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Published on: 05/20/2026

Chattanooga, Cleveland receive Thrive grants

Dancers in Ocooe and First Streets in Cleveland during the 2026 Hot Slaw festival
(Photo by Thrive Regional Partnership_

Two Tennessee municipalities will benefit from Civic Experiments grants provided through the Thrive Regional Partnership, with support from the Trust for Civic Life

As part of Chattanooga’s National Park City program, Friends of Outdoor Chattanooga received a grant for the Chattanooga National Park City Seed Drive, a program asking residents to submit ideas or “seeds” that offer place-based, actionable, and repeatable projects that require collaboration with the potential to grow into larger, community-building initiatives.  

The city of Cleveland received a funds for its “Creative Spark” initiative, that will activate vacant and underutilized spaces through immersive civic experiments in the city’s emerging Arts and Entertainment District. The city is working with local artists and Understory Exp to create temporary “civic living rooms” featuring art installations, performances, and facilitated community dialogue.