City awarded $1.58M grant
Published 12:05 am Wednesday, March 16, 2016
The city of Atmore was awarded a $1.58 million dollar industrial access grant by the Alabama Department of Transportation on Monday.
City Attorney Lawrence Wettermark said the grant is for a new road in the northwest quadrant of the Rivercane development. The development is a 740-acre mixed-use development located on Highway 21, more than four miles north of Atmore at exit 57 off of Interstate 65.
“It’s going to be a mile-long for industrial prospects,” Wettermark said.
Wettermark said the grant is for $1,580,000, and added that the city owns three of the four quadrants housed inside of the development.
Out of 18 applications, the city was given the largest amount, Wettermark said.
The city applied for the grant two months ago.
“It’s exciting,” Wettermark said. “We hope we can make a big announcement soon.”
Earlier Monday, representatives from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and Coastal Gateway met with Atmore Mayor Staff and other council members about finalizing an offer with the industry that will be occupying the space at the end of the industrial access road.
ADECA Director Jim Byard Jr. said his agency was there to see what sort of plans the city has in place for the interchange, and what support it could possibly give.
Officials couldn’t comment on what industry could be coming to Atmore, and that it would take between two to three weeks for the agreement to be finalized.