By By Mary-Allison Lancaster Managing editor
The city of Brewton was among six organizations to receive $25,000 of private grant money Friday afternoon. The funding came from Home Depot and was provided to aid in the rebuilding efforts of communities battered by Hurricane Ivan, a news release said.
Terri Hasdorff, executive director of the governor's office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, arrived in Mobile Friday afternoon to announce grant recipients. Gov. Riley was unable to attend the meeting.
The money will help in debris removal, as well as the rebuilding of the youth little league park facility, which is located in a low to moderate-income area.
The Community Action Agency of Escambia also received $13,000 from the fund. The money will help pay for repairs to the roof, chimney and decking.
The Home Depot allotted $100,000 to the state for projects designed to assist groups that are working to rebuild community facilities. The funds were provided through the Corporation for National Community service and was administered by the governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (GFBCI).
The goal of the office is to promoted citizen service and build bridges between volunteer, public, private and governmental groups for the purpose of meeting critical state needs.
The GFBCI works with local faith and community-based organizations to receive and implement private, state and federal grant funds.
The GFBCI also serves as the lead department for The Alabama Women's Commission, statewide Interagency Task Force on Homelessness, Faith-Based Substance Abuse Task Force and High Hopes Program.
Organizations located in Baldwin, Escambia and Mobile counties were awarded grant money as well. The Mobile County Public Schools also received $25,000. The money will go toward rewiring schools, and a generator donated from Mobile County Emergency Management will allow the school the capacity to serve as the first special needs shelter in Alabama.