PROJECTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2012
Phillips & Hackleburg High Schools Technology Project: Grant funds purchased technology equipment to update classrooms.
Winston Co. Foster Grandparent Program: Grant funds were used to support Foster Grandparent program in Winston County. Foster grandparents provide assistance with teaching and mentoring elementary students.
LaGrange Living Historical Association Support: Grant funds were used to provide support for LaGrange College Site Park.
Franklin Co. Imagination Library Project: Grant funds were used to provide books to over 250 children in the Franklin County area from birth to 5 years old to promote early childhood literacy and encourage parents to read to small children.
Phil Campbell High School Outdoor Classroom: Grant funds were used to repair and renovate Outdoor Classroom damaged in the April 2011 tornado. The Franklin Co.
SWCD organized repairs and planned a dedication ceremony to recognize community leaders.
Franklin Co. Extension Farm-City Banquet: Grant funds were used for purchasing materials and supplies for Farm-City Banquet which educates students and citizens on the link between food they eat and the people who grow it.
Franklin Co. SWCD Envirothon Program: Grant funds were used for environmental education competition for Franklin County students.
Rain Barrel Workshop Project: Grant funds were used to purchase rain barrels and supplies for Rain Barrel Workshops in Colbert and Winston Counties. The Alabama Cooperative Extension staff helped plan and host events.
Colbert Co. Extension Farm-City Awareness: Grant funds were used for educational materials for Farm-City Parade activities for Colbert County Students.
Oka Kapassa Native American Festival (Council-wide): Grant funds were used to implement 2 day Native American festival. One day is dedicated to elementary students to learn about Native American culture and the second day is open to the public. This festival has received tourism awards for program delivery.
Florence/Lauderdale Co. Public Library/Grant Research: Grant funds were used for staff time to research grant opportunities for the library.
Community Raised Garden Beds Project (Council-wide): Grant funds were used to develop community raised garden beds at strategic locations.
Outreach Meeting Project (Council-wide): Grant funds were used to plan and conduct 10 outreach meetings in the Council-Area to reach farmers and introduce them to NRCS. FSA, RD, and Extension also presented at meetings.
Anti-Litter Supplies Program: Grant funds were used to purchase supplies to distribute to all anti-litter programs in the council area.
Cherokee High School FFA District and State Convention: Grant funds were used to support the FFA Program at the high school to attend and compete at the competitions and purchasing supplies needed to prepare for competitions.
Colbert Alloys Park: Grant funds were used to renovate present restroom facilities to accommodate requirements for Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
Double Springs Historical Library: Grant funds used to renovate & make library used for community activities & agency meetings handicap accessible.
Spruce Pine Museum Building Project: Grant funds were used to restore a 1900 store building to a museum and print brochures & postcards to distribute to schools to promote field trips to historic museum at no charge to students.
Town of Hodges Trailhead & Campground/Multi-use Trail: Grant funds were used to build a 160 acre Trailhead at the southern end of the Town of Hodges, to be used as an equestrian trail and campground.
Russellville Fire & Rescue Smoke Detector Project: Grant funds were used to purchase tamper proof smoke detectors and distribute to community volunteer fire departments to be distributed to residents.
City of Winfield Safealert Notification System for Marion Co.: Grant funds were used to implement this extra backup for current paging system for all the Fire Departments in Marion County called the Safealert Notifier System.
Russellville Fire & Rescue Weather Radio Project: Grant funds were used to purchase weather radios for those in community on a fixed income. A weather awareness day was held at the Russellville Wal-Mart where radios were distributed.
North Alabama State Fair Sewer Upgrades and addition: Grant funds were used to upgrade and add sewer lines at the fairgrounds. The old lines were over 40 years old and were not working properly.
North Alabama African Heritage Festival (Council-wide): Grant funds were used to plan and implement the North Alabama African Heritage Festival. The festival allowed the community to enjoy cultural activities.
Lauderdale Co. SWCD Grazing Clinic/School: Grant funds were used to implement an informative, hands-on meeting with livestock producers to learn about different grazing methods to improve production and help the environment.
In Harmony With Nature Project (Music Preservation Society): Grant funds were used to develop and test a model for planning litter-free events. A How-To handbook was developed and distributed to all cities and county officials through Northwest AL to use to plan festivals and community activities as litter-free events.
Haleyville Center for Technology Laptop Project: Grant funds were used to purchase laptops to enhance the capabilities of the Technology School at Haleyville High School for students to have access to the Internet and the automotive learning software also known as CDX.
Phillips High School Football Field Sprinkler/Bank Erosion Project: Grant funds were used to purchase portable sprinkler system and the purchase of sod for controlling the erosion at the high school stadium.
Waterloo Fire Dept/Replacement tool-supplies: Grant funds were used to purchase fire department tools and supplies.
Town of Rogersville In-Car Video Camera Package: Grant funds were used to purchase and install an in-car video camera system to be used by the Rogersville Police Department.
Winston County Arts Council Art classes: Grant funds were used to purchase supplies and art equipment for the Winston County Schools.
Winston County EMA Firefighter Notification System: Grant funds were used to purchase emergency notification system that sends text message notification to county firefighters when an emergency arises.
Education/Training for Winston Co. Firefighters Association: Grant funds were used to purchase training videos about firefighting and medical care. The videos were used for training by the volunteer fire departments in Winston County.
Firefighter Equipment for Winston County Firefighters Association: Funds were used to buy equipment to respond to Winston County fire/rescue situations.
Winfield Park & Rec Drainage Improvements for Walking Trail: Grant funds were used for improvements in drainage by installing 400’ of drainage pipes/gravel at the walking and nature trails. This also added parking spaces to the present parking areas at the park.
Town of Littleville Park Restroom Project: Grant funds were used to construct a restroom facility for the city park in Littleville. The funds were used for all phases of the project from pouring the foundation to purchasing plumbing supplies.
Meals on Wheels (Community Action Agency): Grant funds were used to purchase 330 meals for homebound and disabled residents in Northwest Alabama. Meals are delivered by program volunteers.
I-Pads for the Elementary Classroom/West Elementary School: Grant funds were used to purchase 7 I-Pads to be utilized by each classroom to serve a total of 594 students grades K-2nd.
Lauderdale County 4-H Round Up: Grant funds were used to bring the Herp Journey Program, a traveling exhibit from the AL 4-H Center that features live turtles, snakes and alligators, to present at the Lauderdale County 4-H Round-Up. There were 13 schools and two home schools participating in the program.
Colbert Heights High School FFA Support & Convention: Grant funds were used to purchase building supplies used for training in the Agri-science class for competitions and for the lodging of the students at the FFA Convention.
Colbert County Rural Fire Protection Education & Training: Grant funds were used to educate volunteer fire fighters & Colbert County citizens about expanded protection via a new rural fire hydrant in the Ford City Community.
Colbert County High School FFA District & State Convention: Grant funds were used to register and transport students to the District & State FFA Convention.
Food CO-OP Project: Grant funds were used to develop a Business/Vision Plan for a Regional Food CO-OP.
Phillips High School Dressing Room Project: Grant funds were used to renovate the boys and girls dressing rooms for gym at Phillips High School.
National RC&D Outreach “Bridging the Gap: Raising Awareness about Technical and Financial Assistance Available to Rural Communities”: RC&D Staff created outreach materials for two meetings to provide information to an audience that had not participated in any USDA or Extension Programs in Franklin and Lauderdale Counties.
Northwest AL RC&D Council partnered with USDA, the AL Cooperative Extension System, and the AL A&M Small Farms Research Center as well as the President of the
Small Black Farmer’s Association and a Director of the North Alabama Hispanic Coalition for Equal Rights to reach participants for these Outreach meetings.
Eagle Cam/Weather Station in Waterloo, AL: Grant funds were used to install and maintain Eagle Cam and Weather Station equipment in Waterloo, AL.