Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – The city of Foley is looking at spending grant money totaling $21 million for various projects in the city and is awaiting word on another $16 million in grant money it has applied for in fiscal year 2022.

That compares to about $5.2 million in FY 2019, about $7 million in FY 2020 and $2.7 million in FY 2021.

“We have been most fortunate to receive some very large grant awards recently and are hopeful on quite a few pending applications,” Finance Director Sue Steigerwald said.

In the current FY 2022 which runs from Oct. 1, 2021 until Sept. 30, 2022, three projects have already been completed with about $108,000 in help from grants.

The largest by far in FY 2022 will go to the Nature Parks Department which received Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act grants worth $7.6 million for projects in city parks and adding land to the Graham Creek Nature Preserve. GOMESA gives four Gulf States – Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama – some of the proceeds from gas and oil leases sold in federal waters for exploration.

Also, the largest pending grant comes from Nature Parks in a $13 million application for Restore Act money for multiple projects in the city parks. Another large application to FEMA for $2.4 million for a safe room for police and fire personnel during a hurricane or tropical storm.

Of the 34 grants the city will be awarded this year, 16 require a match from the city in different percentages depending on the awarding organization. Here are the number of awards and money by department for Foley in FY 2022:

• Nature Parks, two awards from GOMESA money for land acquisition and park projects worth $7.6 million

• Environmental, four awards with the biggest $5.1 million for the Bon Secour River Restoration and a total of $5.7 million

• Engineering, five awards various infrastructure projects worth $3.6 million

• Foley Airport, two awards for seal coat taxiway project and American Rescue Plan grant, $606,757 total

• Police Department, 10 awards including four unspecified amounts for overtime, $200,000 for SROs for a total of $254,586

• Community Development Department, four awards for comprehensive plan and training for the Historical Commission, $84,600.

• Library, three awards including Wifi hot spots worth $67,533

• Human Resources, on the job training reimbursement, $7,632

• Train Depot, one award to help with organization of city documents, $7,500