/ By Thomas Howard / Grant Funding • Projects/ 0 Comments

Lauderdale County receives $819,000 TAP grant as one of five recipients

Lauderdale County officials joined Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons and other elected leaders from the East Mississippi region Tuesday as the county was one of five recipients of Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant funding.

Simmons presented the county with a check for $819,000, which will go toward the second phase of a walking trail project along Sowashee Creek. The first phase saw the trail stretch from 29th Avenue to Grand Avenue.

Lauderdale County was one of five recipients of Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant funding awarded Tuesday by Mississippi Transportation Commissioner Willie Simmons.

“On behalf of the Department of Transportation, the Commissioner Busby, Commissioner Caldwell and myself, along with our Executive Director Brad White and the 2,700 employees that we have, we are so grateful to be working with our local partners like you who are here today to make things happen,” Simmons said.

TAP funds are federal dollars administered through the Mississippi Department of Transportation for projects improving pedestrian safety, handicap accessibility and infrastructure for bicycles and other non-motorized transport.

Supervisor Josh Todd, who serves as president of the Board of Supervisors, said the county is fortunate to have Simmons serving as commissioner for the Central District. Regardless of politics, Simmons is there to support the people of East Mississippi, he said.

“I don’t know how many of y’all rode across a bridge or road on the way here, but not one of them is a Democrat or Republican, and this man sees none of that,” Todd said. “He sees us. He sees East Mississippi, and he sees what we can be and who we are right now.”

In addition to Lauderdale County, other entities receiving TAP grant funds include the city of Meridian, town of Marion, town of Scooba in cooperation with the Kemper County Economic Development Authority and East Mississippi Community College.

In total, Simmons said the grants add up to around $5 million in federal funds for infrastructure in the East Mississippi region.

“As commissioner, I am so excited to be here today and to be able to provide this $5 million to the East Mississippi community for our pedestrians,” he said.

/ By Thomas Howard / Grant Funding • Projects/ / 0 Comments

Lauderdale County moves forward with projects, grant applications

Lauderdale County supervisors moved forward with several projects Monday as multiple county departments look to apply for grant funding. Among the items discussed were grants for the Sheriff’s Department, Amnesty Day and funding to build a new fire station at Center Ridge.

Sheriff Ward Calhoun said his department plans to apply for an antiterrorism grant through the Mississippi Department of Homeland Security in the amount of $462,806.21. The Sheriff’s Department could receive all or some of the funding through the grant or not be selected for funding at all, he said.

The grant does not require any matching funds from the county.

Supervisor Craig Houston said the county has also received more than $450,000 through a Community Development Block Grant to build a new fire station for Center Ridge Volunteer Fire Department. Located in the northeast corner of the county, Center Ridge was built in 1989 but never fully completed.

“We’re going to be able to build a new fire station in that community,” he said.

The Board of Supervisors on Monday also discussed the upcoming solid waste Amnesty Day set for Saturday, April 18, at the Lauderdale County Road Department’s central office, located at 210 Windmill Drive in Meridian.

Amnesty Day gives residents an opportunity to dispose of waste that cannot be accepted as part of regular household pickup. Hazardous materials such as motor oil, batteries, fluorescent bulbs, paints and solvents and car tires will be accepted.

Supervisors approved quotes from disposal companies Rhino LLC and Complete Environmental for disposal of materials collected during Amnesty Day. The board also approved applications for a $60,000 grant to combat illegal dumping, as well as a separate $180,000 grant to launch a waste tire collection program.