By By Paul Keane
Publisher
Atmore Mayor Howard Shell came back a little heavier from the recent meetings of the League of Cities in Washington, D.C., and it wasn't necessarily because the food was plentiful, but because the City's wallet was a little heavier.
While in the nation's capitol, Shell learned that a $1.2 million grant had been awarded to the City to use for industrial access. The grant requires no matching funds and has no expiration date. The funds will be used to build a road in the current industrial park, just north of Masland Carpets.
"We had some good meetings and good speakers during the week," Shell told the City Council Monday night, "but the big news came from Congressman Jo Bonner.
"Years ago, we had put in requests for grant money to further develop our industrial park. Congressman Bonner told me that we had received the $1.2 million grant, and that should more than get us started on building the road."
Shell said the possibility of future funding could be on the horizon.
"While not guaranteeing anything, Congressman Bonner did say it was good that we got the grant," Shell said. "He informed me that once we are in the funding pipeline on a project, the chances are very good that we will receive additional funding to complete the project."
Shell said there is no timetable right now on when the project may be completed.