Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Fred Guarino

The Lowndes Signal

Governor Kay Ivey awarded more than $6.3 million Community Development Block Grants to 26 Alabama cities, towns and counties, including Mosses on Wednesday, Jan. 24 during a ceremony at the Old House Chamber at the State Capitol in Montgomery.

Mayor Willie B. Hill of Mosses confirmed that the grant will be for about $150,000 with a $15,000 match.

He said the town will use the grant to renovate its park including resurfacing the basketball court with new basketball goals, renovating the volleyball court, renovating one pavilion and adding another pavilion, adding tables, a walking trail and new playground equipment.

Hill said of the grant, “Oh I think that it is one of the great things that is happening to Mosses because we just really don’t have any place for our children to go and play and do the kinds of things that children and youth like to do that are decent.”

According to the Governor’s Office, “These grants are administered through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), and funds are made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.”

“Lives will be improved today thanks to these projects funded through the Community Development Block Grant program,” Ivey said. “People who have been subject to impure water will get clean water to drink, bathe and wash. People who have been maneuvering unsafe roads will soon be traveling smooth streets and the list goes on. I am so thankful for this program and the assistance it provides to communities who may be unable to afford these needed improvements on their own.”

Wednesday’s ceremony at the Capitol was the first round of CDBG announcements. The Governor plans to announce another round of CDBG awards on February 1.

Most CDBG funds are awarded annually in several categories through a competitive process based on many factors including the number of low- and moderate-income families affected, community need and cost efficiency of projects.

“As a former mayor, I am aware of how important these grants are to these communities and the impact that they have in improving the quality of life,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.

Those awarded grants, grant amounts and projects are:

Planning

• Town of Ragland – $28,000 for downtown revitalization plan.

Black Belt

• Town of Pine Hill – $350,000 for water improvements.

County

• Choctaw County Commission – $350,000 for street improvements.
• Clarke County Commission – $350,000 for street improvements.
• Coosa County Commission – $350,000 for street improvements.
• Covington County Commission – $350,000 for water extension.
• DeKalb County Commission – $256,422 for streets and drainage.
• Geneva County Commission– $350,000 for water extension.
• Jackson County Commission – $275,780 for water extension.
• Lamar County Commission – $222,000 for water extension.
• St. Clair County Commission – $350,000 for street improvements.

Community Enhancement

• City of Aliceville – $206,272 for fire truck for Volunteer Fire Department.
• Town of Ariton – $249,976 for street improvements.
• City of Ashford – $146,807 for street improvements.
• Town of Chatom – $150,000 for street improvements.
• City of Evergreen – $250,000 for a baseball field.
• Town of Louisville – $250,000 for street improvements.
• Town of Mosses – $149,068 for community park upgrades.
• City of Muscle Shoals – $250,000 for a “miracle field” ball field.
• City of Ozark – $250,000 for a swimming pool.
• City of Sheffield – $132,300 for demolition and clearance.
• Town of Susan Moore – $250,000 for water improvements.
• Town of Taylor – $205,604 for street improvements.
• Town of Thorsby – $250,000 for demolition and clearance.
• Town of Triana – $238,690 for Town Hall rehabilitation.
• City of Wetumpka – $171,000 for demolition and clearance.