Officials: Grant money will help transform Frayser | News

(WMC-TV) - Frayser will get a lift thanks to hundreds of thousands of dollars from the federal government.

The Greater Memphis Partnership, a collection of local nonprofits and government agencies, announced that it received a $225,000 grant from the federal government Monday.

A portion of the money will go to help people in Frayser get access to better schools, jobs, housing and increase safety, officials say.

“It is critical that Frayser have a master plan and vision of where we want to go. This grant will allow the community to speak with one voice and focus and coordinate resources in the most effective manner possible,” Steve Lockwood, executive director of the Frayser Community Development Corporation, said in a written statement.

Binghampton will also receive some of the grant money.

The neighborhoods beat out South Memphis and Whitehaven for access to the Building Neighborhood Capacity Program (BNCP) grant.

Memphis was among 4 cities which were selected to receive funding from the program, although 30 were considered.

“The BNCP grant joins a continuing tradition of collaboration and partnership between Memphis, the federal government and other entities,” said Mayor A C Wharton, Jr. “We must all work together if we are to turn the tide of intergenerational poverty in our city and restore economic vitality to our distressed neighborhoods."

Copyright 2012 WMC-TV. All rights reserved.