Moves and Grooves, Inc.

Amount Appropriated?

$2.5M

FFID tracks stages 1–2 — stages 3–5 vary by agency, assistance type, and earmark structure.

Project Description

According to the Tennessee Afterschool Alliance, if a youth falls into a life of crime, society will pay a tab of roughly $1.5 million over his or her lifetime. Quality afterschool programs and learning center have been proven to deter youth from risky behaviors and offer an alternative to gang life. Also, afterschool programs save at least three tax dollars for everyone spent by reducing the need for remedial education and grade repetition as well keeping kids safe and out of trouble. The Moves & Grooves Arts & Innovation project is a great use of taxpayer funds because it will provide numerous opportunities in economic development training and education for the community. The Moves & Grooves Center for Arts & Innovation will create nearly 30 new full-time jobs, 35 part-time jobs, tools and training to entrepreneurs, students, and other makers by preparing them to join and growth Tennessee S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) and entrepreneurship economic ecosystem. Why is this project a good use of taxpayer funds? The short answer is that we can\u2019t afford for it not to be. Investing in the education of today\u2019s youth is critical, especially since STEM is the foundation for how future generations will understand and help shape the world. With Nashville growing tech industry, it\u2019s important to champion STEM initiatives in our diverse, low-income communities and focus on providing jobs that will ultimately help provide a path to the middle class for Tennessee\u2019s diverse working families.