The city of Huntsville has spent about half of its $34 million in federal pandemic recovery funds to buy 21 new fire engines to help meet a surge in population.
As the federal government handed out money to local governments during the COVID-19 pandemic, Huntsville spent about $18 million in State and Local Financial Recovery Fund funding on ladder trucks, pump trucks and hazmat trucks. The city spent the other half of the money on tourism and recreation, according to the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee.
“While the impact of adding or upgrading a fire engine is difficult to measure, even just adding 21 fire engines will be an immeasurable asset to our community,” said city Finance Director Penny Smith.
Currently the most populous city in Alabama, Huntsville continues to grow rapidly, adding thousands of people each year and averaging nearly 10 new residents per day.
The city of Huntsville’s Department of City Planning said in September that about 235,000 people now live in the Rocket City, a significant increase from 2021, when Huntsville was Alabama’s largest city with a population of just over 215,000.
This represents a 3.3% increase over 2022, making it the highest single-year growth rate in the past decade.
“As we recover from COVID, the administration and the city council have been aligned on what’s best for our citizens and what’s best for our economy,” Smith said. “And that’s been about focusing on the health of our citizens, but also focusing on the health of the city from a revenue perspective.”
The State and Local Financial Recovery Fund is part of the American Rescue Plan Act, enacted by the federal government in March 2021 to help communities rebuild in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funds must be committed to specific projects by the end of 2024. Cities have until the end of 2026 to disburse the funds.
Huntsville city officials also used pandemic recovery funds to retain tourism workers and update recreational facilities to accommodate a growing population.
Alabama Constitution Hall Park received funding to rehire employees and fund educational programs and help enroll students on field trips.
The U.S. Space and Rocket Center received $1 million for workforce redeployment and STEM programs.
The city also allocated $4.5 million for Legacy Park, located on the site of the former J.O. Johnson High School. The park, set to open in June 2023, will feature a large playground with playground equipment, walking trails, green space and two separate green spaces that can be rented.
The city of Huntsville has allocated all but $2 million of its recovery fund to the project as of September 2023. Smith said the remaining funds will go toward efforts already approved by the Huntsville City Council.
Here are details about the City of Huntsville’s Pandemic Recovery Project:
(If you can’t see the graphic, click here.)
