Athens awarded state grant to develop French Mill Crossing project

The city has pledged $618,192 in local funding toward the project.

“Anytime we can grow our retail base, we grow our sales tax revenue to fund city services,” Marks said. “This project will meet a need for retail in our city limits to the east, keeping tax dollars in Athens.”

The grant will provide improvements at the intersection of U.S. 72 and Mooresville Road which will be adjacent to a planned 59,900-square-foot shopping center. Once completed, the development is expected to create 100 jobs in the area.

“Like much of north Alabama, the city of Athens and Limestone County are experiencing tremendous growth,” Ivey said. “While growth offers great opportunities for residents, city leaders recognize the importance of managing it wisely. I am pleased to support this road project, which will help ensure traffic flows smoothly through this busy intersection.”

The development, French Mill Crossing, will be built on a 12-acre site southeast of the Mooresville Road and U.S. 72 intersection. It will include a Publix grocery store, a bank, a convenience store/fueling station, a fast-food restaurant and other retail outlets.

The road improvements will include widening and adding two turning lanes on Mooresville Road for better access to the shopping center. Additionally, a deceleration lane and entry route to development will be built on U.S. 72.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“The construction of this shopping center will likely lead to other commercial development nearby properties necessitating the need for these road improvements,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA joins with Gov. Ivey in commending the city on their growth and preparations made to maintain to orderly maintain that growth.”