MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WTVA) -- The state of Alabama has awarded grants to help with projects in Lamar and Marion County.
Governor Robert Bentley announced $950 thousand in Community Development Block grants to help improve the quality of life for residents.
Hamilton will receive a $250 thousand grant to support a major downtown revitalization project.
The money will be combined with $2.3 million in bonds to replace undersized storm drains that cause flooding in a six-block area of downtown Hamilton.
Wheaton Ministries is also purchasing several vacant buildings for use by its school of ministry.
Sulligent will receive $350 thousand to help residents of the Buck Jackson neighborhood with sewage issues related to undersized septic tanks.
The city will extend public sewer service to homes on Buck Jackson Road, Wilson Road, Wren Street, and Willow Street.
Sulligent will also replace an old sewer pump station at the Lamar Heights apartment complex.
Lamar County will receive $350 thousand to extend public water service to County Road 2 and County Road 36.
County officials say residents use private wells that often provide dirty, foul-smelling water.
They also say the wells run dry in the summer, forcing residents to haul in water.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
