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Commission hears grant updates: ARC strategic plan, Coosa Valley water appropriation and BUILD grant application
Summary
Staff briefed the commission on several grants: an ARC-funded economic-development strategic plan (with a $45,000 Innovate Alabama match), a $1,000,000 appropriation for Coosa Valley Water Supply District, and a $2.5 million BUILD grant application requiring local matches; commissioners were reminded about federal procurement rules for ARC funds.
Candace Hill presented the county's grant portfolio and next steps after the commission secured funding from several federal and private sources. Hill said the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) award will fund an economic-development strategic plan that requires stakeholder interviews and public engagement. "In order to do the plan we're gonna need public feedback," she said, and she described plans for one-on-one stakeholder interviews and broader outreach.
Hill also said Innovate Alabama will provide a $45,000 match that reduces the county share of the ARC match obligation. She reported the Daniel Foundation awarded partial funding for arena improvements ($30,000 awarded on a $50,000 ask) and that the county has applied for a $2.5 million BUILD grant with a $250,000 county match and a $250,000 match from Moody; the BUILD request would fund Phase 1 design and construction planning for US 411.
Why it matters: the grants program represents an active county strategy to leverage state and federal funds for infrastructure and economic development. Commissioners were cautioned about federal procurement requirements for ARC-funded work (federal rules may require RFQs for professional services where state rules do not). Hill and staff said they will manage procurement and compliance and return with specific scopes and procurement plans.
What's next: staff will continue stakeholder outreach for the ARC plan, finalize match sources (including Innovate Alabama funds), and prepare procurement documentation for federally funded portions of projects.
