MONTGOMERY— Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded six Community Development Block Grants to municipalities and counties in southeast Alabama for road and sewer improvements, water system extensions and neighborhood rehabilitation.
“Community Development Block Grants enable local governments to complete projects that enhance the safety and quality of life for residents,” Bentley said. “I am pleased to assist local officials with projects that better serve the needs of those living and working in southeast Alabama.”
Dale County
Dale County is using a $350,000 grant to replace antiquated and undersized water lines serving 261 residents living along Southern Plantation, Byrd, Edgewood, Harrison and Wallace drives, Caylor Street and county roads 709, 418 and 446. The county will install 12,300 feet of PVC water line along with 10 new fire hydrants and valves. Officials say residents experience contaminated water and low pressure that is inadequate for fire protection. The Level Plains Water System currently serves the residents and is partnering with the Dale County Commission to complete the project. Dale County is contributing $35,000 in matching funds.
Clayhatchee will use a $200,829 grant to make road improvements to Providence and Ginger lanes and Smith Drive. Approximately 7,940 feet of street work will be completed with Ginger Lane and Smith Drive to receive new paving while Providence Lane will be resurfaced, according to town officials. The town is contributing $3,000 in matching funds.
Level Plains will use a $103,000 grant to install drainage facilities on Groner Street to eliminate ponding where it intersects with A and B streets. City officials say that even a small amount of rainfall can cause dangerous amounts of standing water to form at intersections. This project will install five inlets and piping to collect the water and divert it to a ditch on Joe Bruer Road. The city is contributing $11,000 in matching funds.
Houston County
A $350,000 grant will enable Cottonwood to rehabilitate sewer collection lines and manholes on a section of Granger Street, Granter Alley and Wood Street as well as two lift stations on Dyras Road and Joe Cook Street. Sewer backups and overflows have become a hazard, especially during heavy rainfall, according to town officials. The project will alleviate these problems by installing new lining in some pipes and replacing others. The lift station at Dyras Road will get new wiring and the Joe Cook Street lift station will get new equipment including wiring, plumbing and a pump. The improvements will benefit 215 residents in the service area. Cottonwood is contributing $66,897 in matching funds.
Coffee County
New Brockton is using a $311,750 grant to upgrade three sewage pumping stations on South Dawkins, West Morton and West McKinnon streets that have experienced overflow of raw sewage into streets, drainage ditches and ground surfaces, according to town officials. This is creating a public health hazard that will be alleviated by replacing the pump stations and piping, which will directly benefit 1,450 residents in the affected areas. The town is contributing $31,250 in matching funds to the project.
With a $250,000 grant, Enterprise will remove 105 dilapidated and abandoned structures. City officials said the structures, primarily houses, are major contributors to blight within Enterprise. Most of the structures are located near the core area of the city, adjacent to the downtown business district. The city is contributing $28,000 in matching funds.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. ADECA administers an array of programs that support law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.
For an overview of the CDBG program in Alabama, see this video: https://youtu.be/GL51Tk73my0.
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Contact: Russell Sellers, Mike Presley