County receives $5K for 250th events
RUSSELLVILLE — Franklin County will receive $5,000 in funding for events related to celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
The Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Commission has awarded $625,000 in community grants to municipalities and county commissions across the state.
The grants, worth up to $2,500 each, are intended to support local celebrations and programs tied to the nation’s 250th anniversary.
In Franklin County, the City of Russellville received a $2,500 grant for its annual July 4th Jam on Sloss Lake. The free celebration will include a car show, children’s activities, live entertainment and a fireworks display while also recognizing the nation’s 250th anniversary.
The Franklin County Commission also received a $2,500 grant for the Franklin County Watermelon Festival. Organizers plan to incorporate patriotic themes and displays into the festival, which is scheduled for Aug. 14-15.
In Lauderdale County, the county commission received a $2,500 grant to support the seventh annual Shoals Songwriter Showcase Nov. 6-8 at the Renaissance Shoals Resort and Spa.
The event will feature music, songs and hymns from before, during and after the American Revolution. Organizers said 18 artists will perform during the showcase.
The Town of Leighton receiveda$2,500grantfora community Independence Day celebration. The free event will include a veteran recognition ceremony, civic engagement activities led by the Leighton Police Department, educational materials, and family activities designed to promote civic understanding and appreciation for the nation’s founding principles.
Also in Colbert County, the Shoals Area Chapter of the Alabama Society Sons of the American Revolution received a $1,000 grant for a grave marking ceremony honoring Revolutionary War patriot Shadrach Gibbs. Gibbs served as a private in the South Carolina Line during the war and later settled in what is now Colbert County.
In addition to grants awarded to local governments, the Semiquincentennial Commission distributed another $50,000 to 50 nonprofit organizations across Alabama, including museums, historical sites and local chapters of the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution.
Natalie Steed, executive officer for the Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Committee, said the grants are intended to ensure communities throughout the state take part in the anniversary observance.
“These grants reflect our commitment to ensuring that America’s 250th anniversary is commemorated in every corner of Alabama,” Steed said. “Together, these local efforts will build toward a truly statewide commemoration.”
