MONTGOMERY— The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is submitting a list of 16 community-enhancement projects for approval by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The proposed projects, to be submitted Monday, would be funded with almost $7 million in federal stimulus funding allocated to Alabama through the Community Development Block Grant program. The grants will help cities, towns and counties complete projects to extend water and sewer services, improve roads and increase fire safety.
“These projects were chosen through a competitive process that gave priority to areas with increased unemployment,” ADECA Director Bill Johnson said. “If approved by HUD, the grants will help retain jobs and give a needed boost to communities that have been impacted by the recession.”
HUD, the agency in charge of administering the CDBG program, must review and approve the state’s proposal before grants can be finalized. Once approved, the projects are expected to be under construction contract within 75 days of the grant agreement with ADECA.
The following are the proposed projects submitted by ADECA:
· $391,103 to the city of Winfield in Marion County to improve public water service and fire protection for 143 residents by installing larger supply lines and six fire hydrants, and to repair and pave Ember Drive
· $500,000 to the town of Mosses in Lowndes County to improve sewer services for 129 residents and bring the town into compliance with environmental regulations by upgrading a sewage lagoon and waste water treatment equipment
· $500,000 to the town of Collinsville in DeKalb County to improve sewer services for approximately 1,400 residents and comply with environmental regulations by replacing or repairing lines, repairing manholes and upgrading other sewer equipment
· $500,000 to the city of Camden in Wilcox County to improve sewer services for approximately 2,200 residents by upgrading sewer collection and disinfection equipment
· $141,000 to the town of Kennedy in Fayette County to rehabilitate two water storage tanks, benefiting approximately 417 residents and keeping the town compliant with environmental regulations
· $500,000 to the town of Ashville in St. Clair County to improve sewer services for approximately 2,200 residents by upgrading sewer lines and repairing manholes
· $270,223 to the city of Florala in Covington County to resurface and construct curbs and gutters for West Fifth Avenue and Juniper Street, benefiting 64 residents
· $264,316 to the city of Lineville in Clay County to improve public water service for approximately 1,200 residents by renovating a water tank and repairing its foundation
· $500,000 to the city of Selma in Dallas County for constructing curbs and gutters and resurfacing J. L. Chestnut Jr. Boulevard, a road frequently used by most Selma residents
· $500,000 to the city of Haleyville in Winston County for neighborhood improvements that include street resurfacing and installation of water lines and fire hydrants, benefitting approximately 139 residents
· $475,000 to the city of Lanett in Chambers County for upgrading the sewer system, benefiting approximately 599 residents
· $462,190 to Bibb County for resurfacing 2.75 miles of County Road 83, that will benefit approximately 122 residents
· $500,000 to the city of Bay Minette in Baldwin County to improve sewer services for approximately 6,800 residents by replacing the Railroad and Dobson pump stations and upgrading equipment for energy efficiency
· $500,000 to the city of Livingston in Sumter County to extend sewer services to the new Sumter County High School
· $438,874 to the city of Elba in Coffee County to construct a new water well to benefit approximately 3,800 residents
· $360,000 to the city of Guin in Marion County to extend sewer services to approximately 45 residents in the Woodland Heights subdivision, eliminating health risks from faulty septic tanks
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 appropriated $1 billion nationally for the CDBG program. ADECA administers the program in Alabama.
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Contact: Josh Carples; Larry Childers