The Boys and Girls Club of South East Alabama purchased and installed two Elkay Water Bottle Refilling Stations. These have been incredibly useful for Club members to fill their own water bottles. Using the stations has taught Club members about health, sustainability, and environmentalism. They have been using the water stations more often instead of drinking sugary drinks. Filling a water bottle is proven to be better than drinking directly from the fountain because it ensures saliva and germs aren’t left behind on the fountain making it safer for everyone. All Club members also received a water bottle.
The Ariton Elementary School playground was damaged by a fallen tree during a thunderstorm the summer of 2021 and the playground equipment needed to be replaced. Ariton School began a campaign to raise money for the playground and called it “Purple Cats Want to Play”. This fundraiser was organized and promoted by The Purple Planners, an event planning and management class at Ariton High School. These talented students created a flier and set a goal of $30,000.00. Our school and community came together and raised $73, 749.75 in donations through this project based learning opportunity.
In addition to purchasing new playground equipment, the playground area had to be landscaped to prevent erosion and encase the current and future playground equipment with wood chips. The area also had to be made accessible to all students for safe and maximum participation.
“Just Start” Entrepreneurship Summer Camp
The Troy University IDEA Bank’s “Just Start” Entrepreneurship Summer Camp provided its participants with technical business training, hands-on activities/practice related to business ownership, networking opportunities, and more. The curriculum specifically taught the principles of developing a business plan, assisted youth in the development of their individual and personal ideas/plans, demonstrated and introduced examples of successful start-ups, fostered creativity and innovation, trained youth in presentation and public speaking skills, and cultivated the desire to become community changemakers and leaders. Lastly, the program included a pitch competition, where the winner was awarded a $2,000 scholarship to Troy University.
Officer and Community Awareness
With the help of RC&D Wiregrass Council, the Level Plains Police Department were able to purchase two new radars in 2023. This allowed the department to update to more efficient equipment that will provide a safer environment for the citizens of Level Plains.
Water Infrastructure in Headland
The GSMBC Community Development Corporation is constructing a Community Life Center that will serve as a resource for Headland and Henry Country residents. With programs focused on after school tutoring and adult education/GED training, workforce development, recreation and wellness, and other social services, this center hopes to serve the community in a comprehensive way. A grant from Wiregrass RC&D allowed the organization to pay for the water and sewer tap infrastructure as part of the first phase of building in 2022.
Troy University Arboretum Outdoor Classroom
With a grant from Wiregrass RC&D in 2022, Troy University was able to construct an amphitheater with outdoor seating and work tables for use in educational projects and “wet” labs involving water quality as well as outdoor work tables. This new feature in the Arboretum is located between the existing Forest Resources Educational Complex and Mullis Pond.
Student use the outdoor classroom to collect and analyze aquatic samples from nearby water sources. Classes that will use the new site include Environmental Science, Limnology, and Ecology. The site would also be available for K-12 classes visiting the Arboretum, scout groups, the general public, and other groups.
The Geneva County Cattle Battle is a youth development event that also contains a heifer and steer show. In 2022, approximately 50 youth registered to participate in the activities, which included career development, an interview contest, a poster contest, a scrapbook page competition, and a beef skill-a-thon. The events are designed to encourage creativity, to promote leadership skills, and advocate for the importance of agriculture all while preparing students for their futures.
The Houston County Sheriff’s Office has two K9s per patrol squad for a total of eight. In total, the department has 4 dual-purpose K9s and 4 Bloodhounds. Wiregrass RC&D funding supplemented the department’s cost to provide each K9 with a ballistic vest in 2022.
Handicap Accessibility in Phenix City
In 2022, with grant funding from Wiregrass RC&D, Summerville United Methodist Church was able to provide an ADA-accessible ramp to their building. The project included new concrete and railing installation.
Opp Historic Downtown Landscaping Project
In 2022, the City of Opp was awarded a grant from Wiregrass RC&D to help update some landscaping on the medians on East Ida Avenue.