Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced today the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) awarded more than $10.5 million in federal grant funding for infrastructure, health care and education projects throughout Alabama’s 7^th Congressional District.

“In order for Alabama’s 7^th Congressional District to maintain a strong and vital economy, we must invest in our most valuable asset – our people. Our education system, health care system and infrastructure are vital for individuals and families across our district to live and prosper and, in turn, for our economy to grow and thrive,” Sewell said. “I’m thrilled to announce over $10.5 million in federal grants, which represents a substantial investment in both the people and economy of the 7^th District.”

Specifically, Sewell announced grants for the following USDA projects:

• A grant of $1,612,000 and a loan of $2,073,000 to continue the expansion of the water system in Perry County and provide residents with clean drinking water.
• A grant of $478,962 to help Stillman College implement a distance learning project in partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education.
• A grant of $391,983 to help the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) to implement a telehealth outreach project that is expected to reach 159,000 rural residents. The project will benefit three hospitals.
• A grant of $359,283 for the University of Alabama at Birmingham to implement a telehealth outreach project that is expected to reach 174,831 rural residents. The project will serve four hospitals and the Marion, Pickens, Sumpter and Winston county health departments.
• A grant of $496,451 for Trenholm State Community College to implement a distance learning program to connect six public high schools to the college, serving 21,000 students in primarily rural areas.

Sewell also announced the grants for the following HHS projects:

• A grant of $475,483 for UAB for cancer treatment research.
• A grant of $3,016,871 for Whatley Health Services to continue delivering valuable health care services to medically underserved populations.
• A grant to $2,080,099 for Alabama Regional Medical Services to continue delivering valuable health care services to medically underserved populations.

And a grant for the following DOT project:

• A grant of $2,018,750 to assist the city of Tuscaloosa in the financing of buses and bus facilities capital projects, including replacing, rehabilitating, purchasing or leasing buses or related equipment, and rehabilitating, purchasing, constructing or leasing bus-related facilities.