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Gov. Kay Ivey on Thursday presented the City of Andalusia a $500,000 check for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project to improve water lines and resurface streets in an Andalusia neighborhood.

The grant project, which requires a $255,000 match from the City of Andalusia’s Utilities Board, includes the installation of new, six-inch water lines on North Cotton Street from College Street to the bypass. New water lines also will be installed on a portion of Eighth Avenue. Once the new water lines are installed, the affected streets also will be resurfaced.

Mayor Earl Johnson expressed his thanks to Gov. Ivey and Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Kenneth Boswell for their assistance with the grant. CDBG grant funds are awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

“We are pleased that we can update these water lines and improve the water service provided to residents in this neighborhood,” the mayor said. “We are more pleased that this grant will enable us to repave the streets once the water line has been installed.”

Rep. Mike Jones (R-Andalusia) also was on hand for the check presentation in the state Capitol on Thursday afternoon. Andalusia City Administrator John Thompson accepted the check for the City on behalf of Mayor Johnson, as the timing of the ceremony coincided with the monthly Andalusia Utilities Board meeting.

Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) designed the project for the city.