RC&D awards for Marion County total $123,661

MARION COUNTY — More than $123,661 was awarded by the Northwest Resource Conservation & Development Council during 2025.
Each year, RC&D provides funding for municipalities, schools and non-profits, with monies coming into RC&D from the state legislature to be spent locally in Northwest Alabama.
Marion County recipients gathered on Monday, Oct. 20, at the Hamilton Fire Department for recognition by RC&D, comments by local and state officials and more information on their projects from those in attendance.
Grants funded this year included the following:
• Byrd Fire Department - $5,000 for flooring in the department’s community room, which serves as a space for meetings, gatherings and events, as well as a voting location. Gear upgrades were also included, but not specified.
• City of Guin - $6,000 for the purchase and installation of a radar speed trailer, promoting safer driving habits and improving overall street safety.
• Hamilton Fire Department - $6,000 for new state-of-the-art thermal imaging cameras to enhance visibility in smoke-filled environments and improve rescue efforts.
• Hamilton Water Department - $6,500 for a streaming current monitor for the water treatment plant as required by ADEM for a high-rate study to increase water production capacity and overall water quality.
• Craft Volunteer Fire Department - $6,000 for a whole house generator to allow volunteers to better serve their community.
• Guin Elementary School - $5,000 for a shade structure for the school’s playground, benefiting more than 280 students, including preschoolers.
• Hackleburg High School - $6,000 for multiple upgrades throughout the school, including handrails at the football stadium, a new billboard to promote students achieving college and career readiness, as well as wall signs promoting positive culture.
• Hamilton High School - $5,000 for initial renovations on the school gym and its accessibility, functionality and appearance to support student wellness and athletics, as well as a better environment for school and community events.
• Hamilton High School - $5,500 for phase two of its greenhouse and garden upgrades, enhancing outdoor learning spaces and supporting hands-on education in agriculture and sustainability.
• Hamilton Middle School - $5,000 for the transformation of two campus spaces into functional green spaces for learning, recreation and community use to feature seating, shade and garden beds.
• Hoof or Paw - $5,136.92 for building an open-sided shelter to cover animal pens, allowing volunteers to better house animals in their care and add additional pens, while also improving conditions for volunteers.
• Marion County Cattleman’s Association - $6,500 for cattle handling equipment to educate less experienced farmers and students on safe cattle handling practices, promoting safety of both livestock and handlers.  The equipment is available to association members, agriculture students, 4-H participants and local farmers who may not have access to their own cattle chute.
• Marion County Emergency Management Agency - $6,024.30 for weather radios to give away to the public for household use, improving the safety of communities by providing access to weather updates and alerts.
• Northwest Regional Library - $5,000 for its free summer reading programs for children in Marion and Franklin counties to help prevent learning loss and support reading development, as well as allowing the library to host live programs and add new children’s books.
• Phillips Elementary School - $5,000 for improvements to the school’s outdoor learning environment with play area updates and seating for outdoor instruction.
• Phillips High School - $6,000 for funding toward the construction of a new greenhouse to enhance year-round, hands-on learning opportunities and enrich educational experiences for students.
• Town of Brilliant - $5,000 for remodeling improvements at the Brilliant Police Department, including new wall paint and ceiling completions, enhancing the facility’s appearance and functionality.
• Twin Fire & Rescue - $5,000 to replace outdated airbags used to lift objects when there is insufficient space for jacks, better serving the community and potentially saving lives.
• Winfield City Schools - $7,000 for turnout gear for students in its  career and technical education center’s fire management program, enhancing safety, as well as the quality of hands-on training and the practice of firefighting techniques in a controlled, educational setting.
• Winfield Fire & Rescue - $7,000 for modern, incident-rated dive team gear and training to enhance the department’s readiness, safety and effectiveness, as well as strengthening emergency response capabilities and ensuring long-term resilience in critical situations.
• Brilliant Elementary School - $5,000 for playground enhancements, including the installation of safer, age-appropriate equipment to support the school’s commitment to encouraging active lifestyles and imaginative play.
• Brilliant High School - $5,000 for the first phase of renovations at the Odus Dickinson Douglas Walker Memorial Stadium by replacing outdated lighting with modern LED lights.