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ADECA

October 29, 2014
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Gov. Bentley awards funding for projects in southwest Alabama
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Gov. Robert Bentley has awarded Community Development Block Grants totaling $2.4 million for projects that will improve the quality of life for many residents of southwest Alabama.

 Bentley awarded grants of $450,000 each to the cities of Bay Minette, Brewton and Monroeville. He awarded grants of $350,000 each to Castleberry, Grove Hill and Vredenburgh.

“Community Development Block Grants help counties, cities and towns to undertake vital projects that make Alabama a better place to live,” Bentley said. “I am pleased to assist local officials who are working hard to improve the quality of life for residents.”

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 supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, workforce development, water resource management and recreation development.


BALDWIN COUNTY

Bay Minette will use its grant for drainage, road and sewer improvements in the East Hurricane Road community. While city officials say the need for improvements has been ongoing for years, flooding in the area in June 2012 intensified the problem. City officials plan to improve drainage by replacing pipes and adding detention ponds. The project also calls for resurfacing Old Daphne Road and East Hurricane Road and replacing disintegrated sewer pipes along East Hurricane Road and Moran Street. The city is providing $167,875 in matching funds.

CLARKE COUNTY

The award for Grove Hill will assist the town with repairing or replacing 5,600 feet of sewer lines along Callier and Pritchett streets and Carter Drive. The existing lines have several breaks, cracks and misaligned joints resulting in sewage leaks and groundwater infiltration. Approximately 50 sewer line connections will be provided at no cost to residents. The town is supplying $35,000 in matching funding.

CONECUH COUNTY

Castleberry will spend grant funds to replace old metal water lines with larger, more durable lines to increase water flow and fire protection capabilities. The work area includes parts of U.S. Highway 31 and North, Lee, Westside, Washington and Downing streets. The town also will install seven fire hydrants and 59 water meters and will dismantle an unused 50,000-gallon water tank on Cleveland Street.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY

With its grant, Brewton plans a water and sewer improvement project in the “Mid-Town” area of the city. The city will replace old cast iron and steel water pipes, which are corroding and affecting the taste and color of the water. To increase water pressure and enhance fire protection, larger pipes and eight fire hydrants will be installed. Faulty sewer lines will be repaired through a “no-trench” method that requires little or no digging and is the most cost effective. The project area extends north to Gordon Street, south to St. Joseph Avenue, west to Douglas Avenue and east to a tributary of Boggy Branch. The city is providing $150,000 in matching funds.

MONROE COUNTY

Monroeville will use grant funds to repair or replace 5,550 feet of aging and deteriorated clay sewer lines and 23 manholes in an area that includes Ivey, Glenwood and Charles streets, Dickson Loop and Cecil Lane. The project area is home to 279 people, including residents at an assisted-living facility. System overflows and leaks have resulted in raw sewage spilling into a creek and backing up in homes and the assisted-living facility. The city is providing $90,000 in matching funds.

The grant to Vredenburgh will enable the town to repair 6,600 feet of sewer lines in an area that has 194 residents. For years, old and damaged sewer lines have allowed sewage to leak into the ground and into houses, but town officials say lack of funds prevented repairs. Plans call for a liner to be inserted inside existing pipe where possible, but engineering studies indicate that some parts of the line may have to be replaced. The project area includes Walnut, Lynn, Birch, Bay, Pecan and Beech streets. No local matching funds are required.


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Contact Jim Plott or Larry Childers


For more information, visit:  http://www.adeca.alabama.gov/