MONTGOMERY – Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a total of $1.4 million to help another three north Alabama counties as they work to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lawrence County was awarded $400,000, and Jackson and Lauderdale counties were awarded $500,000 each. The awards are part of more than $40 million allocated to Alabama under a special Community Development Block Grant program funded from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
Gov. Ivey will announce additional grants to other Alabama cities and counties as applications are processed. The grant funds are required to be expended on projects relating to the recovery from or preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus or any future infectious diseases.
“People across the state are still recovering from the pandemic, and there are many people on the frontlines who have worked tirelessly to assist the residents of our communities,” Gov. Ivey said. “Alabama continues its march to recovery, and I am pleased to award these grants to assist those local leaders in their efforts.”
Lawrence County will use funds to expand services including more testing, screening and vaccinating for COVID-19 and any future outbreaks. The county will also purchase a mobile vaccination clinic and provide compensation for frontline professionals working outside normal hours to staff it. The clinic will target low-to-moderate income households within the county.
Jackson County plans to use funds for small-business grant relief, infrastructure upgrades to assist first responders and public safety officials and to provide food assistance for low-to-moderate income individuals.
Lauderdale County will purchase, outfit and staff two vaccination clinics designed to target low-to-moderate income residents in the county.
The funds were made available to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and can be used to support COVID-19 testing and vaccinations; rental, mortgage and utility assistance; assistance to food banks and pantries; job creation and business assistance and related projects to provide pandemic relief.
Alabama counties and entitlement communities receiving the CDBG-COVID funds were required to make an application with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
“Local leaders and health-care providers are finding many ways to assist residents in their areas who need it most,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in aiding these counties as they work to help Alabama continue recovering from the global pandemic.”
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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