B

The Morristown community along with the Morristown Area Chamber of Commerce came together to celebrate the remodeling and rebranding of the O’Neil Caraway Community Resource Center on Thursday with a ribbon cutting.

The Resource Center will continue its tradition of providing for resident needs while attracting a wide array of resource providers into the community.

The Community Resource Center is named for longtime Morristown Housing Authority Executive Director O’Neil Caraway who passed away in September 1999.

Morristown Mayor Gary Chesney was in attendance at Thursday’s ribbon cutting and spoke highly of the late Caraway.

“I don’t know how many of you knew O’Neil, but he was a wonderful director and a great sprit with a great heart. He would really be flattered and honored that this facility was named after him,” Chesney said.

Hamblen County Mayor Bill Brittain was also in attendance and praised the remodel.

“This building has long history of holding programs that benefit the residents of this area, it’s great to see the face lift and revitalization of the space. I can’t wait to see how it serves the Morristown community,” Brittain said.

Tennessee Valley Housing Services Executive Director Sean Gilbert spoke on resources available to the community and future plans for expansion.

“We have big plans for this community. We have big plans for Morristown and the Tennessee Valley. This is where we make a difference with our kids and with their families and with our more mature people. We want to make sure they have some place to come and get the resources they need. We’re looking at this resource center just not for our community here, but for the whole Lincoln Heights area. We don’t want to turn any kid away,” Gilbert said

For 71 years, Tennessee Valley Housing Services has provided affordable housing options to the region. TVHS actively works to increase the supply of affordable housing while also maintaining and upgrading its current inventory of affordable homes. Dedication to providing opportunities for its customers self-sufficiency is a core principle for the organization.

The Neighborhood Network Center was established in September of 1994 with a goal to reduce the stigma of public housing, encourage community engagement and promote programs for residents and families. Since its development 29 years ago, the Center has been successful at creating opportunities for residents and providing for the needs of the community.

The ceremony ended by recognizing Tennessee Valley Housing Services resident, Jade Atkins.

Jade, a 5th grade student at Lincoln Heights Elementary School, was the 3rd place winner of the nationwide poster contest sponsored by the Tennessee Valley Housing Services.

TVHS provides affordable homes in the cities of Morristown, White Pine, and Sneedville; and administers section 8 vouchers in Cocke, Grainger, Greene, Hamblen, Jefferson counties and in Bean Station.

For more information on TVHS go to tvhstn.org or call 423-586-5115.