The Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis and Habitat for Humanity International announced a major challenge grant to kick off the fundraising effort for Habitat's 2016 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Memphis. THDA will match the first $1 million in donations for the project.

THDA Executive Director Ralph Perrey and Memphis Habitat President and CEO Dwayne Spencer announced the grant at a joint press conference at the Bearwater Park area of Uptown Memphis. Habitat supporters, including representatives from the Memphis and Shelby County Community Redevelopment Agency and Oasis of Hope, the nonprofit donating the land, were in attendance. Bearwater Park will serve as the location for new home construction during the project.

"We hope our $1 million pledge will open people's eyes to the size and scope of what Habitat for Humanity has planned for the Bearwater Park neighborhood and the Memphis area next year. THDA is committed to the cause, and we hope our financial support will inspire others to get involved and donate," Perrey said. "The people of Memphis should be tremendously proud of what their local Habitat for Humanity has accomplished. We're deeply grateful to work with such an effective partner, and we're excited to watch Bearwater Park spring to life."

Habitat's 2016 Carter Work Project, Aug. 21-27, 2016, will serve Memphis-area families through multiple projects, including the construction of 21 new homes; 33 beautification projects, including minor repairs, painting and landscaping; and 45 Aging in Place program projects to enhance accessibility and mobility for low-income seniors. The project is expected to involve thousands of volunteers from the Memphis area, across the state of Tennessee and beyond. Memphis Habitat is currently seeking partnerships to financially support the project and provide a foundation for partner families to create a brighter future. Memphis Habitat is accepting donations to the project at http://donorlynk.com/memphishabitat/the-2016-jimmy-and-rosalynn-carter-work-project/.

"The Carter Work Project empowers people to bring hope, stability and housing solutions to their communities, and we are proud to bring that effort to Memphis in 2016," Spencer said. "Like Habitat, the Tennessee Housing Development Agency is committed to making decent, affordable housing accessible to low-income families, and THDA has long supported our work here in Memphis. We are honored to count THDA as a partner in such an important project."

The THDA board of directors, which includes Memphians John Baker and Dorothy Cleaves, approved the challenge grant earlier this week. Since THDA is self-funded and does not receive state tax dollars, the challenge grant funding will come from the agency's own revenues, generated from single-family home loans to middle/moderate-income families.

The 2016 Carter Work Project will be the 33rd year former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter build with Habitat for Humanity. They, along with country music stars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, helped build a home in Memphis Monday, Nov. 2, to announce the build week.

Brooks and Yearwood will return to build with Habitat during the 2016 Carter Work Project, which will make it the country music stars' eighth project. Brooks and Yearwood have helped Habitat improve communities since 2007, including building homes after Hurricane Katrina and in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.

Since 1984, President and Mrs. Carter have worked alongside 92,000 volunteers to build, renovate and repair 3,943 Habitat for Humanity homes in 14 countries, while raising awareness of the critical need for affordable housing.