Grants To Fund Local Conservation Projects

Gov. Kay Ivey recently announced more than $30 million in funding through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act for 25 major projects across the state, with a focus on environmental conservation and education. The ongoing work in Cooper Riverside Park in Mobile will be getting an additional $3 million. “This will allow us to fully replace the damaged bulkhead at the park’s edge, while improving water access and upgrading the park’s walking paths, lighting, and landscaping,” Mayor Sandy Stimpson said. An additional $2.2 million was allocated to the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf Coast adjacent to the park. Those funds will help support the development of a new immersive experience that will allow visitors to explore the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta in a new way. Additionally, $979,684 was granted to Orange Beach City Schools’s revitalization of the Sea, Sand, and Stars environmental learning center at Orange Beach Elementary School. The funding will enable the creation of nine exhibits telling the story of Orange Beach. Existing features, including the 5,000-gal. saltwater aquarium, interactive touch tank, planetarium and expansive 900-ft boardwalk, will be renovated. The school system said construction will begin immediately.