MONTGOMERY —Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $200,000 grant to provide more reliable water service to multiple businesses and houses in the town of Blountsville.
Funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will enable the Blountsville Utilities Board to replace an old water line along a north section of U.S. 231 in the town. The line frequently breaks resulting in a loss of service on that end of the water system, according to the Utilities Board.
“For more than 50 years the Appalachian Regional Commission has helped Alabama communities turn obstacles into opportunities and improve the lives of Alabamians,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am grateful for our partnership with ARC and the many successes in Alabama that organization has helped create. I am pleased that this grant will help bring reliable water service to Blountsville.”
To eliminate outages and breaks, the Blountsville Utilities Board will replace 5,500 feet of water line with a thicker and more durable line that can withstand significantly more pressure. The current 53-year-old water line has suffered 12 major breaks in the past eight years causing 10 businesses and 24 households to be without water for up to eight hours.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the ARC program in Alabama.
“ADECA is pleased to join with Gov. Ivey and the Appalachian Regional Commission in a project that will greatly improve a vital service for residents in Blountsville,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
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 Blount 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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Jim Plott or Mike Presley
ADECA Communications and External Affairs
(334) 242-5525
