Northwest RC&D Council invests $172,000 in Franklin County with completion educational/civic projects
The Northwest Resource Conservation & Development Council hosted a meeting Thursday to announce the completion of 20 Franklin County projects funded by the organization in fiscal year 2025.
Additionally, three Franklin County projects were completed using Community Development funds approved at the state level.
Representatives from most of the grant recipients shared a brief message about how the funds were used to the benefit of either education or the community.
Also in attendance were Sen. Larry Stutts (R-Tuscumbia) and Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville), both of whom were praised for their support of Northwest RC&D Council through the legislature’s annual appropriation.
“We were able to spent over $170,000 this year in Franklin County and that’s big. That’ s a lot of money coming back to you guys in projects and areas this county needs most,” said Lauranne James, Northwest RC&D Council Executive Director. “We appreciate Senator Stutts and Representative Kiel for their support. We would not be here without our legislators.”
Stutts said funds appropriated to Northwest RC&D Council are important because they directly impact the lives of residents who pay those taxes to begin with.
“It’s far and away the best way to manage how tax money is spent—by allowing local people to decide it and not folks in Montgomery,” Stutts said.
The projects in Franklin County totaled more than $172,000, paid for with grant funding from the Alabama Legislature.
The Northwest Alabama RC&D Council serves a five-county area including Franklin, Colbert, Lauderdale, Marion and Winston Counties and is funded through appropriations from the Alabama Legislature.
The Northwest Alabama RC&D Council funds two categories of projects, Education Fund projects and General Fund projects. To be eligible for the Education Fund, the project must have a significant educational component. Otherwise, it falls into the General Fund category.
Grant recipients include 501c3 non-profit organizations and units of government along with schools or school-related organizations.
To apply for grant funding, log onto nwalrcd.org and enter the grant portal.
Projects completed in Franklin County this year were for the following organizations and amounts:
—Bear Creek Collaborative, “Making Bear Creek Accessible,” $6,976.92.
—Blue Springs Volunteer Fire Department, purchase emergency lights and sirens for service truck. 5,000.
—East Franklin Junior High School, gym and classroom updates, $12,000.
—East Franklin Volunteer Fire Department, Operation Extrication, $11,000.
—Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, ‘Highway Safety,’ $12,000.
—Franklin County Technical Response Team, planning & exercising, $5,000.
—Franklin County Emergency Management Agency, Water Drone Project, $6,000.
--Franklin County EMA, light project, $5,000.
—Franklin County Fire & Rescue, advanced training, $5,000.
—Belgreen High School, accessible outdoor playground, $8,000.
—Tharptown High School, sound system for auditorium gymnasium, $8,000.
—Hodges Volunteer Fire Department, rescue bags, $6,000.
—North Alabama Trails & Recreation, Rural Recreation Development, $6,000.
—Phil Campbell High School, percussion equipment, $5,000.
—Phil Campbell Rescue Squad, extrication safety gear, $6,000.
—Russellville High School, school graphics, $8,000.
—Russellville Middle School, ‘Students for Success,’ $7,024.30.
—Tharptown High School, uniforms and football equipment, $5,000.
—The Roxy Theatre/Franklin County Arts and Humanities Council, marquee lights and canopy, $10,000.
—Belgreen High School, greenhouse, $5,000.
The following projects were funded with Community Development grants from the state:
—Tharptown High School, football equipment, home and away uniforms and helmets, $15,000.
—Tharptown High School, school baseball equipment and uniforms, $10,000.
—Tharptown Elementary Gym, sound dampening panels, $5,000.