Rep. Steve Cohen announced Friday, Feb. 20, that he secured $17.7 million in federal funding for Memphis projects, describing the package as one of the largest single-year allocations he has delivered to Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District.
“We deliver for Memphis,” Cohen said at a news conference at the Odell Horton Federal Building. “These are important projects.”
Working “across the aisle with a Republican administration,” Cohen said the funding was through the annual appropriations process. “I think it is the second greatest amount of money we have gotten in one year,” he said.
“You can see from the folks who are here, it’s a representation of different issues that are important to our future,” Cohen added. “Whether it’s the airport or historic structures or social projects or fighting crime — it’s helping us to get a step up. We’ve also helped our veterans.”
Since 2021, Cohen has secured roughly $69 million in targeted community funding for the district.
The projects span historic preservation, housing, infrastructure, public safety and youth services.
For Durrell Cowan, founder and executive director of Heal 901, the allocation has immediate implications for the work his organization provides.
“As a Black-led nonprofit leader whose program lost $1.5 million when the current administration took a contract that we had through the Department of Justice, it was extremely imperative to get some resources back to keep the lifesaving programs we provide through Heal 901 going,” Cowan said.
Heal 901 will benefit from a $1,031,000 allocation to expand the City of Memphis Youth Violence Prevention Initiative into South Memphis.
“I am extremely grateful that Congressman Cohen was able to reach over to the other side of the aisle — understanding how things are in D.C. right now — to make sure that vital dollars were able to come back to this organization,” Cowan said. “This funding is going to help families, parents … when it comes to our prevention services … . These are the dollars we need for future sustainability.”
One of the largest allocations — $3.1 million — will go toward restoring Historic Clayborn Temple, the organizing site of the 1968 sanitation workers’ strike that was heavily damaged by fire last year.
Anasa Troutman, CEO of The Big We, which oversees the restoration of Clayborn Temple, said the federal commitment ensures the landmark will rise again.
“We now know there is enough of the building left to do a replica of the building and do a real restoration,” Troutman said. “This grant for us is huge. Being able to double our fundraising with this $3.1 million that we got from Congressman Cohen’s office has assured for us that Clayborn Temple will be rebuilt.”
“This is work that the Congressman and our team have been doing before the fire,” Troutman said. “Congressman Cohen has been working to restore Clayborn Temple not just as a response to tragedy but as a commitment to its history.”
Historic Mason Temple, headquarters of the Church of God in Christ and the site of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final “Mountaintop” speech, will receive $1.2 million for restoration, rehabilitation and technology upgrades.
“For you to champion this cause for us is meaningful and we appreciate it,” Bishop Brandon Porter said to Cohen. “Memphis is still our home, and what you have given to help us strengthen our facility and in other ways to beautify this spot will help make the touring of Mason Temple meaningful for the many that come through Memphis.”
The long-vacant Sterick Building also will receive $1.2 million toward restoration.
Other projects receiving funding include:
- $1 million for Covenant Gardens Senior Apartments to build 103 affordable housing units
- $850,000 for Monroe Plaza pedestrian improvements
- $850,000 for electrical upgrades at Montgomery Plaza
- $850,000 for University of Memphis Park Avenue campus upgrades
- $850,000 for youth facility renovations and housing for vulnerable families
- $250,000 for homeless veterans housing renovations
- $250,000 for Southwest Tennessee Community College renovations
- $4.25 million for Memphis International Airport modernization and seismic protection
- $1,031,000 for Memphis Police Department equipment and software upgrades
- $1,031,000 to enhance the Shelby County District Attorney’s Victim/Witness Unit and support the YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter
Mayor Paul Young said the projects reflect coordinated efforts across sectors.
“The organizations that are here today represent the best of Memphis,” Young said. “We are on a mission for Memphis. We are on a mission to support the needs of our great community.”
