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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Cawaco Resource Conservation & Development held a meeting at Clanton City Hall on Oct. 29 to showcase $64,049 in grant money given to organizations in Chilton County for community projects. The nonprofit supports educational and community development projects in Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby and Walker Counties, and the grants are funded by the partnership between Cawaco RC&D and the Chilton County Legislative Delegation.

“It is the greatest thing to me, and the best part of my job is this where I get to meet the people in person and hear how it helped them and their community,” Patti Pennington, Cawaco RC&D Program Manager, said. “That is what makes it all worth it … Just knowing it is going to a good cause and being used the way it should be makes a big impact on me.”

Pennington added that the projects for the grants are community-supported projects that have a lot of community support behind it. Seven different projects in Chilton County were funded through the $64,049, and each group got the opportunity to share what their funds were used for at the meeting.

Chilton Christian Academy received a $7,000 grant for a flashing traffic sign on Highway 31 outside of the school. The sign is designed to help slow down drivers on the road coming past the school.

The Chilton County Commission received $9,999 in grant money from Cawaco RC&D, and they are using the funds towards outfitting every patrol vehicle at the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office with an AED device. This will hopefully create a quicker response time to emergency situations in the midst of the ambulance contract situation ongoing in the county.

The Chilton County Master Gardeners Association got a $5,000 grant, and the organization will use it to create a shade house at its demo garden at the Chilton Regional Research & Extension Center. The shade house will hold educational classes in both the summer and winter.

Raleigh’s Place’s $10,000 grant from Cawaco RC&D went towards the building of their transitional apartments for young men who have just aged out of the foster care system. The apartments will also focus on teaching them life skills, workforce development, financial literacy and other important life lessons during their time there to benefit them in the future as independent adults.

“It is always the leadership in the county leading the way for these grants,” Pennington said. “How can you not love giving a grant like to Raleigh’s Place that will help so many people. We look at the big scope of the county and how many people it helps, and it is hard sometimes to grade them, but we did a good job this year.”

The City of Clanton received a $10,000 grant that was used to paint the mural on Third Avenue North. The mural features landmarks within the city, and the hope is that it will generate more traffic in the city as the mural is placed on different viewing lists and trails.

The City of Thorsby’s restrooms at Richard Wood Park were renovated by way of a $10,000 grant. The park that hosts the city’s annual Swedish and Strawberry Festivals had much needed renovations needed for the restrooms. Also, electrical issues were addressed with the funds as well that will make it easier for vendors to get electricity at the events in the park.

Finally, the YMCA of Chilton County was given $12,060 to supplement its summer camp program and weekly field trips for their children. The funds provided nine trips to educational places that included a safari park, the Alabama Nature Center, the Montgomery Zoo and more at no cost to the families.

Officials from each local group that received a grant attended the event, as well as Alabama Rep. Van Smith and Alabama Sen. Clyde Chambliss.