Huntsville-based agency among five organizations receiving federal grants

Published: Friday, September 02, 2011, 11:11 AM    
HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- The U.S. Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration is presenting grants of $100,000 each to five Alabama agencies -- including Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments in Huntsville -- to help communities recover from the April 27 tornadoes and storms.
Gov. Robert Bentley said the grants will give local officials additional planning and technical assistance as they work to rebuild community facilities and restore their economies.
The TARCOG grant is to be used to develop an economic recovery and resiliency plan for long-term growth through coordination of resources, prioritization of rebuilding efforts and regional collaboration.
Other $100,000 grants are going to:
• The North Central Alabama Regional Council of Governments of Decatur to create a strategic recovery and resiliency plan.
• The West Alabama Regional Commission of Northport to assist local leadership and economic development professionals in hard-hit areas like Tuscaloosa with business and industry recovery.
• The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham to develop a disaster response and preparedness plan that focuses on protecting infrastructure and businesses and enabling local governments to provide assistance to their citizens.
• Northwest Alabama Council of Local Governments of Muscle Shoals to support the development of a disaster recovery plan for the towns of Hackleburg and Phil Campbell.