Hobson City, Piedmont among recipients of $1.8 million grants

Two Calhoun County towns will be receiving a total of $800,000 in federal grants for quality of life projects. Gov. Robert Bentley on Tuesday awarded $1.8 million of Community Development Block Grants for five east Alabama communities, according to a statement.

According to a press release, Hobson City will receive $350,000 to repair 16 homes along Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. and Church St. Homeowners in the program will be required to assist with repairs and complete a training course about home maintenance and finance management.

Piedmont will receive $450,000 to replace sewer lines from Gadsden St. to Main. St. The project area will reportedly include more than 100 homes and businesses as well as Piedmont Elementary and Middle schools. Foul odors between Second Ave. and Fifth Ave. The city will contribute nearly $85,000 to the six-block project.

The remaining $1 million will go toward water, sewer and demolition projects in three communities across Talladega and Clay counties. Eight demolition in Talladega County will include the former East Highland Memorial High School in Sylacauga and the Clay County community of Millerville will have public water service extended to 37 households and a business along County Road 5.