USTA, Southern, states award $284,500 to facilities

The USTA and USTA Southern announced five tennis facility grants worth $267,500. Additionally, two USTA Southern states contributed $17,000 to the grants for $284.50.

USTA Southern Build It Forward program works with the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services grant program to fund facilities in the nine Southern states.

The USTA’s Tennis Venue Services grant program is designed to enhance existing tennis venues and construct new ones in order to provide increased playing opportunities in communities across the country. Since 2005, the Tennis Venue Services team has awarded more than $16 million in grants, impacting more than 42,000 tennis courts and more than $586 million of infrastructure development.

Here is a breakdown of the grants awarded in August 2023:

Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, N.C.) has been awarded $55,000 from USTA Venue Services for the installation of new LED lighting on thirteen (13) tennis courts.). The Southern Build It Forward Committee approved a matching facility grant of $55,000 and USTA North Carolina awarded $12,000.

Total: $122,000

The City of Rome (Ga.) has been awarded $35,000 from USTA Venue Services and $35,000 in from USTA Southern Build It Forward to support the resurfacing of forty-nine (49) 78’ tennis courts complete with twelve (12) 36’ and eight (8) 60’ blended tennis playing lines at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College.

Total$ $70,000

The City of Broussard (La.) has been awarded $23,000 in facility grant funding from USTA Southern Build It Forward to support the resurfacing of eight (8) 78’ tennis courts complete with four (4) 36’ and four (4) 60’ blended tennis playing lines along with relocating the net posts and center strap anchors at Broussard Sports Complex at St. Julien Park. USTA Tennis Venue Services also awarded the project $25,000.

Total: $48,000

The City of Pelham (Ala.) has been awarded $13,500 in facility grant funding from USTA Southern Build It Forward to support the resurfacing of nine (9) 78’ tennis courts complete with ten (10) 36’ and nine (9) 60’ blended tennis playing lines at Pelham Racquet Club. USTA Tennis Venue Services awarded the project $18,000.

Total: $31,500

The Webster County School District (Eupora, Miss.) has been awarded $3,000 in facility grant funding from USTA Southern Build It Forward to support the resurfacing of four (4) 78’ tennis courts complete with four (4) 36’ and four (4) 60’ blended tennis playing lines at Eupora High School. USTA Tennis Venue Services awarded the project $5,000. USTA Mississippi awarded it $5,000.

Total: $13,000

“We are committed to supporting the enhancement and construction of tennis facilities in communities across the country,” said Craig Morris, Chief Executive, Community Tennis, USTA. “Investing in the development of tennis facilities nationwide not only fulfills the USTA’s mission of growing the sport of tennis, but also provides the opportunity to enjoy lifelong healthy activity through tennis for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.”

USTA Southern President & CEO Brett Schwartz, said, “Our $129,500 investment in these five outstanding Southern facilities demonstrates our commitment to facility enhancement in the Southern Section. We believe first-class facilities are paramount to the attraction and retention of new and existing tennis players.”