T-Mobile Awards $145K In Grants To Three Alabama Cities

BIRMINGHAM, AL — More than $145,000 in grant funding has been award by T-Mobile to three Alabama cities for community development projects.

The grants were announced Thursday as part of T-Mobile’s Hometown Grants Program, which aims to provide funding to rural and underserved areas.

"Private/public partnerships always benefit the community," Selma Mayor James Perkins, Jr. said in a statement. "This partnership is no exception. On behalf of the City of Selma and her citizens, we appreciate T-Mobile granting resources that will be used to improve the quality of life within Selma."

In Northport, City Administrator Glenda Webb told Patch the city was grateful for the grant funding, which will be used as part of City Hall's push to expand free public WiFi access across the city.

"We hope this helps jumpstart our project in Historic Downtown Northport, which will offer free WiFi and services to visitors," she said. "We also hope we are able to expand on this in the future."

A breakdown of grant funding and projects:

• Fairfield: $50,000 to repair the swimming pool in the Jerry D. Coleman Community Center, making it accessible to the entire community. With the funding, the city will also establish a new swim team for youth and provide water aerobics for seniors.
• Northport: $46,000 for free public WiFi in Historic Downtown Northport.
• Selma: $49,000 to redevelop the city's Riverfront Park & Amphitheater area, which overlooks the Alabama River and iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge.

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