Federal Initiatives and Recreation Division
The Federal Initiatives and Recreation Division houses several longstanding ADECA programs that target specific regions or are focused on outdoor recreation. The Appalachian Regional Commission, the Delta Regional Authority and the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission are federal-state partnerships that direct resources to counties located within these areas. The division also administers the Land and Water Conservation Fund and the Recreational Trails Program, which bolster local efforts to enhance options for those seeking to enjoy the outdoors. In late 2025, Governor Ivey named ADECA as Alabama’s lead agency for the Alabama Rural Health Transformation program, which will be housed in the division.
Appalachian Regional Commission
Created in 1965, the Appalachian Regional Commission partners with 13 state governments to spur economic development and improve the quality of life in Appalachia. In Alabama, 37 counties are part of the ARC region and are eligible for funds.
The ARC provides federal grant money to upgrade infrastructure, improve education and health care and stimulate job growth. In 2025, the ARC awarded 37 grants totaling $14.4 million for projects in Alabama.
Those projects include two focused on supporting and expanding Alabama’s automotive industry in Tuscaloosa and Macon County. A $1 million ARC grant will be used to renovate a 5,733-square-foot section of a downtown Tuscaloosa building into an automotive training center. Graduates of the training program could help staff the nearby Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, the 20 auto-motive suppliers in Tuscaloosa, and other automotive facilities throughout the state.
In Macon County, a $433,000 ARC grant is funding the infrastructure development needed for an automobile component supplier to locate in the town of Shorter. Shinsung NVH USA, which sup-plies Hyundai, Kia and other auto manufacturers, is building a facility off Interstate 85.
The city of Lincoln used funds from an Appalachian Regional Commission grant to improve McCaig Road, a key access road servicing several major industries in Talladega County.
Delta Regional Authority
The Delta Regional Authority works to stimulate economic development and improve the overall quality of life in the Mississippi River Delta and Alabama’s Black Belt. The DRA was established in 2000 as a federal-state partnership and comprises all or parts of eight states, including 20 Alabama counties. The areas the DRA serves are generally defined as economically distressed, and it funds projects that support basic infrastructure, education, health care and job training.
Eight grants totaling $3.7 million were awarded through the DRA in 2025.
In Clarke County, the city of Jackson completed Phase I of a project funded by a $373,205 DRA grant to address a flooding issue that affected businesses, residences and city infrastructure. The city was able to rehabilitate storm drainage by adding a 24-inch drain in a flood-prone area.
Southeast Crescent Regional Commission
The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission encompasses parts of six states and all of Florida. In Alabama, it provides funds for projects in 13 counties, including Mobile, Baldwin and parts of the southeastern region of the state. Created in 2008, the SCRC’s mission aligns with those of the ARC and DRA. It was officially organized in 2022 and began accepting grant applications in 2023.
The SCRC announced five grants for projects in the region totaling $2.1 million in 2025. This includes a $569,000 project in High-land Home to install 13,200 feet of water main to restore reliable water pressure to 280 customers of the Quint-Mar Water Authority. Another SCRC grant will help fund a Henry County project to create the 27,000-square-foot Workforce Technology Center to consolidate career and technical education programs for hands-on training, dual enrollment and seamless career pathways for students and adults.
Recreational Trails Program
This outdoor recreation program supports the creation and rehabilitation of trails to be used for hiking, biking, horseback riding and motorized vehicles like dirt bikes and all-terrain vehicles. It is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration.
Grant amounts range from $200,000 to $500,000. Grants can be used to fund 80 percent of a project’s cost, with the remaining 20 percent matched locally through cash, labor, equipment and volunteer work.
Gov. Kay Ivey awarded five grants totaling about $1.5 million to Recreational Trails projects in 2025.
The city of Springville will use a $335,837 grant to enhance the 422-acre Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve. The project includes the construction of a 1,642-square-foot pavilion that can be used as an outdoor classroom along with restrooms and covered picnic tables.
Land and Water Conservation Fund
This National Park Service program provides funds for outdoor recreation areas including trails, ballfields, playgrounds, camping areas and splash pads. Land and Water Conservation Fund grants are available to cities, counties, state agencies and educational institutions.
The LWCF program provides 50 percent matching assistance to project sponsors. ADECA administered 14 LWCF grants totaling $7.5 million in 2025. Included among the grants was one for $716,312 for the city of Attalla to make major improvements to its park system. This will include a splash pad, three picnic pavilions, a restroom/changing building, sidewalks and additional parking at Attalla City Park. At the adjacent Attalla City Sports Complex, the city plans to build four lighted pickleball courts, two lighted tennis courts, sidewalks and other amenities.
The city of Clanton’s sports-themed splash pad opened to the public in July 2025. The city built the attraction at Clanton City Park with the help of a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.
Eufaula constructed eight pickleball courts and installed sidewalks at Reeves Recreation Park with the help of a Land and Water Conservation Fund grant.
Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program
Gov. Ivey named ADECA to serve as Alabama’s lead agency for the Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program (ARHTP). The program’s plan was developed with input from a core team, including Governor’s Office staff, ADECA, the Alabama Department of Finance, the Alabama Medicaid Agency, and the Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency. Following Federal Guidelines, ADECA submitted the state’s application and plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). While the ARHTP is a five-year program, it involves a cooperative agreement with CMS where the plan is reviewed, and funding is awarded on a yearly basis. In December 2025, the state was awarded $203 million for the program’s first year. Due to the nature of this cooperative agreement, budget amounts and the plan may be revised for each subsequent program year.
The Alabama Rural Health Transformation Program (ARHTP) is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award, with 100 percent of the funding provided by CMS/HHS.
