MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $200,000 grant to improve a major component of the Red Bay sewer system which will avoid a disruption in service and reduce a potential health risk.
Funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will enable the city to replace a 70-year-old major sewer line that serves much of downtown and the city’s three largest industries.
“The Appalachian Regional Commission has helped many Alabama communities over the years with urgent projects that needed to be addressed,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend local officials for recognizing this need and taking action to remedy it, and I am appreciative of our partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission.”
The city’s waste disposal service will install a 2,800-foot sewer line to replace the older, deteriorating and undersized line that transfers 70 percent of the city’s sewage to the wastewater treatment plant. In addition to providing sewer services to residents and businesses in the downtown area, the sewer line serves Tiffin Motorhomes Inc., Sunshine Mills Inc. and Gates Corp.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the ARC program in Alabama.
“ADECA joins Gov. Ivey in valuing Alabama’s partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission to complete needed community projects like this one in Red Bay,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “We recognize the positive impact that agency has had in Alabama’s service region during the past 50 years.”
Gov. Ivey notified Charlene Fancher, superintendent of the city’s Waste Disposal Board, that the grant had been approved. A local pledge of $420,456 will be contributed to the project.
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 Franklin 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
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