Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $350,000 grant to prevent Addison residents and businesses from losing access to public water.
The Community Development Block Grant will enable the Winston County town to replace a collapsing water line that serves about 830 residents and several schools, businesses and industries. The replacement line is needed to ensure water continues to be available for drinking, fire protection and industrial use.
“This grant will ensure that there will be little disruption in water services for Addison water customers and businesses,” Ivey said. “The CDBG program is important to Alabama communities especially in instances like this when public services may be in jeopardy without available funding to help.”
The current 8-inch water line is routed across a now closed bridge on Winston County Road 41. That bridge is in danger of collapsing, which would cause the water line to break. The new line will be routed across a new bridge on the same highway.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“Gov. Ivey understands how many people and entities are dependent on this water line in terms of providing drinking water and avoiding shutdowns of factories and schools that rely on this service,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “I am pleased that ADECA is able to join with Gov. Ivey and others to provide a solution to ensure that water continues to flow to the residents of Addison.”
Ivey notified Mayor Marsha Pigg that the grant had been approved. Addison is providing $131,200 in local funds toward the project.
ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.
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Contact Jim Plott or Mike Presley