Houston MS wins a Levitt AMP Grant Award for 2020

HOUSTON, MS–December 20, 2019 —Today, the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation named Houston, Mississippi, as one of 20 small to mid-sized towns and cities across America to win a Levitt AMP Grant Award of $25,000 in matching funds to present a free concert series at the Legion Lake Park.The Chickasaw Development Foundation (CDF), in association with Potter’s House submitted the Levitt AMP proposal.

In July, the Levitt Foundation invited nonprofits to submit proposals that would reflect the three goals of the Levitt AMP awards: Amplify community pride and the city’s unique character; enrich lives through the power of free, live Music; and illustrate the importance of vibrant public Places. Nonprofits that received a previous Levitt AMP grant were eligible to reapply. In an effort to inspire and engage communities across the country around the power of creative place making, the Levitt Foundation opened the selection process to the public to choose the top 25 finalists.

The public voted on the submitted proposals over a three-week period in November, selecting their favorite projects online at http://levittamp.org.

“We are thrilled to announce the 2020 Levitt AMP Grant Awards winners, and express our appreciation to everyone who voted online to choose the finalists,” says Sharon Yazowski, Executive Director of the Levitt Foundation. “The first Levitt AMP Houston Music Series, presented by the Chickasaw Development Foundation and Potters House, will shine a light on the town’s authentic culture while infusing new energy into the beautiful Legion Lake Park through a high-caliber music series.

Houston’s plan for using the Levitt grant stated: “Houston, Mississippi (population: 3,459) The first Levitt AMP Houston Music Series presented by Potter’s House will create an inclusive, music-filled gathering space within the scenic 10-acre Legion Park. Situated just blocks away from the city’s once bustling downtown, the upcoming series will highlight the potential of the underused local green space, while bringing momentum to local efforts to energize the city’s economy through strategic cultural initiatives.”

The 2020 Levitt AMP winners include 5 new and 15 returning grantees from a broad range of communities. Each winner will present 10 free concerts featuring a diverse lineup of high-caliber entertainment as part of the Levitt AMP Music Series, for a total of 200 free Levitt AMP concerts across the U.S. in 2020.

To see a list of all winners: