The news: Downtown Munford is getting a glow-up. The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development (TNECD) awarded the City of Munford a $350,000 Downtown Improvement Grant (DIG), the city announced Oct. 22.

Big deal? Pretty big. The state announced 14 grants on Oct. 28, worth more than $3.9 million combined. Munford and Etowah tied for the largest award, at $350,000 each. Munford is the only Tipton County town on the list.

What the money’s for: Munford pitched three projects:

  • A downtown sound system linked to Veterans Plaza, the city’s new outdoor spot for concerts and movie nights. That way the music reaches more of downtown.
  • Canopy string lighting to connect Veterans Plaza with more of downtown and make the area safer and easier to see at night.
  • A Church Street gathering space closed to cars and open to the community.

Storefronts, too: At least half of the grant, so at least $175,000, has to go toward facade improvements. The city and the Munford Downtown Development Commission (MDDC) say they already have a list of downtown businesses that want in.

The fine print: It’s a matching grant. The city pays 25% of the cost. The state says the money comes from its Rural Economic Opportunity funding. Only designated Tennessee Downtowns or Tennessee Main Street communities could apply.

What they’re saying: “This is one more step toward making Munford a destination place, a fun place of activities. We are excited,” Munford Mayor Dwayne Cole said in the city’s announcement. He also thanked the MDDC for its work on the application.

What’s next: Neither the city nor the state has announced a construction timeline yet. Downtown business owners curious about the facade money can contact Munford City Hall.

Sources: City of Munford, Oct. 22, 2026, TNECD, Oct. 28, 2026.

Photo: Thomas R. Machnitzki / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0)