Prichard officials raised concerns in March 2018 after the city was not selected for funding in a major round of Alabama Gulf Coast restoration awards.
The Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council had announced $315 million for projects across the region. The funding stemmed from the federal RESTORE Act, created in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. About $118 million was designated for projects in Baldwin County and about $161 million for projects in Mobile County.
A call for broader participation
Mayor Jimmie Gardner said Prichard should have had a stronger voice in the process that selected projects. While he acknowledged Mobile’s central role in the regional economy, he argued that smaller municipalities also needed access to investment, particularly where they lacked the resources available to larger cities.
Gardner said a more inclusive approach could help communities address long-standing infrastructure and development needs rather than concentrating benefits in a limited number of places. He also questioned why Prichard was not represented on the board responsible for choosing projects.
Proposed Alabama Village improvements
One proposal submitted for Prichard would have directed about $15 million toward improvements in the Alabama Village area. The concept included work on culverts intended to improve storm drainage, new sidewalks and a plan to recruit a developer for housing and retail construction.
The proposal reflected the kinds of neighborhood-scale investments city leaders said could help Prichard strengthen basic infrastructure while supporting future redevelopment. None of those plans received funding in that round of awards.
The March discussion underscored a continuing regional question following the BP oil spill: how restoration money should be divided among coastal communities with different populations, needs and capacity to advance large projects.