Local historic landmark receives development grant from the state

HUMBOLDT, TN (WNBJ) - The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development announced recently the recipients of Tennessee Historic Development grants.

One of those recipients is a historical landmark in Humboldt.

The Booker T. Motel in Humboldt received the Historical Development Grant from the state in an effort to revitalize the historic building.

The program provides more than $4 million dollars to projects across the state that aim to renovate and preserve historic buildings.

The owner talks about the importance of restoring the motel.

“It is not about me, it is about our people in the preservation of this historical landmark so our kids can learn and know the things that we have contributed to American society,” said Eliga Glenn, the owner of Booker T. Motel.

The Booker T. Motel is known for its legacy of hospitality accommodating African Americans who were traveling from Memphis to Nashville in the 1950s.

The grant would provide 30 percent of the funding for the building rehabilitation up to $300,000 dollars.

The owner of the motel wants it to become a training hub for people interested in the hospitality industry.

“We would have young culinarians come in here to prepare. We would have young people who wanted to own and operate their hotels and train those people to work. We would be a training ground for those young individuals who had aspirations of owning and running their own business,” said Glenn.

The grants were awarded on a first-come, first-served basis with a portion of the funding set aside until December 31, 2021.