City grant funding to go to roads and community services

The Hoover City Council agreed to spend more than $270,000 in grant money this fiscal year to resurface roads and fund programs that provide services in the community.

Approved in September, the money comes from federal community development block grants, and the majority – $180,000 – will go toward matching funds required for a $2.2 million grant from the state of Alabama. The city intends to use the state grant to resurface Lorna Road and parts of Patton Chapel Road.

Over the course of five years, Hoover will use approximately $475,000 in grant funding to pay matching costs on the state grant.

The additional $90,000 of block grant funding will be used to supplement programs for after-school tutoring, emergency home repair and homeless services, with $20,000 being put aside to pay administration costs.

From other sources, $60,000 will be used to begin funding designs for a sidewalk along State Highway 150. The sidewalk will run from U.S. Highway 31 to Cahaba River Estates Drive and the council estimates total cost of the design at $300,000.