By By Connie Nowlin Managing editor
Sen. Richard Shelby announced $500,000 will be coming to Atmore in the form of a transportation appropriations bill. It is part of the $610 million from the federal government that Alabama received in highway funding. It is $54.4 million more than the state received last year.
The money, set to roll out in fiscal 2003-2004, is for improvements to the I-65 industrial park. The dollars will go toward infrastructure, that is water and sewer facilities as well as road construction.
It is hoped by Shelby's office that will help lure industry, which will in turn provide much-needed jobs.
"It is my hope that this funding will spur economic growth in the area," Shelby said in a press release.
The industrial park is the property the city bought in two years ago on I-65 and annexed into the city limits earlier this year.
There had been talk this year that an airplane parts manufacturer was considering Atmore and its industrial park for expansion.
At the current time, there has been no word on where the new parts plant will locate.
In spite of that, Atmore Mayor Howard Shell was pleased with the allocation of funds for the I-65 industrial park.
"The city of Atmore is very grateful to our congressional delegation in Washington, that is, Congressman Jo Bonner and senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions. Without these funds, we would not be able to accomplish our goals in a timely manner," Shell said.
The city has been on the receiving end of close to $3 million through congressional allocations for the I-65 industrial park.