By By Kerry Whipple-Bean
County officials hoped that a new provision allowing them to apply for grant money for road paving projects would give them an edge in the latest community development block grant process.
No such luck.
County Administrator Tony Sanks told commissioners Monday that their grant application was denied by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Development. The county had sought funding to pave several dirt roads throughout the county.
"Water systems and sewer systems were considered greater priority, Sanks said.
Commissioner Larry White said he was disappointed by the denial.
"It's a big disappointment," he said. "We were hoping we could address some unpaved roads. That's a blow to the program."
White said the roads were located throughout Escambia County.
"Unimproved roads became eligible for ADECA funding," White said. "We submitted this (grant application) so we could start doing a few roads per year. … They're not priority with ADECA."
At least one Escambia County project did receive community development block grant funds from ADECA this month. The Town of Flomaton received $400,000 for sewer improvements.