Five years after a powerful tornado outbreak devastated parts of East Brainerd, including the destruction of Grace Baptist Church and Academy , construction is finally underway on a new campus for Grace Baptist Academy.

The long-awaited rebuilding effort stalled for years due to delays in federal funding. After the 2020 Easter tornadoes tore through the area, the school temporarily relocated to Morris Hill Baptist Church while waiting for reconstruction.

Although construction first started in 2020, progress came to a halt in 2021 as the school awaited assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). That help came earlier this year, when FEMA finalized a $37 million grant that was transferred to the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) for distribution.

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