The City of Brundidge received notice Thursday from Governor Robert Bentley that the city has been approved for a grant through the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs in the amount of $69,950 for the purchase and installation of advanced lighting retrofits for street lighting.

The City will match $11,531.00 in contractual services and personnel work force. The total funding for the project will be $81,031.

Britt Thomas, Brundidge city manager, said the grant funds will be used to install LED lights on S.A. Graham Boulevard and extend the LED lighting to the end of North Main and South Main streets.

“S.A. Graham Boulevard has no LED street lights and they are needed because that street is a gateway into downtown, ” Thomas said. “In the spring of 2010, the city received a similar grant (stimulus money) to install LED street lights in the downtown area and along sections of North and South Main. This grant will allow us to extend the LED street lights north to the city cemetery and south to beyond Green’s Antiques.”

Thomas said the LED street lights conserve energy and will save the city about $12,300 in wholesale power costs annually.

“LED lights are expense,” Thomas said. “A conventional bulb for conventional street lights is about $150. A LED bulb is between $600 and $700. But, according to the manufacturer, an LED bulb is rated for a 22-year life. So, not only is that a savings to the city, it also saves on maintenance.”

Brundidge was among the first cities in the country to install LED street lights.

“Prior to that, most of the LED lights had been installed in parking lots,” Thomas said. “We are just beginning to see the more expensive LED lights replacing the conventional lights.”

Thomas said that, without additional grant funding, other LED street light projects in the city would not be likely.