DDA Awards $5 Million in Grants to Senior Centers, Including 11 in Southern Middle Tennessee

The Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) has awarded $5 million in grant funding to 125 senior centers across the state. The one-time grants are designed to support programming, health and wellness resources, facility improvements, and other projects that help provide older adults with opportunities for social connection and community engagement. Several centers in Southern Middle Tennessee will benefit from the funding. Recipients in the region include the Lawrence County Senior Citizens Club, Lewis County Senior Citizen Center, Marshall County Senior Citizens, Maury County Senior Citizens, Franklin County Senior Citizens, Giles County Senior Citizens, Moore County Senior Citizens, Perry County Senior Centers, Wayne County Senior Citizens, the Sewanee Senior Citizens Center, and the Shelbyville/Bedford County Senior Citizens Center. DDA said each of the 125 centers that applied for the program will receive an award, ranging from $10,000 to $50,000. The agency noted the grants are intended to help cover projects such as equipment upgrades, capital improvements, new programming, marketing, and certain operating expenses. Over the past two years, senior centers in 90 counties have received grant funding through the program. A full list of this year’s recipients is available on the DDA website.