T‑Mobile Hometown Grant Program Reaches 200 Winners

Today, T-Mobile announced its next round of Hometown Grant recipients, reaching a milestone of 200 towns. With projects focused on revamping outdoor spaces, building event venues, providing Wi-Fi connectivity and more, the latest 25 recipients will begin turning ideas into reality with help from T-Mobile.

With a record of over 600 applications this time around, the growing interest in Hometown Grants is a testament to the profound impact T-Mobile is making on small towns across the country.

T-Mobile works with Main Street America and Smart Growth America to select Hometown Grant recipients. These two organizations have decades of experience helping to build stronger, more prosperous small towns and rural communities. Application assessments are based on level of detail and completeness, potential community impact, project viability and other factors.

“The T-Mobile Hometown Grant program has made a massive impact in small towns and rural communities across the country,” said Main Street America Interim CEO Hannah White. “Grantees have renovated historic spaces, built new playgrounds and parks, and spurred innovative placemaking projects that are bringing community members together in new and meaningful ways. We are thrilled to partner with T-Mobile and Smart Growth America to continue this important work in places that are too-often overlooked.”

These are the next 25 winners and their projects: 

• *Osceola, Ark.: Revitalize the Osceola Main Street Bingo Hall Community Space as a hub for community events, festivals, family gatherings, workshops and so much more.
• *Montrose, Colo.: Construct a playground at Riverside Landing, adjacent to the new Ambulatory Care Center (target construction completion Feb. 2024), to provide play for patients and families awaiting care.
• *Quincy, Fla.: Repair the roof for the soon-to-be permanent location of the Big Bend Community Development Corporation’s Florida Museum of African American History, to serve as education for Gadsden County students and preserve Main Street initiatives.
• Paxton, Ill.: Install a free public Wi-Fi network in downtown Paxton to provide connectivity for customers, residents and local business owners.
• *Ottawa, Kan.: Create a state-of-the-art open-air body weight exercise Fitness Court, adaptable for adults of all ages, abilities and fitness levels, presented by the National Fitness Campaign and Kansas state sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas.
• Grayson, Ky.: Restore the water damaged roof of the Carter County Public Library, in the heart of downtown Grayson, for the community to have regained access to public technology resources.
• Princeton, Ky.: Renovate the second floor of the George Coon Public Library, making enhancements for children and teen patrons to enjoy, while also creating a multifunctional space, filling a community need after recent tornado damage.
• Brunswick, Md.*: Place Wayfinding Kiosks in downtown Brunswick to provide navigation for visitors and residents and allow the City of Brunswick, Brunswick Main Street, local businesses and community organizations to promote various activities and events.
• Easton, Md.*: Update technology at the Brookletts Place Talbot County Senior Center computer lab, including 20 computer stations to provide the senior community with access to connectivity, classes and hands-on learning opportunities.
• Red Wing, Minn.*: Commission the “Honoring Dakota – We Are All Related” mural to celebrate the Dakota people, their history, and honor their contributions to the community.
• Silver Bay, Minn.: Transform the current North Shore Area Partners’ community-centric building and city lot into a vibrant and accessible intergenerational gathering place in downtown Silver Bay, including gardens and green spaces, and the installation of a solar array to increase the organization’s environmental and economic sustainability.
• Corinth, Miss.*: Revamp the existing children’s section of the Corinth Public Library, including child-friendly learning activities, new floor seating, an interactive play area and nearly 1,200 new books, some in Spanish language.
• Laurel, Mont.: Build the new Laurel City Splash Park in Thomson Park, replacing an old pool that is no longer in use, as a way for the community to cool off during hot summer months.
• Goldsboro, N.C.*: Develop the first-ever STEM Program at Edgewood School, including monthly STEM project kits to provide innovative learning environments that are student focused, "hands on" and spark collaborative problem-solving opportunities for students with disabilities.
• Dover, N.J.: Design the Town of Dover Trail, a quarter mile-long trail connecting residents to communal parks and each other, with a greater mission to create more than 100 miles of communal greenspace along the Morris Canal.
• Carlsbad, N.M.*: Renovate the existing Carlsbad Public Library to serve as a multi-purpose space, providing access to public internet, technology resources and digital archive materials as well as a community meeting space for digital literacy, telehealth, and job training.
• Otisville, N.Y.: Upgrade the parking lot of the Old Otisville School – now a multipurpose community center – including new parking lot signage and ground repairs, to improve safety and accessibility and aid in existing historic building preservation efforts.
• Wapakoneta, Ohio: Install the community's first-ever All-Abilities playground at Harmon Park, whose space theme includes a rocket ship and interactive panels, with interpretive signage that shares the story of the first moonwalker, Neil A. Armstrong, his relationship with Wapakoneta, and his great ability to be a team player and a problem-solver.
• Ada, Okla.*: Create the first-ever STEAM-SOS (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics – Seniors on Saturdays) program, pairing seniors from the Irving Community Senior Center with local high school and college students to collaborate in various technology fields including coding, digital fabrication and physical design.
• Hamburg, Pa.: Construct a nearly 3,000 square foot multi-purpose facility in the downtown Hamburg business district, including a covered stage, kitchen area with two concession windows, public restrooms, and off-street parking lot, for the community to use as a hub for live performances and other family-oriented activities.
• Levelland, Texas*: Transform an outdoor space in the downtown area as the future Farmer’s Market Park; a family-friendly space that includes free public Wi-Fi, a community garden, stage for performances, seating, a water feature and a farmer-themed mural to increase community gathering.
• New Castle, Va.: Build a covered colonnade pavilion at the Craig County Farmers Market, for local merchants and farmers to sell goods, and for the community to use as an entertainment venue and gathering space.
• Burlington, Vt.: Revitalize downtown Burlington’s Champlain Street Park, including new inclusive playground equipment and accessible pathway, benches, bike racks, lighting and landscaping.
• Colville, Wash.*: Improve and beautify the Heritage Court, an existing gathering space used for various community activities and holiday events, by adding a mural, shade structure, free public Wi-Fi, seating and other inviting amenities.
• Huntington, W.Va.: Complete final beautification renovations at Central City Park, including new cafe-style seating and public art sculptures for community gatherings.

*Main Street America Member Community

T-Mobile awards Hometown Grants each quarter for up to 25 towns with a population of less than 50,000 people. Anyone with a vision for how to make their community even stronger than it is today can apply. For more information or to apply, click here.