Red Bay gets $500K grant for well project
RED BAY — The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) has awarded the city a $500,000 grant to restore an inactive well and upgrade nearby infrastructure.
The funding will go toward the Cooper Springs Well and Pump House Upgrade Project, which will bring the abandoned water source on the west side of the city back into service.
The project is expected to improve water pressure, increase water capacity and provide more reliable service for residents, schools and businesses.
The total cost of the project is $2.3 million. In addition to the ARC grant, local funding sources will provide $1.8 million.
Mayor Mike Shewbart said the Cooper Springs well was once used as a water supply for the city but has been inactive for years.
“We’re trying to reestablish it and get water for the entire city of Red Bay,” Shewbart said. “Currently, we do not have a tank or anything on the west side.”
He said the city also plans to build a water storage tank on the west side to strengthen the system and improve service.
“Sometimes, they have low water pressure because we’ve got a sixinch line going through Red Bay,” he said. “If everybody starts pulling off that line, or if we have a water line break, people can lose pressure or even lose water.”
He said adding a water source and storage on the west side of town would eliminate that problem.
Congressman Robert Aderholt said the project will help support future growth in Red Bay.
“This grant will create long-term prosperity and support economic development for the City of Red Bay by ensuring the Cooper Springs well and pump house infrastructure is updated and reliable,” Aderholt said in a statement. “This ARC grant is a step toward bringing new businesses and supporting existing industries in Red Bay.”
Shewbart said city leaders traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this year to meet with federal and state officials about the project.
“We lobbied for the grant and talked with Congressman Aderholt and all of our representatives,” he said. “They were excited about us trying to expand because it’s going to help our citizens and our industry.”
The mayor said the city is working with engineers and the Red Bay Water and Gas Board to complete the planning and financing required for the project. Construction is expected to begin in about six to eight months.
The ARC is a partnership between the federal government and 13 state governments that funds projects aimed at strengthening economic growth and improving infrastructure throughout the Appalachian region.
