Local leaders celebrate $45K community investment
BY SAM VISE
THE LAFAYETTE SUN
VALLEY — Local leaders, educators, first responders and community advocates gathered at the East Alabama Fire District headquarters in Valley on Aug. 24 to celebrate $45,430.08 in community grant investments across Chambers County.
Awarded through the Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council for Fiscal Year 2026, the funding directly benefits five local projects spanning public safety, education, family support services, senior accessibility and downtown revitalization.
State senator Randy Price and representative Kristin Nelson joined local officials and grant recipients to review the tangible impacts of the state-allocated funds. Price emphasized the direct local impact of the council’s work, stating that hearing firsthand how tax dollars improve the area and touch lives is the most rewarding part of the process. Nelson echoed the sentiment, noting that while state lawmakers work hard during legislative sessions in Montgomery, the most critical work happens at home through direct community investment.
Among the recipients, the East Alabama Water, Sewer and Fire Protection District received $9,200 to purchase a mobile, ADA-compliant inflatable smokehouse for fire prevention education.
“One of our goals was to try to find something that can include everybody,” said Fire Chief Jacob Geiger. “Nobody’s left out... it allows us to set up inside, so we can set up in a gym, and we can set up outside still, too. But it’s also ADA compliant, so anybody with a walker, a cane, a wheelchair or anything like that can still go through the process and get the safety education that’s needed.”
Education and family support services also saw substantial backing. The Chambers County Educational Foundation was awarded $14,907.08 for its “Learning Beyond Walls” initiative at Chambers Academy.
“Through this grant, we’re able to give kids opportunities to go beyond the walls at school and to be out in our community, be present with our community and have opportunities to learn different areas of education... especially in the area of STEM, which is something that we have grown within our school, and also within arts, establishing our arts program,” said headmaster John Owens. “We’re very grateful.”
Meanwhile, Circle of Care received $5,000 to construct a gazebo overlooking the Chattahoochee River, providing a peaceful, restorative outdoor setting for supervised foster child visitations and a designated wellness space for local social workers.
Senior mobility and municipal pride rounded out the awards.
The Lanett Senior Center secured $11,325 to replace heavy exterior doors weighing up to 150 pounds with modern, push-button accessible doors equipped with safety windows. Senior Center manager Sandra Thornton highlighted how the automated entryways solve safety hazards and mobility hurdles for elderly community members visiting the historic building.
“The doors weighed from 125 pounds to 150 pounds... so you can imagine the problems [seniors] had opening these doors,” Thornton said. “So now, we have doors that are handicap [accessible] — you can just push the button and come on in.”
In LaFayette, a $4,998 grant awarded to LaFayette Main Street funded the installation of 24 decorative, patriotic pole banners celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, bringing vibrant visual momentum and historic pride to the downtown district.
“Downtown LaFayette has a new breath of fresh air,” said LaFayette Main Street executive director DeAnna Hand. “We’re able to bring some positive momentum and some great vibrancy to downtown. We really want to instill that community pride for our citizens, residents and our small businesses... we were able to put 24 pole banners around downtown and on the outskirts.”
Coosa Valley RC&D Council representatives concluded the morning celebration by thanking the community partners and noting that applications for Fiscal Year 2027 grants will officially open on Oct. 1.
