CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman County Community Development Commission (CCCDC) awarded $97,160 in grant money to several area organizations Friday morning. The CCCDC was joined by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman and Representative Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle as the recipients were presented checks.
Grant recipients included:
- Dodge City Volunteer Fire Department for a cutting/extrication tool- $7,992
- Welti School for virtual reality viewers- $9,369
- Cullman Christian School for an updated curriculum- $12,000
- East Point Community Center for facility upgrades- $12,000
- Camp Meadowbrook to upgrade water line- $10,000
- Cold Springs K-8 for virtual reality viewers- $9,799.99
- Good Samaritan Health Clinic for medication/supplies for uninsured patients- $12,000
- Crane Hill Volunteer Fire Department for a fire rescue boat- $12,000
- Trimble Volunteer Fire Department for fire rescue boat- $12,000
Gudger addressed the recipients, saying, “I just want to say thank you guys for all you do in the community. We’re lucky to have this board and to be able to distribute these funds back to you guys and back to the people throughout the county. We are one of the only counties that really (does) it this way and (does) it entirely this way. We are blessed to have you guys on the board (who) put the work in and we are blessed to have you guys to help serve this community. It’s what’s makes this community great.”
Added Stadthagen, “This board does a phenomenal job. I thank every one of the members we are proud of and the work they do and give back to the community. They represent us well and they represent Cullman County well. Thank you.”
The final two checks were presented to the Crane Hill and Trimble VFDs to help purchase a fire rescue boat.
CCCDC Chairman Champ Crocker explained, “As we all know, things happen at Smith Lake. There’s areas of the lake you can’t get to by car so the people from these fire departments are committed to make the lake a safer place.”
Crane Hill Chief Brandon Williams and Trimble Fire Chief Bruce Whitlock accepted the grant money for their departments.
“This past weekend has been a long weekend for all of us and especially for Crane Hill,” said Williams, speaking of the still ongoing search for a boater missing since a crash that happened on Smith Lake the night of the 4th of July. “We were out on the water from when the call went out at 10:30 that night on July 4 until 3 o’clock in the morning. The next morning, we all went home, took a shower and got something to eat. We were back out there until 7 a.m. and we stayed out there with other departments that had come in to help us just for manpower. We stayed out there all day Friday for about 14 hours and 12 hours Saturday. The boat this goes towards wasn’t there, but the other boat we started with was there. I’ll be honest with you, that was by far needed.” Williams said.
CCCDC members are:
- Cherrie Haney – appointed by Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman
- Joe Golden – appointed by Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview
- Bradley Williams – appointed by Rep. Corey Harbison, R- Good Hope
- Josh Speakman – appointed by Rep. Scott Stadthagen, R-Hartselle
- Champ Crocker, chairman – appointed by the legislative delegation
Funding for CCCDC grants comes from taxes- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in lieu of taxes and beer taxes. Grants are capped at $12,000 and are not issued for more than that amount except under extraordinary circumstances, which must be approved by the legislators.
The CCCDC strives to maintain a $100,000 reserve fund, as advised by the legislators.
To learn more or to submit a grant application, visit http://co.cullman.al.us/cccdc/cccdc.html.
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