MONTGOMERY— Community Development Block Grants awarded by Gov. Robert Bentley will fund improvements to streets, housing and water and sewer systems in areas of Coffee, Covington and Geneva counties.
Elba is receiving $450,000 for housing rehabilitation. A $250,000 grant will help Kinston to resurface and reconstruct 11 roads. Geneva County will use a $350,000 grant to extend public water service. Florala and Samson will each use $350,000 grants for sewer repairs.
“Community Development Block Grants help local governments improve and update important services for their residents,” Bentley said. “I am pleased to support Wiregrass leaders as they work to make their communities better places to live.”
Elba will demolish at least five dilapidated structures and rehabilitate 20 substandard houses in the central neighborhood located between Martin Luther King Drive and the Alabama Highway 203 Bypass. The rehabilitation will improve energy efficiency, fix plumbing issues, repair roofs and repair damage to floors and walls. The city will contribute $45,000 in matching funds.
Kinston will repair or resurface Donaldson Circle; Anderson, Hataway, Nevins, Russell, Willis, Williams, Hart and Glimer streets; Suzanne Drive; and Gatlin Avenue. Pavement edges and shoulders will be repaired or improved to better handle water runoff and restore proper drainage. Kinston will add $14,410 in matching funds.
Geneva County will extend public water service by 16,900 feet to include residents in the community of Eunola, providing reliable water to 151 residents. Matching funds of $51,300 will supplement the grant.
Florala will replace 7,500 feet of sewer lines and four manholes along Third Street between Begonia Avenue and the Florida state line, and along Daisy Avenue between Fourth and Seventh streets. Florala is supplementing the grant with $35,000.
Samson will make sewer system improvements along Morris Street and resurface South Bay, Virginia, Morris, Early, South Magnolia and North Magnolia streets. The project will replace clay sewer pipes with 1,250 feet of 8-inch PVC piping and install five concrete manholes. The city is contributing $66,597 to the project.
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, workforce development, water resource management and recreation development.
Bentley notified mayors Mickey Murdock of Elba, William Mullins of Kinston, Clay King of Samson, Robert Williamson of Florala and Geneva County Commission Chairman Fred Hamic that the grants had been approved.
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Contact: Russell Sellers, Mike Presley