MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $350,000 grant to help the city of Rainsville alleviate a public health hazard by repairing the city’s sewer system.
The funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission will be combined with a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant awarded in 2022 to enable the city to upgrade a faulty section of its sewer system.
“This project will improve a vital public utility service that is depended on by Rainsville residents and businesses in the downtown area and beyond,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to announce this grant in support of these improvements.”
Old and deteriorating sewer lines and intakes during heavy rains have caused backups and overflows of the sewer lines in the city’s business district along Main Street (Alabama Highway 35) and northward.
The grant will enable the city to replace sewer lines and rehabilitate 63 manhole outlets in an area of the sewer system that serves 170 households and 27 businesses.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the ARC program in Alabama.
“The Appalachian Regional Commission has for decades assisted Alabama communities with funding to improve infrastructure, provide jobs and training, and contribute to overall health and welfare of Alabamians living in the central and northern part of the state,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA is pleased to be a part of this 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 DeKalb 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.
