Latest news with #HometownGrant
Phone Arena
18-06-2025
- Business
- Phone Arena
T-Mobile is giving away more money and your area might be the winner
Every now and then, the big carriers try to score some goodwill points – and right now, it is T-Mobile's turn to step up. After rolling out 25 Hometown Grant winners earlier this year, the Un-carrier is back at it again with another round. Each of the new recipients is getting up to $50,000 to put toward community-driven projects – things like renovating local landmarks, reviving public spaces or just giving parts of town a much-needed refresh. In total, T-Mobile says it has now invested nearly $18 million into this initiative, spreading the help across 48 states and Puerto Rico. The latest batch brings the total number of small towns getting a boost to 400 since the program kicked off in 2021. According to the company, the program has already helped over 2.4 million people, inspired more than 160,000 volunteer hours and led to the creation of over 1,200 jobs. It is a pretty solid impact and naturally, T-Mobile is happy to let everyone know. – Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile Consumer Group, June 17, 2025 Want to know if your town made the cut this time? T-Mobile dropped a video with the full list and if you spot your city in there, well, congrats. Video credit – T-Mobile One example from this round: Reedley, California is using its grant to give the 120-year-old Reedley Opera House stage a makeover. The goal is to support youth programs, make the arts more accessible, and give downtown Reedley a bit of a spark. Sure, $50K won't turn the place into Broadway, but for small towns, every bit helps. These grants aren't handed out randomly, either. T-Mobile works with Main Street America, a nonprofit focused on local economies, to vet applications based on impact, feasibility and what each project can realistically actually, the Hometown Grants program isn't just about parks and murals. T-Mobile says it has already funneled nearly $5.3 million into projects that support small businesses specifically – trying to grow those local economies from the ground up. And outside of the grants, T-Mobile 's still pushing programs like Project 10Million, which provides free internet access and hotspots to eligible student households to help close the digital divide – another way the company says it's trying to support underserved communities. Of course, T-Mobile is not the only one doing this type of outreach. Every major carrier pulls a move like this once in a while. Verizon, for example, recently announced a $5 billion commitment to investing in America and helping small businesses. And yeah, these gestures don't exactly erase customer frustrations, but they do help companies earn back some public favor. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase This offer is not available in your area.
Business Wire
17-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
T-Mobile's Hometown Grants Program Delivers Nearly $18M in Lasting Change Across 400 Communities
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) today unveiled the next 25 towns to receive a Hometown Grant, bringing the total to 400 recipients since the Un-carrier kicked off its five-year commitment to small towns and rural communities in April 2021. Each town will get up to $50,000 to help fund local projects that bring new life to their communities. T-Mobile has now given nearly $18 million in Hometown Grants to 400 communities across 48 states and Puerto Rico. The program unites people to make their communities even stronger and has generated more than 160,000 volunteer hours and created 1,270 jobs to date. 'With Hometown Grants helping over 2.4 million people so far, the program continues to deliver on our commitment to small towns and rural communities,' said Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile Consumer Group. 'Whether it's powering smart classrooms, restoring main streets or enhancing public spaces, we're helping communities build a stronger, more connected future — and there's so much more ahead.' Here are the next 25 Hometown Grant recipients and their projects: Clarkdale, Ariz.: Create a vibrant, first-of-its-kind placemaking destination by displaying museum artifacts in show windows on Main Street to attract tourists, enhance community gatherings and valorize an entire town's history and future. Reedley, Calif.: Renovate the aging stage at the historic, 120-year-old Reedley Opera House to expand access to the arts, support youth development and help revitalize downtown Reedley — transforming the Opera House into a safer, more vibrant hub for cultural connection and community engagement — and ensuring the building remains open and active as a cherished venue for live performances. Paonia, Colo.: Transform an underutilized backlot at the Blue Sage Center for the Arts into Sage Alley, a multi-use space for performances, workshops and community gatherings. Franklin, Conn.: Refurbish the historic Lebanon Road Schoolhouse's exterior and interior to be used as an educational community center. Okeechobee, Fla.: Add wheelchair-accessible playground equipment to Kiwanis Park, creating an inclusive play space for children of all abilities. Carbondale, Ill.: Improve connectivity and safety between Southern Illinois University and downtown Carbondale by installing wayfinding signage along the Downtown-Campus Connector multi-use path and installing new decorative alleyway lighting to make downtown safer, more welcoming and more accessible for students, residents and visitors alike. Freeport, Ill.: Transform a vacant lot in the retail district into a multi-functional pocket park driving retail and dining visitation, upper-story residential development and promoting downtown as the place to be. North Manchester, Ind.: Create a dedicated outdoor pavilion space and mobile kitchen at the North Manchester Public Library to promote food education programs, healthy eating and teach nutrition lesson to children, teens, new parents and older adults within the community. Winchendon, Mass.: Complete the final phase of The Hub — a former bowling alley turned youth-run café, social service agency and community center — adding an ADA-accessible indoor/outdoor classroom with community murals to amplify youth voices, expand access, and foster wellbeing, economic development and civic pride. Castine, Maine: Develop a community park from an open meadow, adding a winding pathway, a children's story walk and native plantings, creating a community destination that is family and visitor-friendly, takes advantage of river views and enhances community engagement, events and quality of life. Brunswick, Maine: Revitalize the outdoor space at Tedford Housing's new emergency shelter facility in Brunswick, creating a vibrant mural and interactive playground to promote healing, resilience and belonging. Mapleton, Minn.: Invest in a Child Care House from Business of Child Care, a turnkey solution that combines a physical site with startup support to expand local childcare services. Webb City, Mo.: Create the Discovery Bus — Webb City School District's mobile STEM lab — to deliver hands-on, innovative STEM experiences to students and the community, ensuring equitable access to STEM education to prepare students for future careers in science, technology, engineering and math. Kirksville, Mo.: Revamp an underutilized outdoor concrete space at the Adair County Family YMCA into a family/community recreational space, dedicated to promoting health and wellness programs for all generations. Laurel, Miss.: Renovate the Trustmark Art Park, adding durable play equipment, fencing and drought protection measures for the park's historic live oak trees, enhancing safety and environmental sustainability for the community. Evergreen, Mont.: Install a veteran's memorial at the North West Montana Veterans Stand Down food pantry and community center, recognizing military service veterans and increasing awareness of existing community outreach programs for veterans and the community. Searchlight, Nev.: Build a shade structure at the Searchlight Community Garden, protecting plants from the desert sun to continue to provide residents with affordable access to fresh fruit and vegetables and mitigate the effects of living in a food desert. Cottage Grove, Ore.: Renovate the Humane Society of Cottage Groves This and That Thrift Shop, updating electrical panels and wiring to reduce potential fire hazards and continue to be a source of vital funding for all our animal welfare programs. Meadville, Penn.: Transform an empty lot into an aesthetically pleasing and active parklet to create a gateway into downtown and enhance access to The Arc Community Greenspace through community collaboration. Mechanicsburg, Penn.: Revitalize an unused alleyway, Railroad Alley, into a safe pedestrian walkway dedicated for use as a community recreation space that will promote economic opportunities and community togetherness in the downtown area. St. Stephen, S.C.: Create The Sheds on Main, an unused empty lot transformed into a vibrant community park and business incubator space for community events, fostering social connections, supporting local economic growth and revitalizing St. Stephen's Main Street as a cultural and social hub. Jasper, Tenn.: Install solar powered charging benches in the Jasper historic Courthouse Square and library, enabling citizens to stay connected near outdoor community hubs and gathering spaces. La Grange, Texas: Build a new food court and seating area at the Fayette County Fairgrounds, allowing the fair to continue serving its visitors during events for years to come. South Padre Island, Texas: Launch Sea Turtle Inc.'s mobile conservancy outreach vehicle to bring our mission of conservation, education and rehabilitation of endangered sea turtles directly to communities across the Rio Grande Valley which will provide hands-on learning experiences in schools, public spaces and underserved areas, helping inspire environmental stewardship and deepen community understanding of sea turtle conservation. Viroqua, Wis.: Install a comprehensive signage and kiosk system throughout Vernon Trails, featuring seven trailhead kiosks and 80 wayfinding signs across three heavily used trail networks and 18-hole disc golf course to improve safety, accessibility and navigation while reinforcing Vernon County's outdoor recreation identity. T-Mobile teams up with Main Street America — a nonprofit organization that works to advance shared prosperity, create resilient economies and improve quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation — to bring Hometown Grants to life. Grant applications are reviewed based on their level of detail, community impact, feasibility and other considerations. 'Small towns are continually shaping the conversation around what community-driven change looks like, and the T-Mobile Hometown Grants program is helping amplify their impact,' said Erin Barnes, President and CEO of Main Street America. 'This kind of investment empowers local leaders to turn their long-held visions into tangible, lasting change.' T-Mobile's Ongoing Commitment to Small Towns T-Mobile's Hometown Grants commitment goes beyond community development programs. The Un-carrier has awarded nearly $5.3 million through Hometown Grants to community-led projects that strengthen small business ecosystems, from the revitalization of farmers markets to the development of business incubators and main street placemaking enhancements. In addition to Hometown Grants, T-Mobile is focused on making sure no community gets left behind, with initiatives like: Project 10Million: Offers free internet connectivity and mobile hotspots to eligible student households to help close the digital divide. Friday Night 5G Lights: A competition that's gearing up for its second year to give one deserving high school a game-changing football field makeover. Pre-register now. T-Mobile Home Internet, Business Internet and T-Mobile Fiber: The Un-carrier offers affordable and reliable broadband options designed to deliver value and choice for homes and businesses across the US. T-Satellite with Starlink: T-Mobile's satellite-to-mobile network that automatically connects to existing phones is currently in beta and available free for customers until commercial service launches in July. The service aims to eliminate dead zones, keeping people connected nearly anywhere they can see the sky. Join the beta today. As the country's largest and fastest 5G network, T-Mobile is all about keeping small towns and rural areas connected. For more information about T-Mobile's commitment to small towns, visit And to see how Hometown Grants are creating change, go here. Follow the T-Mobile Newsroom on X and Instagram to catch the latest company updates. About Main Street America Main Street America leads a collaborative movement with partners and grassroots leaders that advances shared prosperity, creates resilient economies, and improves quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the country. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has helped to build economic power in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through our signature Main Street Approach™ framework. Founded as the National Main Street Center® in 1980, Main Street America has helped to generate over $107.62 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 335,675 buildings, create 782,059 new jobs, and start 175,323 new businesses in over 2,000 communities. Learn more about Main Street America here. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Not available in all areas. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. Project 10Million: Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup. Fastest based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data of national Speed Score results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for 2H 2024. See T-Mobile Starlink details at Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission. See 5G device, coverage, & access details at About T-Mobile
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
T‑Mobile Reaches $16 Million in Funding for Hometown Grants, Strengthening Communities Nationwide
With the company's latest round of Hometown Grant winners, T‑Mobile has now helped 375 small towns bring community development projects to life BELLEVUE, WA / / March 25, 2025 / T-Mobile (NASDAQ:TMUS) announced its latest 25 Hometown Grant recipients, each set to receive up to $50,000 in funding from T-Mobile to support local development projects to revitalize their communities. Since kicking off its five-year commitment to small towns and rural communities in April 2021, the Un-carrier has provided more than $16 million in Hometown Grants to 375 communities across 48 states and Puerto Rico. Hometown Grants has sparked more than 150,000 volunteer hours, bringing people together to uplift their communities in big ways. "When we started Hometown Grants nearly four years ago, we knew T-Mobile could make a real difference in small towns across the country, but the impact has exceeded all expectations," said Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile Consumer Group. "With this latest round of grants, communities will be able to fund everything from new fire hose technology to expanded food pantry space - creating important, life-changing improvements for the people who call these towns home." Here are the next 25 Hometown Grant recipients and their projects: Attalla, Ala.: Build a dedicated walking trail at District 2 to foster a sense of community, encourage physical activity and combat health issues related to sedentary lifestyles. Calexico, Calif.: Install new fire hose technology at the Calexico Fire Department, allowing more water to be put on a fire while exerting less resistance to the firefighter applying the water. Alachua, Fla.: Revitalize a pocket park in the heart of Alachua's historic downtown district, creating a vibrant community gathering space and an outdoor venue for cultural events and performances. Comer, Ga.: Renovate the Perch Community Center, offering a more inviting and useful gathering place for a local Farmers Market and community events. Eastman, Ga.: Update Eastman City Park, including resurfacing outdoor courts, providing a place for the community to play basketball, pickleball and tennis without risking injury. Mount Vernon, Iowa: Renovate the Bijou Theatre's indoor and exterior space, adding an outdoor reception and screening area and updating the front façade and more, just in time to celebrate its 50th anniversary with the community. Covington, Ind.: Expand and relocate Marilyn's Village, adding an enhanced café and a new thrift store, creating more opportunities for adults with disabilities to gain vocational training, foster community connection and provide affordable resources to families. Winfield, Kan.: Create The Patio at WPL (Winfield Public Library), an outdoor intergenerational play, learning and connection space designed to provide a safe, accessible, welcoming and connection-building environment for all of Winfield. Slidell, La.: Transform an unkempt green space in Olde Towne Slidell into the Carey Street Pocket Park, adding a vibrant community space to gather, relax and enjoy the natural beauty of the park's landscape. Kingston, Mass.: Update Kingston Public Library lobby, replacing 27-year-old furnishings and making the space ADA compliant, providing a welcoming, accessible space to patrons. Tupelo, Miss.: Transform the Link Centre Black Box by relocating its primary access to ground level and renovating adjacent restrooms for ADA compliance, while integrating safety upgrades, enhanced lighting, and assistive technology to expand community accessibility and security. Drew, Miss.: Design and install seven freedom markers, honoring historical sites and people involved in the Civil Rights movement in Drew, Mississippi. Guymon, Okla.: Transform Dale Park into a vibrant, safe and engaging community space with new playground equipment, seating, drinking fountains and improved lighting, providing a much-needed recreational area for Southside Guymon, enhancing community health, cohesion and safety. Durant, Okla.: Plant trees and landscaping along Durant's Main Street District to increase economic vitality, support wildlife and reduce heat islands. Silverton, Ore.: Expand the Silverton Area Community Aid (SACA) food pantry and community resource space by supporting their relocation to a larger, fully accessible facility that will provide essential services, new programs, and space for community partners to better serve neighbors in need. Bradford, Pa.: Revamp the Historic Downtown District Microgrant program, adding connectivity upgrades, new equipment and professional marketing and promotional activities for participating small businesses to continue to be a vital part of the local economy. Hershey, Pa.: Enhance and modernize the learning spaces at Vista Autism Services with upgraded classroom designs, improved walls, cabinetry, flexible seating options, new furniture, and optimized storage solutions. Hanahan, S.C.: Revitalize a vacant city-owned parcel into a vibrant hub for the Hanahan Farmers Market, enhancing community engagement, supporting local businesses and providing an accessible space for residents to connect and enjoy the town center. Sabinal, Texas: Enhance the Veterans Memorial Live Oak Park by installing a playground to maintain the physical health of the community and provide a recreational area for children to play. Zapata, Texas: Transform the Teen Tech Center at the Boys & Girls Club of Zapata County, with updates to paint, furnishings and new technology to engage more teens and tweens in the Club every day after school and throughout the day during the summer. Springville, Utah: Install the Art Loops, an interactive public art experience connecting the Springville Museum of Art, Springville Library, and Civic Center, with installations and activities, fostering community connection, enhancing walkability and pedestrian experience, strengthening Springville's "Art City" identity, and revitalizing the downtown area. Brattleboro, Vt.: Expand HatchSpace's workforce development and trades training programs by adding a workshop classroom and outfitting the digital fabrication lab with a high-tech laser cutter to further enhance the current roster of education programs. Vashon, Wash.: Install the Nikkei Public Art Memorial at Ober Park to commemorate and honor the 111 Nikkei residents who were forced to leave Vashon and be imprisoned in internment camps. Chippewa Falls, Wis.: Continue to transform the former Masonic Lodge by adding an outdoor learning and development space for the Chippewa Falls Boys & Girls Club by adding fencing, and member friendly representations to electrical equipment and introducing raised garden beds to feed youth in the community. Fayetteville, Build a permanent outdoor pavilion to serve as a year-round gathering space for community events, educational programs, volunteer activities and field trips, enhancing accessibility, promoting local food systems and fostering stronger community connections. T-Mobile teams up with Main Street America - a nonprofit organization that works to advance shared prosperity, create resilient economies and improve quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation - to bring Hometown Grants to life. Grant applications are reviewed based on their level of detail, community impact, feasibility and other considerations. "T-Mobile's Hometown Grants program is bringing critical resources to small towns and rural communities across America," said Erin Barnes, President and CEO, Main Street America. "These investments are transforming local landscapes and creating new opportunities for growth and connection." T-Mobile's Commitment to Championing Rural Communities T-Mobile's Hometown Grants commitment goes beyond community development programs. The Un-carrier has awarded nearly $4 million to small businesses through Hometown Grants to support projects like revitalizing farmers markets, launching business incubators and improving main streets. Beyond Hometown Grants, T-Mobile is focused on many initiatives to make sure no community, big or small, gets left behind. The Un-carrier's Project 10Million offers free internet connectivity and mobile hotspots to eligible student households to help close the digital divide. And T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights is a competition that's gearing up for its second year to give one deserving high school a football field makeover valued at $2 million. Learn more about Friday Night 5G Lights and pre-register now for the next round at As the country's largest and fastest 5G network, T-Mobile is all about small towns and rural areas. Plus, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Business Internet give homes and businesses across the country access to reliable and affordable broadband options. And for those in even the most rural areas, T-Mobile Starlink is on a mission to eliminate mobile dead zones in areas unreachable by traditional cell towers. For more information about T-Mobile's commitment to small towns, visit And to see how Hometown Grants are creating change, go here. Register for the free T-Mobile Starlink Beta here. Follow @TMobileNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay up to date with the latest company news. About Main Street America Main Street America leads a collaborative movement with partners and grassroots leaders that advances shared prosperity, creates resilient economies, and improves quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the country. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has helped to build economic power in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through our signature Main Street Approach™ framework. Founded as the National Main Street Center® in 1980, Main Street America has helped to generate over $107.62 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 335,675 buildings, create 782,059 new jobs, and start 175,323 new businesses in over 2,000 communities. Learn more about Main Street America here. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Not available in all areas. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. Project 10Million: Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup. Fastest based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data of national Speed Score results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for 2H 2024. See T-Mobile Starlink details at Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission. See 5G device, coverage, & access details at About T-Mobile T-Mobile US, Inc. (NASDAQ: TMUS) is America's supercharged Un-carrier, delivering an advanced 4G LTE and transformative nationwide 5G network that will offer reliable connectivity for all. T-Mobile's customers benefit from its unmatched combination of value and quality, unwavering obsession with offering them the best possible service experience and undisputable drive for disruption that creates competition and innovation in wireless and beyond. Based in Bellevue, Wash., T-Mobile provides services through its subsidiaries and operates its flagship brands, T-Mobile, Metro by T-Mobile and Mint Mobile. For more information please visit: Media Contact: T-Mobile US, Inc. Media Relations MediaRelations@ Investor Relations Contact T-Mobile US, Inc. Updating the firehouse technology at the Calexico Fire Department will allow more water to be put on fires while exerting much less resistance to the firefighters. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from T-Mobile International AG on Contact Info: Spokesperson: T-Mobile International AGWebsite: info@ SOURCE: T-Mobile International AG View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire Sign in to access your portfolio
Associated Press
25-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
T‑Mobile Reaches $16 Million in Funding for Hometown Grants, Strengthening Communities Nationwide
BELLEVUE, Wash., March 25, 2025 /3BL/ - T-Mobile (NASDAQ: TMUS) announced its latest 25 Hometown Grant recipients, each set to receive up to $50,000 in funding from T-Mobile to support local development projects to revitalize their communities. Since kicking off its five-year commitment to small towns and rural communities in April 2021, the Un-carrier has provided more than $16 million in Hometown Grants to 375 communities across 48 states and Puerto Rico. Hometown Grants has sparked more than 150,000 volunteer hours, bringing people together to uplift their communities in big ways. 'When we started Hometown Grants nearly four years ago, we knew T-Mobile could make a real difference in small towns across the country, but the impact has exceeded all expectations,' said Jon Freier, President, T-Mobile Consumer Group. 'With this latest round of grants, communities will be able to fund everything from new fire hose technology to expanded food pantry space — creating important, life-changing improvements for the people who call these towns home.' Here are the next 25 Hometown Grant recipients and their projects: T-Mobile teams up with Main Street America — a nonprofit organization that works to advance shared prosperity, create resilient economies and improve quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation — to bring Hometown Grants to life. Grant applications are reviewed based on their level of detail, community impact, feasibility and other considerations. 'T-Mobile's Hometown Grants program is bringing critical resources to small towns and rural communities across America,' said Erin Barnes, President and CEO, Main Street America. 'These investments are transforming local landscapes and creating new opportunities for growth and connection.' T-Mobile's Commitment to Championing Rural Communities T-Mobile's Hometown Grants commitment goes beyond community development programs. The Un-carrier has awarded nearly $4 million to small businesses through Hometown Grants to support projects like revitalizing farmers markets, launching business incubators and improving main streets. Beyond Hometown Grants, T-Mobile is focused on many initiatives to make sure no community, big or small, gets left behind. The Un-carrier's Project 10Million offers free internet connectivity and mobile hotspots to eligible student households to help close the digital divide. And T-Mobile's Friday Night 5G Lights is a competition that's gearing up for its second year to give one deserving high school a football field makeover valued at $2 million. Learn more about Friday Night 5G Lights and pre-register now for the next round at As the country's largest and fastest 5G network, T-Mobile is all about small towns and rural areas. Plus, T-Mobile 5G Home Internet and Business Internet give homes and businesses across the country access to reliable and affordable broadband options. And for those in even the most rural areas, T-Mobile Starlink is on a mission to eliminate mobile dead zones in areas unreachable by traditional cell towers. For more information about T-Mobile's commitment to small towns, visit And to see how Hometown Grants are creating change, go here. Register for the free T-Mobile Starlink Beta here. Follow @TMobileNews on X, formerly known as Twitter, to stay up to date with the latest company news. # # # About Main Street America Main Street America leads a collaborative movement with partners and grassroots leaders that advances shared prosperity, creates resilient economies, and improves quality of life through place-based economic development and community preservation in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the country. For more than 40 years, Main Street America has helped to build economic power in downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts through our signature Main Street Approach™ framework. Founded as the National Main Street Center® in 1980, Main Street America has helped to generate over $107.62 billion in local reinvestment, rehab 335,675 buildings, create 782,059 new jobs, and start 175,323 new businesses in over 2,000 communities. Learn more about Main Street America here. T-Mobile 5G Home Internet: Not available in all areas. Delivered via 5G cellular network; speeds vary due to factors affecting cellular networks. Project 10Million: Verify National School Lunch Program eligibility at signup. Fastest based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data of national Speed Score results incorporating 5G download and upload speeds for 2H 2024. See T-Mobile Starlink details at Ookla trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission. See 5G device, coverage, & access details at
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Springville receives T-Mobile grant to revitalize downtown through public art walking routes
Springville's downtown area will receive some sprucing up and an art makeover after the city was awarded the T-Mobile Hometown Grant. The grant is a total of $49,000 that the city will use to install Art Loops: Downtown, an interactive public art experience that connects the Springville Museum of Art, the Springville Library and the Civic Center. "It is a really exciting public art project, a really innovative way to use public art to connect these different civic aspects in Springville," said Emily Larsen, director of the Springville Museum of Art. From large-scale sculptures and wall murals to small stamped poetry in the concrete and sidewalk games, the art loops will display "all sorts of different public art" along the blocks of downtown between the buildings, Larsen said. "The whole idea is there will be some really large-scale, really impressive public art pieces and then a lot of little things that you'll discover along the way," she said. The art loops will include installations and activities while fostering community connection and enhancing walkability, the museum said. Different areas will have thematic overlays to guide the design elements and aesthetics of the various sections. There are three planned routes for different experiences: one for families and kids, one for a short urban adventure, and a third that is "ideal for the wanderers, history buffs, book worms, and anyone who wants a major dose of art and a long walk," the museum's website says. A literary art walk will be installed between the museum and library on 100 East, and a youth art section featuring children's artwork will cover 200 East, as it's a route to the elementary school. The first phase of Art Loops: Downtown will be made up of small projects throughout the loops that create density, such as murals, stamped poetry and smaller-scale pieces. The first phase will be funded by the Hometown Grant, with future phases needing to secure funding from other sources, such as the city's parks, arts and recreation grant program. Each quarter, T-Mobile awards 25 grants to small towns with populations of 50,000 or less. Since the program launched in April 2021, T-Mobile has given grants to 375 communities across the country. "Through Hometown Grants, people in communities nationwide are kickstarting projects that make a real difference and help their towns thrive," the company said in a release. The city applied for the Hometown Grant in December and found out just recently it was chosen as a recipient. "It's a really competitive national grant, and so we feel really honored our project was chosen to receive the funding. The mission of the grant goes hand in hand with what we are trying to do in Springville: creating a vibrant community that is connected and really embracing this small town feel that Springville has and making it a great place to live and to visit," Larsen said. The art loops will strengthen Springville's identity as "Art City," and transform the downtown area into a "vibrant, art-centered destination," Springville economic development specialist Carla Wiese said. "This project will encourage cultural tourism, support local businesses and provide residents with new opportunities for engagement with the arts. It's an exciting step forward in realizing the potential of our downtown area and establishing a truly dynamic environment that celebrates art in all its forms," Wiese said. On Tuesday, March 25, at 4:45 p.m., the city is hosting a kick-off party for the first phase of the art loops at the Civic Center Park Gazebo, 110 S. Main. City leaders, museum staff, Springville residents and visitors are all encouraged to come learn about and celebrate the project. At Tuesday's ceremony, T-Mobile representatives will be presenting the grant check to the city. "I strongly believe that this project will have a lasting positive impact on Springville's cultural landscape and will help to further establish Springville as a thriving hub for the arts," Wiese added. The city and museum are already in the process of installing some of the artworks that will become part of Art Loops: Downtown. Others will be implemented throughout the year before next February when the first phase officially opens Larsen said the Art Loops bring together the best of museums and public art and she is excited for everyone to be able to experience it. 'Taking what's so magical about the museum and this history of art in Springville and spreading it all out, throughout the city and through downtown through this project, is gonna be really exciting,' Larsen said.
