By By ROBERT BLANKENSHIP – Managing Editor
Brewton and East Brewton officials received good news last week when U.S. Senator Richard Shelby announced that the area was approved for funding of its current flood mitigation study.
Brewton has been working with the Alabama Corps of Engineers on the flood mitigation project for some time. The federal government has agreed to pay about half of the bill, which is approximately $1.3 million.
Brewton Mayor Ted Jennings said despite that agreement, city and state officials still must work each year to make sure the money is reappropriated through the federal government.
The Brewton and East Brewton project is only one of several Alabama waterway projects to receive funding.
In addition to the funding received for the mitigation project, the Appropriations Committee also approved $8 million for the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), an agency that Escambia County has recently joined. The commission approved at its last meeting to under go a needs assessment which must be completed before being eligible for additional DRA funds.