(Media release from the City of Rome, GA):
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) on Monday announced that it has awarded a $35,000 Tennis Venue Services grant to the City of Rome, while USTA Southern provided a matching grant of $35,000.
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.
The grant funds, which total $70,000, will be used towards the resurfacing of 49 outdoor tennis courts at the Rome Tennis Center. The project began on Aug. 21.
“On behalf of our team, I would like to say how incredibly grateful we are to receive such a generous grant from USTA and USTA Southern to help offset funds for our resurfacing project,” said Colt Gaston, General Manager of Rome Tennis Center at Berry. “This will help us continue to bring new people into the great sport of tennis while providing a premium experience to USTA events and others that we are currently hosting at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry. We very much value our relationship with USTA and look forward to helping them grow the game on all levels. Thank you to all of those who played a part in making this grant happen.”
“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 $35k investment in the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College facility demonstrates our commitment to facility enhancement in the Southern Section. We believe first-class facilities are paramount in the attraction and retention of new and existing tennis players.”
In order to ensure communities have access to safe, appealing and functional tennis environments, grant recipients also receive start-to-finish project management assistance from the USTA’s Tennis Venue Services team which provides industry-leading experience in tennis court and facility design, as well as technical assistance, including construction document review and business development insight to ensure the facilities can deliver tennis at a high-level.