T-Mobile on Tuesday revealed its latest round of Hometown Grant recipients. The program has given $11 million in funding commitments to 250 communities in 43 states.
Each quarter, T-Mobile picks 25 small towns to get funding for community enrichment projects, including art installations, transforming vacant lots into parks, and improving emergency response services.
Projects include the Build Unity Playground in Talladega, Alabama, the city’s first-ever inclusive and ADA-accessible public park. Funds also went to the York Area United Fire and Rescue Department to upgrade response units in York, Pennsylvania, with hybrid vehicles with improved fuel efficiency.
The Un-Carrier launched the Hometown Grant program in 2021 with a commitment to hire 7,500 new employees in small and rural towns. The Hometown Grants help fund projects that improve the lives of those living in small towns across the country. T-Mobile has earmarked $25 million to donate through 2026 to support its program and “empower community-driven initiatives” that help small towns connect.
Each quarter, T-Mobile awards funding to 25 towns. Today’s announcement of 250 total recipients signals the halfway mark of the Hometown Grants initiative.
“This milestone isn’t just about communities revitalizing their towns… it’s acknowledging the ripple effect – job creation and tens of thousands of volunteer hours sparking a profound wave of positive change throughout Small Town America – and I can’t wait to see what the next half brings,” said Jon Freier, T-Mobile’s president of consumer group.
Working with Main Street America and Smart Growth America, T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants picks 25 towns with populations of 50,000 people or less. Applications are judged by their community impact and how feasible they are to complete. The grant program runs along with other T-Mobile initiatives, such as Project 10 Million, which offers students free internet and mobile hotspots.
Visit Hometown Grants to apply.
The 25 recipients of this round’s Hometown Grant are:
- Talladega, Alabama: Build Unity Playground, the first ever inclusive and ADA-accessible public park in the city, complete with wheelchair ramps, sensory, and inclusive play components.
- Coalinga, California: Transform a vacant downtown lot into the Coalinga Splash Park, a first-of-its-kind outdoor recreational facility in the area.
- Paradise, California: Install a Students of the Ridge handprint tile mural at Paradise Community Park to celebrate the community’s growth in the five years since the 2018 Camp Fire.
- Soledad, California: Build an inclusive performing arts stage at the Soledad Community Center, including updated stage lighting and ADA accessible lift for community youth performances.
- Smyrna, Delaware: Commission murals by renowned muralist Michael Rosato at two key downtown locations, highlighting the community’s natural beauty and diverse history as part of ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.
- Darien, Georgia: Beautify Darien’s downtown district by adding wayfinding signage, upgraded lighting, and new benches to establish the area as a destination and gathering space.
- Woodbine, Georgia: Enhance the Cornelia Jackson Memorial Park by adding new playground equipment to improve community health and wellness and overall quality of life.
- Eldora, Iowa: Complete the Eldora Trail, a nearly one-mile paved connector trail, to provide an accessible, scenic, and safe 10.3-mile trail loop connecting the City of Eldora, Steamboat Rock, and Pine Lake State Park.
- Augusta, Kansas: Rebuild the Castle Park Playground, covering over 11,000 square feet, utilizing sustainable materials to provide a safe, accessible environment for children to enjoy.
- Magee, Mississippi: Revitalize one of Magee’s most vital hubs, the Community House, by repairing the roof, flooring, and HVAC system.
- Hannibal, Montana: Revitalize the Bluff City Theatre Auditorium, including improvements to seating, a new lighting controls system, updated lighting instruments, and an improved sound system, to ensure the theatre can continue to provide free professional performances for Northwest Missouri and Western Illinois communities for years to come.
- Hillsborough, New Jersey: Launch the Arts in the Parks program at Ann Van Middlesworth Park, creating 15 sidewalk art panels with the collaboration of the community.
- Las Vegas, New Mexico: Install three decorative gateway entrances to Gallinas River Park as a part of the City of Las Vegas’ downtown beautification project – which will serve as a welcoming destination point for visitors and iconic park landmark.
- Chillicothe, Ohio: Install a wayfinding kiosk in the heart of Historic Downtown Chillicothe to promote local businesses, community events, and increase local and visitor foot traffic.
- El Reno, Oklahoma: Renovate theHistoric Fort Reno Visitor Center and Museum by replacing outdated windows to ensure it continues being enjoyed by frequent Route 66 travelers.
- Kansas, Oklahoma: Restore Kansas Park, including ADA-accessible upgrades to the children’s playgrounds, basketball courts, and new trash receptacles to provide the community with a safe and fully functioning space for outdoor gatherings.
- Poteau, Oklahoma: Build the new Downtown Dewey District, beginning with the Pocket Park, to be used as a multipurpose event outdoor area.
- Baker City, Oregon: Install the Baker City Splash Pad at Central Park, providing an accessible outdoor recreational space for the community.
- Lebanon, Oregon: Revamp the existing Lebanon Chamber of Commerce building with the addition of an outdoor covered patio to use as a networking space for the local business community.
- York, Pennsylvania: Begin the process of upgrading the York Area United Fire and Rescue Department’s existing fleet of staff response vehicles with hybrid-vehicle technology, providing improved fuel and cost efficiency while the department continues to provide community outreach services to three communities across 39 square miles.
- Kingstree, South Carolina: Renovate the historic C. Williams Rush Museum of African American Arts and Culture building by replacing the roof to continue to host future events for the community.
Image credit: T-Mobile