ADECA Grant Programs Strengthen Municipalities
August 23, 2025
Reported by Mike Hobson
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs continues to help the municipalities of Alabama with grant funding for special projects. There is an application process and obtaining a municipal grant is time consuming but can be rewarding. Small municipalities are often able to fund special projects that otherwise would have gone unfulfilled. Below are some recent examples of funding the State of Alabama (ADECA) has awarded.
A $500,000 grant announced by Gov. Kay Ivey will enable Robertsdale to take outdoor activities to another level in the city.
The grant from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund will help the city construct an outdoor amphitheater and make other improvements at Centennial Park.
“This project will enable the city of Robertsdale to host a variety of outdoor family activities and attract residents and visitors,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend city leaders for their vision of offering fun and family friendly outdoor events, and I am pleased to announce this funding.”
The facility, covered by an approximately 5,000-square-foot metal-roof, will include a raised stage, ground-level sloped seating and backstage changing area. The project also involves constructing bathrooms, an additional parking area and landscaping and lighting.
The Land and Water Conservation Fund, a program of the U.S. Department of the Interior, is administered in Alabama by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
In other towns, the town of Harpersville plans to build a new baseball field with help from a $150,000 grant announced by Gov. Kay Ivey.
In addition to the baseball field, the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant will help pay for amenities associated with the field including lighting, a storage building, a batting cage and new sidewalks at J.W. Donahoo Recreation Park. The total cost of the project is estimated at $300,000, with Harpersville providing the remainder of the funding.
“This new ballfield will encourage exercise, healthy competition and community togetherness for families in the Harpersville area of Shelby County,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to announce this project, and I applaud town leaders for working to enhance and expand recreational opportunities.”
Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $125,435 grant to revive a popular walking trail in the town of Silas.
The award provided through the federal Recreational Trails Program will enable the town to resurface and improve the 880-foot-long asphalt trail that was built in 2009. The trail has served as a valuable recreational space for residents in the Choctaw County town.
“Recreational trails, like this one in the town of Silas, are an ideal way to exercise, enjoy nature and the outdoors and spend times with family and friends,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to announce this grant.”
Located adjacent to Silas Town Hall, the trail was originally built with funds from the Recreational Trails Program. According to town officials, the trail’s surface has deteriorated showing cracks and damage from tree roots. Funds will be used to resurface the six-foot-wide trail and to address some drainage issues.
Gov. Kay Ivey has also announced a $335,837 grant to enhance a 422-acre wilderness preserve that promotes recreation and education in St. Clair County.
The award to the city of Springville will help provide new amenities at the Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve. The grant is being provided through the federal Recreational Trails Program.
“Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve, with its meandering creek and rich wildlife and flora, has attracted visitors seeking an escape to nature and the outdoors,” Gov. Ivey said. “This grant will further enrich that experience into the wilderness and enable the preserve to serve as an outdoor classroom to learn about the natural wonders of Alabama.”
Funds will be used to construct a pavilion, restrooms and covered picnic tables. The proposed 1,642-square-foot pavilion can be used as an outdoor classroom.
An estimated 200 to 300 vehicles come to the preserve each week, bringing many people to walk or ride the preserve’s 7.3 miles of trail. City leaders expect that number to grow significantly as the park becomes better known and improvements are made.
In our neighboring Tuscaloosa, Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $50,000 grant to upgrade a park in Tuscaloosa County.
The funds, supplied through the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, will be used to provide lighting upgrades at Munny Sokol Park.
“Parks should provide a safe and welcoming environment for residents and visitors to enjoy the outdoors,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to announce these funds for this worthwhile project.”
The project will involve upgrading the lighting and electrical system in the parking areas to make the park more inviting, secure and to reduce the risk of accidents.
Munny Sokol Park is used year-round for recreational activities, family gatherings and other special events, according to the Tuscaloosa County Parks and Recreation Authority.
In addition, Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded more than $600,000 to assist local governments in lowering energy costs while upgrading and modernizing their facilities.
The six Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants will assist recipients in projects that include installing energy efficient lighting and heating and air-conditioning systems. The improvements will help reduce utility costs and save taxpayer dollars.
“These grants will help replace outdated heating, cooling and lighting system with more modern equipment,” Gov. Ivey said. “I commend those local governments that took this step to improve services for their residents, clients and customers.”
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Energy.
“It just makes sense to invest in a program that will help save on utility costs in the long run by using more efficient equipment,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “I join Gov. Ivey in commending local leaders for taking advantage of this program that benefits everyone.”
Those awarded grants are:
Dallas County Water and Sewer Authority – $25,000 to install energy efficient HVAC retrofits and programmable thermostats at the authority’s main office.
Jacksonville – $11,641 to install energy efficiency lighting retrofits and programmable thermostats at the city’s senior adult center.
Jasper – $50,000 to install energy efficient lighting retrofits at the city’s public tennis and pickleball courts.
Montgomery County – $82,018 to install energy efficient lighting and HVAC retrofits at the Montgomery County Courthouse Annex and the Montgomery County Detention Facility.
Piedmont (City of) Health Care Authority – $190,904 to install energy efficient lighting and HVAC retrofits at the Piedmont Health Care Center.
Pike County Board of Education – $250,000 to install energy efficient lighting retrofits in five schools.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim services, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
