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The City of Troy is seeking a $2 million federal grant to revitalize an east-west corridor from U.S. 231 to U.S. 29.

The BUILD grant, funded through the Department of Transportation, would provide funding to upgrade roadways, reflow traffic, develop sidewalks and enhance livability.

“The areas include Trojan Way to Orion Street, then Orion Street to West Fairview Street which continues to North Three Notch,” said Melissa Sanders, zoning and planning coordinator for the city. “The project would help detour heavy truck traffic which currently flows through downtown as well as help revitalize the area.”

If approved the grant would provide 100 percent of the funding for the project, estimated at $1,086, 458.75.

“Melissa and Shannon (Bryan, city clerk) have done an excellent job identifying grants and projects with funds available due to COVID-19,” Troy Mayor Jason Reeves said. “Melissa has worked to quickly pull together support from the community for this project.”

The Pike County Commission on Monday passed a resolution in support of the project, which will benefit industries such as Rex Lumber which use the corridor for trucks and distribution. In addition, state Sen. Jimmy Holley, state Rep. Wes Allen, South Central Alabama Development and the Pike County Chamber of Commerce have endorsed the project.

Applications are due May 18. “We don’t know a timeline for awarding the grants yet,” Sanders said. “But we feel like this application hits all the items on the requirement list.”

In other business on Tuesday, the council:

• Authorized a funding agreement that restructures short-term financing already in place as part of the incentives for Kimber Manufacturing. The two loans – one for $1 million and another for $360,000 – will have no-interest, 10-year terms through the USDA program administered by South Alabama Electric Cooperative. “When we originally did the Kimber project we expected to move the short-term financing to these no-interest loans,” Reeves said. “It has taken a little longer than expected.” The city is the guarantor and payor on the loans, and the industrial development board is the official borrower.

• Adopted an administrative services agreement with the Industrial Development Board. Under the agreement, the city will maintain records of the board and provide administrative support and services, coordinated by. Sanders. No financial stipulations are included in the agreement.

• Approved an ordinance to move the District 2 polling place from the National Guard Armory to Collegedale Church of Christ, aligning the polling place with the location used for county, state and federal elections. “At first, I had some reservations about moving, but after speaking with a couple of poll workers who said they had no problems after the election and reassured me the traffic flow went well … I think it’s in the best interest of the city to move,” said Greg Meeks, District 2 councilman.

• Approved the appointment of Maxine Hollis to represent District 5 on the Troy City Schools Board of Education effective June 1. She will replace Rhonda Pollard.