By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded $4.5 million in grant funding to community organizations across Alabama aimed at reducing poverty and helping low-income residents work toward economic self-sufficiency.
The funding, provided through Community Services Block Grants, will be distributed to 18 community action agencies statewide. The agencies serve qualifying individuals and families by offering programs tailored to local needs, including employment assistance, financial literacy education, and emergency help with essentials such as food, housing, and health services.
“Many families and individuals experience hardships that leave them struggling to find their footing financially,” Ivey said. “These grants and programs will offer a hand up to people in need and guide them onto a path toward economic stability.”
The grants are administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) using federal funds made available by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
“ADECA is pleased to join Gov. Ivey in support of these programs that give people the chance to take control of their lives and finances,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said.
The funds are not part of the regular allocation of Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funding, which was recently awarded to organizations that administer the funds throughout the state.
Among the recipients of these funds is Organized Community Action Program Inc. (OCAP), which serves Dale County along with several other Wiregrass-area counties.
Dale County Impact
Dale County will benefit from the funding through OCAP, which received $198,252 to serve Bullock, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Lowndes, and Pike counties. The agency provides a range of services designed to assist low-income individuals and families, including employment readiness programs, budgeting and financial education, and emergency assistance for basic needs such as housing, utilities, and food.
Officials said the funding will allow the agency to continue addressing economic challenges faced by residents in Dale County while working to improve long-term stability for families throughout the Wiregrass region.
Other agencies receiving funding operate in nearly every region of the state, providing services to both urban and rural communities.
State officials said the funding is intended to strengthen local efforts that address the root causes of poverty while helping residents build long-term financial stability.
Grant recipients and award amounts include the following agencies serving counties across the state:
Organized Community Action Program Inc., $198,252, serving Bullock, Butler, Covington, Crenshaw, Dale, Lowndes and Pike counties.
Community Action Agency of Northwest Alabama Inc., $165,981, serving Colbert, Franklin and Lauderdale counties.
Community Action Partnership Huntsville/Madison and Limestone Counties Inc., $300,332, serving Limestone and Madison counties.
Walker County Community Action Agency Inc., $64,617, serving Walker County.
Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun and Cleburne Counties Inc., $254,882.
Community Action Partnership of Middle Alabama Inc., $254,990, serving Autauga, Chilton, Elmore and Shelby counties.
Community Action Agency Inc. of Chambers-Tallapoosa-Coosa, $78,660.
Montgomery Community Action Committee and Community Development Corporation Inc., $229,352, serving Montgomery County.
Community Action Agency of Northeast Alabama Inc., $961,254, serving Blount, Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson, Jefferson, Marshall and St. Clair counties.
Mobile Community Action Inc., $398,576, serving Mobile and Washington counties.
Macon-Russell Community Action and Community Development Corporation Inc., $91,223.
Pickens County Community Action Committee and Community Development Corporation Inc., $20,883.
Southeast Alabama Community Action Partnership Inc., $234,971, serving Barbour, Coffee, Geneva, Henry and Houston counties.
Community Action Partnership of North Alabama Inc., $249,292, serving Cullman, Lawrence, Marion, Morgan and Winston counties.
Community Action Agency of South Alabama, $294,138, serving Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox counties.
Community Service Programs of West Alabama Inc., $442,565, serving Bibb, Choctaw, Dallas, Fayette, Greene, Hale, Lamar, Perry, Sumter and Tuscaloosa counties.
Alabama Council on Human Relations Inc., $185,359, serving Lee County.
Community Action of Etowah County Inc., $115,977, serving Etowah County.
