NARCOG urges Decatur to pursue EDA disaster supplemental grants for infrastructure

Robbie Cantrell, executive director of the North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments (NARCOG), told the Decatur City Council at its Sept. 2 work session that the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s fiscal 2025 disaster supplemental Notice of Funding Opportunity is a rolling grant program that could support critical infrastructure projects in declared disaster areas.

Cantrell said the EDA program makes about $1.45 billion available nationwide and that implementation grants for construction projects typically range from $2 million to $20 million. “This federal funding is available on a rolling basis or until all funds have been obligated,” Cantrell said.

The EDA’s fiscal 2025 disaster supplemental NOFO offers three funding pathways; Cantrell focused on the implementation path, which he said supports standalone construction and non‑construction projects that advance recovery and growth. He said proposed projects must align with a region’s comprehensive economic development strategy (SEDS). NARCOG is the economic development district (EDD) for a three‑county region that includes Morgan County and is responsible for maintaining a SEDS; the region’s SEDS was updated in 2022 and will be updated again around 2027, Cantrell said.

Cantrell identified the EDA’s five investment priorities and said applications for this NOFO should emphasize investment‑priority No. 4, “economic recovery resilience.” He listed potential eligible infrastructure types as “parking, water, sewer, drainage, electricity,” transit and bicycle‑pedestrian facilities, and other critical infrastructure.

Cantrell said Morgan County is covered by two federal disaster declarations that fall within the NOFO’s covered incident periods: DR‑4710‑AL for severe storms, straight‑line winds and tornadoes (declaration date May 5, 2023; incident period March 24–27, 2023) and EM‑3618‑AL related to Hurricane Helene (declaration date Sept. 26, 2024; incident period Sept. 22–29, 2024). He said projects must be located in areas covered by a major disaster declaration issued in calendar year 2023 or 2024 to be eligible.

Cantrell also listed project types that the NOFO generally excludes, saying the EDA will not fund projects that are primarily residential in nature (for example, housing), community amenities such as swimming pools or zoos, projects that support casinos or gaming, or projects that supplement general government operating budgets or replace lost tax revenue.

On timing, Cantrell said he would expect the city to need “no more than 4 to 6 weeks to put the application together.” He added that, because the program is rolling, applications will be reviewed as they arrive and that a decision could take until the end of the year or possibly longer: “I would say at least 90 days before you hear anything,” he said, because submissions go to Washington, D.C., for approval.

Cantrell said EDA typically expects to fund up to 80% of eligible costs for awards under this NOFO and that NARCOG is prepared to work with the City of Decatur to prepare an application for critical infrastructure projects such as enhanced or new downtown parking. He said NARCOG already has EDA funding to provide technical assistance and that there would be no additional cost to the city for that assistance.

City officials asked a few clarifying questions during Cantrell’s presentation; no formal action was taken at the work session. Cantrell said NARCOG will continue to coordinate with the city if Decatur wishes to pursue an application.

Ending: Cantrell’s presentation put the EDA NOFO before the council as a potential source of federal funding for infrastructure tied to disaster recovery and resilience. NARCOG staff offered to prepare the application materials with city staff if the council directs them to proceed.