Birmingham City Council members get close look at Pratt City 6 months later, sees major task ahead

Published: Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 1:03 PM     Updated: Wednesday, November 09, 2011, 1:48 PM

By Joseph D. Bryant -- The Birmingham News The Birmingham News BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Birmingham City Council President Roderick Royal and council members Maxine Parker and Steven Hoyt toured the Pratt City area of western Birmingham Tuesday to assess progress more than six months after the April 27 tornadoes decimated much of the area.

Council members said they wanted to see the area themselves following a letter from a resident complaining of a slow rebuilding initiative.
"I don't find it surprising what we saw because I see it on a daily basis," said Royal, whose district includes Pratt City.
Royal said the city's efforts must be accelerated.
"I believe we probably need to redouble our efforts with the delivery of basic city services, but it's important here to follow the leadership that's being provided," he said.
A team of volunteers from the American Institute of Architects has held forums to sketch ideas for rebuilding the area. The team will evaluate all aspects including commercial, residential and infrastructure needs. However, council members touring the scarred and underpopulated neighborhoods said that process will be long and expensive.
Meanwhile, the city must ratchet up its own efforts, Hoyt said.

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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.