Mobile, Ala. — The United States Tennis Association (USTA) announced that it has awarded the City of Mobile a $55,000 Tennis Venue Services grant, while USTA Southern has awarded an additional $55,000, and USTA Alabama added $1,500.

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 USTA has awarded more than $17 million in TVS grants, impacting more than 43,000 tennis courts and more than $610 million of infrastructure development.

The grant funds will be used towards installing new LED lights on 34 of the Mobile Tennis Center’s 60 courts. The project will complete the facility’s lighting upgrade, ensuring that all courts have high-quality, tennis-specific lighting that maximizes the use of the courts. The Mobile Tennis Center is one of the largest public tennis facilities in the country that hosts numerous junior, high school, collegiate and adult events in addition to regular local programming.

“We greatly appreciate USTA for continuing to see the value of the Mobile Tennis Center, not only to the City of Mobile but to the game of tennis in our region,” Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. “This facility is already a staple for players and coaches in the Southeast, and outfitting all the courts with LED lighting will allow the staff to bring even more world-class tournaments and players to our community.”

“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 is proud to contribute to improving the Mobile Tennis Center, one of the top facilities in our section and the country,” USTA Southern Executive Director & COO Matt Olson said. “One of our core missions is to improve and expand tennis facilities that help make tennis open to all.”

In order to ensure that 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. It 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.