Sand Mountain Reporter

Albertville city officials are looking for ways to get the city’s share of funding from Washington, D.C.

At the beginning of February, Mayor Lindsey Lyons, Councilman Chuck Ellis, and Airport Manager and Economic Development Director Jerry Cofield will spend three days in Washington with three main goals.

The mayor wants to discuss immigration issues with lawmakers, which includes his hopes of getting an Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office in Albertville.

Ellis plans to bend their ears about grant money for a new senior center. Cofield will be on hand to discuss immediate and long-term plans for economic development.

Lyons said those plans include growing the job base in Albertville, especially in the more technical fields, by using the Albertville Regional Airport to facilitate job growth.

“One thing we want to do during these meetings is make sure we are aware of any avenues that may be available through federal funding to help us put some of these things on the fast track at the airport.”

Ellis said he would like to secure about $2 million in funding for a new senior center.

Ellis met with an architecture firm on Wednesday to discuss the needs for the building and “get his ducks in a row.”

Ellis is looking at the old Reeves Rubber Plant as a possible site for the new senior center.

He said the building would probably be around 8,000 square feet.

Overall, Ellis seemed to be flexible on the design and layout of the building but he did have list of things the center must include like a separate workout room, computer room, game room and crafts room, which would probably all be situated around the parameter of a large meeting hall.

Share | Save | Mail | Print | Letter

Follow the Reporter on Twitter:

SMR News and
SMR Sports

Serving Albertville and the Sand Mountain region

Publisher: Ben Shurett

1603 Progress Drive
Albertville, Alabama 35950

Tel: 256-840-3000 | Email

A Southern Newspapers publication.