City, County Partner to Secure Federal Grant for Lighting Upgrades Etowah County, Alabama

Tuesday, the City of Gadsden and Etowah County Commission announced their joint application for a federal energy efficiency grant that will bring upgrades to more than 50 street lights around Gadsden.  

The City Council and County Commission entered into a memorandum of understanding in January to search out the $78,540 in funding available through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant program.

The funds will be used to upgrade the city-owned streetlights along the Tuscaloosa Avenue corridor, the Carver Community Center complex, the boardwalk at the Gadsden Mall near the James Martin Wildlife Park, and on River Road from Highway 411, to the Hampton Inn.

These brand new light fixtures will feature light-emitting diode (LED) components, which will reduce energy consumption, while extending the life of the street light.

“It’s a win-win any time you can get new street lights for free that also save local tax dollars on the city’s power bill,” said Gadsden mayor Craig Ford. “We want to thank the Etowah County Commission for seeing the need in Gadsden, allowing us to take up the mantle to apply for the grant and partnering together on this project. By working together, we made sure Etowah County received its share of these federal tax dollars.”

The City of Gadsden’s Facilities Maintenance Department will handle the installation of all those replacement light fixtures while Etowah County’s finance department will assist with both reporting, and documenting the grant funds.  

The lighting upgrades complement recent upgrades to LED fixtures done by Alabama Power Company on street lights – managed by the company throughout Etowah County.

City of Gadsden | 90 Broad Street, Gadsden, AL 35901 | (256) 549-4500