tennessee (PlanET), a 30-year vision plan to enhance regional livability through sustainable development, job creation, and improved infrastructure. CNT was asked to join PlanET’s consulting team to analyze the Knoxville metropolitan region’s potential for strategic investment around transit and freight nodes.
Knoxville region - from the PlanET "Project Information Sheet"
Ryan Wilson Joins CNT’s Water Team
Friday, May 11th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
CNT welcomes our newest staff member in our Water program, Ryan Wilson. As stormwater program manager, Ryan will promote the value of using green infrastructure—trees, rain gardens, and native plants—to soak up raindrops where they fall and alleviate pressure on traditional grey infrastructure systems that lead to flooding. Ryan will also lead CNT’s effort to establish a one-stop Wetrofit service that will provide advocacy tools, technical assistance, and education to property owners looking to install and upgrade systems that reduce on-site flooding and improve property values.
“CNT’s Water program is embarking on very exciting and very important work over the next two years, and we’re extremely pleased to have Ryan on board to shape and implement our initiatives,” said Harriet Festing, CNT Water program director.
Fourth Equity Express Workshop Helps Community Leaders Teach Money-Saving Techniques
Friday, May 11th, 2012 at 3:53 pm
CNT hosted its fourth Equity Express “train-the-trainer” workshop in early May. Nineteen representatives from 12 local community outreach organizations, such as homeless advocacy groups, disability housing programs, and refugee assistance centers, attended the workshop that was filled to capacity. Over the course of the two-day event, CNT staff helped these leaders develop strategies for training their constituents on the best ways to generate income savings on a modest budget.
12 local community outreach organizations attended the latest Equity Express “train-the-trainer” workshop
