Sewell announces $500,000 secured for tornado recovery in Dallas County

Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) has announced that $500,000 has been secured for the ongoing tornado relief effort in Selma and elsewhere in Dallas County. 

The grant was awarded by the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the Alabama Tombigbee Regional Commission. 

“Following the devastating January 12th storms, I hosted the first of what will be a series of community conversations to give the residents of Selma and Dallas County an opportunity to share their hopes and dreams for our recovery,” Sewell said in the announcement. 

“Today, I’m thrilled to share that we have secured $500,000 from the Economic Development Administration to develop a long-term plan in close coordination with our federal, state, and local partners. This grant is a major victory and will go a long way in helping us reimagine our communities. Working together, I know that we will turn tragedy into opportunity and come back even better and stronger than before.”

With the funds a long-term strategy plan will be created that will include federal, state, and local emergency management agencies, as well as economic development agencies, and housing organizations. 

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting locally-driven disaster recovery and resiliency plans,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. 

“This investment will help prepare Dallas County for future economic disruptions, such as those caused by recent natural disasters, including 2017’s Hurricane Nate and a tornado earlier this year.

Read the full announcement here.