Greetings and Salutations

2015 was filled with many great accomplishments some were tangible that we could see, experience and immediately enjoy; yet others were simple seeds being planted so we will be able to reap the benefits in the coming months and years. With planting these seeds we are going to have to take our faith to another level, but more importantly we are going to have to have to implement a work ethic like none other. As we celebrate what is to come in 2016, let us take a moment to look back over the many blessings that the City of Brownsville has seen this past year.
• Amphitheater received private funding through donors Ann and Pat Mann, was erected and the first performance was during the Hatchie fall festival
• Completion of the first phase of the Farmers Market
• Farmers Market Held the first benefit dinner in partnership with CTE Culinary Arts division at HHS
• TN Housing Development Agency sponsored a $375 thousand dollars housing grant which is currently on going
• City beautification with the assistance of the Public Works department and Code Enforcement department have maintained “Keeping Our Streets Clean”
• TSAA Boys Basketball State AA Champions
• Three Star recognition The Governor’s Award for Performance, Accountability and Efficiency TN Dept of Economic and Community Development
• Reestablished the city wide curfew
• Grand Opening of the Summer Oaks Police Substation
• Community Policing increased more officers are getting to know the people that they serve
• Appointed a new Police Chief (Barry Diebold) and Assistant Police Chief (Kelvin Evans)
• Organized our faith based community to meet monthly with our city officials and community leaders to increase awareness and communication
• The first Essay Writing contest regarding Save Our Streets Anti-Violence Campaign with student representing our local Elementary, Middle and High School the Winners were: East Side:Vanessa Littlejohn, Ta’Quarius Douglas, Rachel Cunningham, HMS: Victoria Colbeck, Shadaesya Glover, McKenna Barken, HHS: Emily Adkerson, Macoriea Jelks, Whitney Campbell, Jakeeva Houston
• Worked with WIOA as well as TOPS to promote on the job training
• Secured $350 thousand dollars of funding through Invest Prep Grant for the I-40 Advantage Park entrance
• Job Creation and more opportunities with Workforce Development Initiative Skills 2 Build Work Ethic Classes Partnered with TVA and HTL for the workforce initiative
• New businesses that created new jobs for example (Ruler Foods and Little Caesars)
• Increase and growth of our existing industry H & R Argripower broke ground and expanded, Tecknor Apex opened a new production line, Dr. Pettigrew Sports Rehab WTHC
• Completed a $2 million CDBG Drainage Project to alleviate the flooding in North Brownsville
• National and International recognition for the First to Die Elbert Williams Memorial,
• Tourism increase exponentially receiving recognition at the state wide level
• Delta Heritage Center received a Delta Regional Authority grant for improving the signage and publicity of the center
• First State of the City Address
• Implemented the Healthy Moves Health and Wellness Initiative
• Gained partnerships with Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Council
• The corner stone of the Healthy Moves Initiative is the Wellness Clinics which have served 65% of our constituents
• Established Employee health program “Healthy Moves Begins With Me”
• Second annual Health Fair
• Public forum to provide clarity and support of Insure TN

I personally had several professional accomplishments:
• Completion of the Elected Officials Academy Level 1 (Silver) and Level 2 (Gold)
• Toured the North Field Economic Development Workforce Center, General Motors plants located in Springhill, TN
• Sought to expand our existing industry by presenting at a Board of Directors meeting in Minneapolis, IN and Schofield, WS
• Attended the National league of Cities conference where Vice President Joe Biden was the Key Note Speaker
• Participate in the local government leadership program presented by the UT Naifeh Center for Effective Leadership Institute for Public Service
• Received an appointment for the 2015-2016 Executive Academy Class of the Delta Leadership Institute by Governor Bill Haslam

Some of our constituents still fail to see the glorious strengths of our fair city; however, it is without a doubt that due to hard work and the efforts of so many that chose to work together as opposed to against, that we are heading in a far better direction. Our city needs you to be its very own cheerleader. We need you to sing our praises. We are a city that wants to grow yet maintain our welcoming hometown feel. Without you we cannot succeed and we cannot have a strong community without unity. We look forward to all of the greatness 2016 will produce!