UCHRA Considering Move From From Jefferson Location
UCHRA again considering moving its headquarters from the South Jefferson Avenue location in Cookeville. UCHRA has spent the past 15 years in the location. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said moving would allow the agency to find a smaller facility “One of the issues that has caused this to come about is because we are […]
Van Buren Head Start Needs Emergency Project Funds
The Van Buren County Head Start is making an urgent one-time requests to the federal government for two projects. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said these large-scale projects need to be done on the Head Start property. Farley said one item is renovations to the HVAC system, which could cost some $60,000. “We also need […]
UCDD Approves CAIC Loan For New Gainesboro Steakhouse
A new Sinatra-style steakhouse coming to Downtown Gainesboro thanks to a UCDD loan. Cassie and Pete Kessler, the owners of the Stolen Coin restaurant in Gainesboro, plan to open the Board Room Steakhouse with funding from a $100,000 loan. UCDD Business Lending Manager Mindy Trammel said the Stolen Coin received a UCDD disaster loan in […]
Mayors Concerned About Unknowns In Commodity Transition
Several City and County Mayors voiced concerns Wednesday morning about rural counties’ ability to receive food following the state take over of UCHRA’s commodity program. Three food banks, including Second Harvest, will take over the program in October after a decision by the state. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said the Middle Tennessee region lacks […]
UCHRA, State Discuss Food Program Change, System Concerns
UCHRA Representatives met with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and state food banks this week to discuss the commodity program transition. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said the conversations were frank and productive. He said he remains unsure why the meeting was not held earlier. Farley said the biggest concerns center on how the food […]
UCHRA Working On Two New Programs To Help Families
UCHRA developing two new programs to further increase the quality of life for families throughout the Upper Cumberland. Executive Director Mark Farley said UCHRA plans to partner with the Putnam County Schools, pending funding, to assist the families of pre schoolers attending the new Early Learning Center. Farley said he hopes to assist these families […]
UCHRA Planning Final Commodity Program Distribution
Despite calls to the state about extending the deadline or changing course, the UCHRA Commodity Program will be replaced September 20. Executive Director Mark Farley will be one of UCHRA’s representatives at a meeting with the state and department of agriculture next Tuesday. Farley said it has been difficult to communicate with the department of […]
UCHRA Policy Council Approves Community Action Plan
The UCHRA Policy Council approved a new Community Action Plan Wednesday designed to address the region’s needs from a more holistic, person-centered approach. Community Services Assistant Director Jordan Herald summarized the plan for the Council. Herald said the plan focused on helping people find long term self-sustainability. “Historically, CSBG funds have helped us respond to […]
UCDD, RIDER Announce Partnership In Addressing Poverty
A new partnership between UCDD and a national organization will further help address poverty across the Upper Cumberland. Rural Innovation Driving Equitable Resilience (RIDER) is a national organization awaiting its non-profit status. UCDD Executive Director Mark Farley said the partnership gives UCDD a chance to learn how other agencies are addressing poverty nationwide. “It may […]
UCHRA, Concerned About Commodity Transition
What are hoped-to-be short term issues surfacing as UCHRA prepares to hand off its commodity program to Tennessee Food Banks. Executive Director Mark Farley said the food banks are unable to add capacity, meaning less food will be distributed. “[Food banks] reached out to us, I mean, but we’ve lost our funding,” Farley said. “I […]
