The Webster Progress-Times

Grants totaling nearly $700,000 have been approved for sewer and water systems improvements in Walthall and Tomnolen.

Gov. Ronnie Musgrove awarded two of the grants to the village of Walthall for sewer improvements, according to announcements this week from his office. Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Program funds of $250,000 will be used to replace sand in sewer filters and install chlorination and dechlorination facilities at the village's sewage lagoon.

The program provides grants to small municipalities and limited-population counties to finance projects to promote economic growth. It is a part of the Advantage Mississippi Initiative.

Advantage Mississippi includes not only new business incentives, but also comprehensive changes designed to enhance Mississippi's competitive position in the nation and the world. Since the program's inception in two years ago, 140 grants have been awarded for a total of more than $29 million.

"The success of Mississippi's communities is a vital component in our success as a state, and we are committed to keeping our communities strong," said Musgrove. "By investing at the local level, we are continuing to focus on building good schools, good jobs and good communities."

The funds are administered by the Mississippi Development Authority.

"We work closely with local and municipal officials to make the most of their communities, and this program is an excellent vehicle for accomplishing that goal," said Steve Hale, executive director of the MDA. "The support we are able to

offer to communities is extremely valuable in our overall economic development mission."

Musgrove has also awarded a $240,000 Emergency Public Facilities Grant to Walthall for sewer improvements, a separate press release states.

The governor's office announced in the same statement that Webster County was awarded such a grant for water improvements. Lynn Lamb, president of the Board of Supervisors, said the $200,000 grant is for the Tomnolen Water Association

The association, which will match its grant by the same amount, will use the funds to build a new water well, according to earlier board discussions. A previous grant application for the project was turned down.

"Mississippi has a number of advantages and a wealth of resources to offer business and industry. We gladly support the efforts of communities striving to promote those resources to attract jobs and a higher quality of life for our citizens," said Musgrove of the latter grants.

The funds for the emergency grants are administered by the MDA through the Community Development Block Grant program.

"We work closely with local and municipal officials to make the most of job creation opportunities, and this program is an excellent vehicle for accomplishing that goal," said Hale.

CDBG is a program of the Community Services Division of the MDA. Among the division's goals are assisting communities in analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, involving their leadership in economic development, planning development strategies, strengthening development organizations, and implementing and financing community projects. The division also administers other economic development grant and loan programs.

82&9 LIGHTING

County officials received some bad news Monday about another grant application.

Hale informed Lamb in an Aug. 15 letter that the MDA did not approve Webster County's application to construct lighting at the intersection of U.S. 82 and Mississippi 9. Although not mentioned in the letter, Lamb said the application also sought funds to pave the parking lot at the Department of Human Services building.

The Board of Supervisors had applied for a Small Municipalities and Limited Population Counties Grant for the work. Hale explained in his letter that only $10 million was available statewide but that the MDA had received 175 applications representing more than $38 million in requested funding.

Then-Mayor Henry Ross had recommended to Eupora aldermen two summers ago that the city install lights with underground wiring at the intersection at a cost of nearly $52,000. The city board took no action because no grants were available, street repairs were seen as a more pressing need and concerns were expressed about obligating such a large expenditure in the closing days of that administration.

Implementing and finding funding for the existing lighting plan prepared by the Natchez Trace Electric Power Association is one of the goals of the local Vision to Action Infrastructure Committee.