MIDDLE TN – The Tennessee Department of Disability and Aging (DDA) has awarded $5 million in grant funding to 125 senior centers across the state. The initiative ensures that every senior center that applied will receive support, with individual grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000.
Locally, two programs in Rutherford County were among the awardees: Mindful Care in Murfreesboro and the Smyrna Senior Citizens – Senior Activity Center of Smyrna. Both will benefit from funding that can be used for capital projects, new equipment, program development, marketing, or operating expenses—though staff salaries are excluded.
Neighboring communities also saw success. Within a 30-mile radius of Rutherford County, recipients included the Cannon County Senior Center, Lebanon Senior Citizens Center, Marshall County Senior Citizens, Maury County Senior Citizens, Mt. Juliet Senior Activity Center, and the Shelbyville/Bedford County Senior Citizens Center…