BRISTOL NEIGHBORHOODS TO GET GRANT

Several neighborhoods on the west side of Bristol Tennessee are being
targeted for improvement through a five-year federal grant program, city
officials said Monday. The city has received a $175,000 federal ``Weed and
Seed'' grant designed to ``weed out crime and drugs'' and ``seed'' human
services, Vice Mayor Trish Bane said during a Monday afternoon news conference.

And the city will receive an additional $225,000 during each of the next
four years through a program administered by the Department of Justice.

``This is an innovative concept for community revitalization,'' Bane said.

The targeted area extends from Volunteer Parkway and State Street and the
West State Street area to Steeles Road near Bristol Regional Medical
Center, police Maj. Mike Yaniero said. Included are Anderson and Broad
streets, Windsor Avenue, Anderson Elementary School and the area around
Tri-Cities Christian School.

``That area has 30 percent of our crime and only 8 percent of our
population,'' said Yaniero, adding that the crimes include panhandling,
speeding, prostitution and drug dealing.

More than half of the homes in the area are occupied by either the elderly
or single parents with children, Yainero said.

City officials plan to establish a community center, hire an officer to
work in those areas and begin a series of community improvements, Yainero said.

The grant includes $50,000 for law enforcement, $55,000 for a ``safe
haven'' community center, and $35,000 for neighborhood improvements,
Yainero said. The balance, about $35,000, will be used to hire a
coordinator for the center.

Bristol is the third such site in East Tennessee, according to Russ
Dedrick, assistant U.S. attorney for East Tennessee. The others are in
Chattanooga and Cleveland.

``This is a tribute to the city of Bristol to pull together all the
partners, the neighborhood association and the churches all came
together,'' Dedrick said in making the presentation.

The center will provide drug education classes, job skill training, day
care and other community services, Dedrick said.

The application process took nearly two years, Yainero said.

``That the community can be revitalized means that lives can be revitalized
with this wonderful program,'' said Pastor Jerry Fleenor of Anderson Street
United Methodist Church. ``We can revitalize the life and spirit within the
community.''