FLORENCE – The West Lauderdale Water and Fire Protection Authority received a federal grant to install emergency backup generators at six critical booster pump stations.
The Appalachian Regional Commission awarded the $224,000 grant, U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt announced. The project in Florence will benefit communities by ensuring uninterrupted water service during power outages.
“This new grant means thousands of families and businesses in west Lauderdale County will no longer have to worry about losing water access when the power goes out,” said Aderholt (R-Haleyville). “Reliable infrastructure is the bedrock of strong communities, and this investment ensures not only basic services, but also public safety through uninterrupted fire protection.”
The six diesel-powered generators will serve more than 5,000 households and 120 businesses, according to Aderholt’s office. In addition to greater resilience during inclement weather, the project will generate an estimated $58,900 in annual cost savings by reducing service disruption and damage from outages.
The grant follows an ARC award in March of nearly $1 million to the Florence-Lauderdale Port Authority to restore aging mooring cells at the city’s port on the Tennessee River. That project, part of ARC’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies, will help preserve essential river-based commerce and protect jobs tied to transportation, agriculture, and manufacturing in the region.
“These back-to-back ARC grants show a strong commitment to Lauderdale County’s infrastructure and economy,” Aderholt said. “From clean water to reliable ports, we are securing the assets that support daily life and long-term opportunity in northwest Alabama.”
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