The Mid-South RC&D Council covers the following counties: Autauga, Bullock, Butler, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery. The office is located in Montgomery.
PROJECTS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR 2008
Mosses Community Outreach Program (Lowndes): To provide enrichment activities and develop a centralized communication system. This system will be used to inform citizens in rural and economically distressed areas 24 hours a day. The council provided $3,650. Total cost $7,500.
Project Smart Patrol (Lowndes): The Council provided $3,150 to install video cameras in police cars and purchase security cameras to assist in the patrolling and monitoring of local businesses in Fort Deposit. Total cost $13,450.
Snowdoun Community Park (Montgomery): To help construct a playground at the park. The Council provided $5,000. Total cost $269,632.
Lowndesboro Landmarks Foundation, Inc. (Lowndes): To assist the Foundation in a construction project on the grounds of the historic C.M.E. Church, making an addition to the facility restroom and kitchen for community meetings, social events and tourism. Council provided $3,500. Total cost $19,700.
Alabama Filmmakers Association, Inc. – 08 (Area): The council continues to assist this project which focuses on promoting Alabama’s growth in the Film Makers Society. The Alabama Filmmakers Association will exhibit at the American Film Market in California. Mid-South contributed $10,000. Total cost $44,083.
Town of Hayneville (software & Equipment) (Lowndes): The council provided $3,000 to help purchase software and equipment for the municipal court system and police department. Total cost $4,000.
Hayneville Volunteer Fire Department (Lowndes): The Council provided $5,200 to help purchase turn out gear for fire fighter. Total cost $6,000.
Braggs Volunteer Fire Department (Lowndes): The Council provided $1,000 to help make repairs to existing fire department building. Total cost $20,000.
Mosses Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department (Lowndes): Council provided $2,500 to help replace fire truck engine. Total cost $28,657.
Suburban West Ball League (Montgomery): To assist the League in purchasing and installing eight new bleachers at the Catoma ball field complex. The Council provided $6,000. Total cost $58,174.
Hayneville Park and Recreation (Lowndes): The Council provided $4,000 to help purchase equipment for the park. Total cost $6,692.
Calhoun Volunteer Fire Department (Lowndes): Council provided $5,200 to help purchase turn out gear for volunteer fire fighters. Total cost $18,000.
Redland Volunteer Fire Department (Elmore): This project helps replace a portion of the obsolete 2-way communication radios needed to assist fire fighters in communicating with incident commander and the 911 communication center. The Council provided $2,500. Total cost $5,000.
Old Time Farm Day, Inc. (Butler): The 3rd old time farm day. Over 3,000 people are expected to attend this year. Educating the public on the historical value of old farming ways and the equipment used is the priority. Council provided $5,000 to help build a concession stand/kitchen and storage area. Total $11,388.
Community Garden Project (Bullock): The Council provided $1,395 to help establish a community garden to assist low income families in improving quality of life by teaching them to grow fresh vegetables. Total cost $1,674.
Productions at Red Door (Bullock): Council provided $5,500 to help purchase supplies for this theatre and promote tourism. Total cost $19,250.
Waugh-Mount Meigs Volunteer Fire Department (Montgomery): Council provided $7,500 to help purchase turn out gear for fire fighters. Total cost $8,250.
Bullock County Hydrant Project (Bullock): Helped purchase and install 55 fire hydrants, as well as 26,000 linear feet of six-inch water line. This improvement addressed the most significant fire protection needs in the county and improves residents’ health, safety, and wellbeing. Council provided $4,305. Total cost $285,920.
Environmental Youth Leadership (Montgomery): This project involved 7th and 8th grade students at Dunbar-Ramer Elementary School learning about the natural resources around them and how they can make informed decisions about their use and protection. Council provided $1,500. Total cost $3,500.
Black Belt Environmental Science & Art Phase II (Macon/Bullock): A continual outreach program through Auburn University Environmental Institute (AUEI) supported by the Council is designed to bring appreciation for the natural environment to fifth and sixth-grade students by providing field days in a non-traditional outdoor classroom setting. Council provided $6,000. Total cost $12,000.
Edgewood Tutorial Plus Center (Lowndes): The Council provided $6,000 to the only community-based, after school enrichment program in the Fort Deposit community. This program is designed to help K-9th grade students improve academically and socially through tutorial assistance.
The Learning Zone (Lowndes): The Council provided $6,000 to help improve literacy and increase student achievement and social success through an extended day program/services. Total project cost $39,290.
Macon County Youth Life Skills Project (Macon): To educate youths on computer literacy and sharpen their skills at accessing information to keep them on pace with the latest advances. Youths also learn financial management and youth entrepreneurship with emphasis on agricultural enterprises. Total cost $40,100.
4H Educational Opportunities (Lee County): The Council provided $4,000 to provide further education with the 4Her’s through using 4H curriculum. Funds will be used for registration cost of 4H camp and Natural Science Camp. Also, to support a new 4H club for minorities to provide them with 4H and Youth Curriculum and supplies and supply a Robotics Kit to a local club. Total cost $8,095.
Invasive to Native (Lee): This project will be carried out in three areas in Lee County: Auburn University Arboretum, Opelika Municipal Park, and Smith Station School Park. The project includes homeowner education and will be carried out within the resident homes in Lee County through seminars and they will experience the native plants growing in the landscape. Total cost $35,500.
No Child Left Inside (Lee): This project will create two outdoor classrooms to educate hundreds of students each year about the natural resources found in Alabama. Students will learn through a variety of experiences and hand-on-activities. Council provided $5,000. Total project cost $44,850.
Adullum House Learning Center (Elmore): The Council provided $6,000 to help purchase seven new computer learning stations for students to work independently on educational projects. The facility will be used for after school and extracurricular learning on technology and natural resources. Total cost $33,100.
Environmental Education (Elmore): Council provided $6,000 to help purchase equipment for this program conducted at the Alabama Nature Center. The Center is used for Conservation Education for students from all over Alabama and teaches classes on water quality, soils, wildlife and forestry. Total cost $6,656.
Youngblood Enterprise Inc. YEP (Montgomery): This youth enrichment program is designed to provide, promote and build self-esteem, character, respect, responsibility and empowerment for children ages 7-17 years who have been identified as “at risk” youth. The Council provided $7,000. Total cost $45,200.
Water for Me and My Community (Lee): Council provided $10,000 to assist Opelika Middle School, Drake Middle School, and Trinity Christian School with the resources needed to teach the students about water quality and water quantity issues, using school grounds as an outdoor classroom. Total project cost $43,610.
Water Quality Training (Montgomery): The Council provided $1,500 to assist with water quality training targeted for children in the 4th-12th grade. The funds will be used to purchase needed supplies to teach the children how to test water for chemicals and pathogens. Total cost $2,000.
Montgomery County Water Festival 2008 (Montgomery): The Council provided $3,000 to help purchase supplies and T-shirts for the festival. More than 2800 students and teachers will attend the festival. Total cost 25,000.
5th Annual Lee County Water Festival 2008 (Lee): The Council provided $3,000 to purchase material and supplies for the festival. The festival will educate students and their families through a hand on learning experience to learn the role of surface and groundwater in the water cycle. Total cost $24,350.
1/64th Scale Model Farm Project (Elmore): This model farm will be used to educate children and adults about how farming has changed. The project’s theme is “Disappearing Alabama Farmland” and will be constructed by Agriscience students at Holtville High School. The Council provided $650.00. Total cost $1,210.
Butler County Youth Workforce Development (Butler): This program provides training sessions as well as on the job training to youth between the ages of 14 and 18 in Butler County. The youth are placed at actual jobsites and have the incentive of earning a stipend. The Council provided $21,358. Total cost $56,898.
Alabama Energy Revolution Summit, 2008 (Area): Mid-South RC&D Council proposes to hold a two (2) day conference addressing the Alabama energy crisis through education by leaders in innovation, technology, information and advancement in the field of renewable energy sources. Demonstrations will be on hand to view, with facilitators to address concerns of practicality, environmental impact and required maintenance. The Council provided $30,000. Total cost $234,021.
Mid-South RC&D Council Website (Area): This project created a website for the Council to better inform clients within the service area and abroad of the activities, goals, objectives and progress Council provided $842. Total cost $14,697.36.
Developing Leadership thru Conservation (Area): The Council employed three interns over the length of two academic semesters to manage projects, oversee project activities, work directly with project sponsors, volunteers and implement administrative requirements of project management. Mid-South provided $10,000 Community assistance funds. Total cost $45,000.
Dunbar-Ramer Field of Dreams (Montgomery): The Montgomery County Commission and the Montgomery Public School Board are constructing a softball/baseball field at Dunbar-Ramer Elementary School. This project involves site preparation, constructing the bleachers, fencing, and sodding. The Council provided $10,000 community assistance funds. Total cost $70,389.