MONTGOMERY —Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $189,188 grant to help the city of Lanett continue to improve its downtown to attract businesses and improve commerce and tourism.
The funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will be used to complete the final phase of a downtown revitalization project designed to reinvigorate the once thriving commerce district.
“When the textile industry closed in the Lanett area as it did elsewhere in Alabama, it posed a serious economic challenge that the city was determined to overcome,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am so proud of the people of Lanett and the accomplishments that they and the city have achieved in making a comeback. I am pleased that these grant funds will help further their efforts through downtown revitalization.”
The city will use funds to build or renovate sidewalks, install curbing and gutters and add new lighting and landscaping along First Street between Third and Sixth Avenues and on the east side of North Lanier Avenue.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the ARC program in Alabama.
“The Appalachian Regional Commission was created to help communities and people rise out of difficult situations, and I can think of no better example of that than what the city of Lanett has undertaken,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to partner with Gov. Ivey and the city of Lanett in this project.”
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.
Thirty-seven Alabama counties, including Chambers County, are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
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