Cawaco RC&D and the Shelby County Legislative Delegation gathered at Pelham City Hall to celebrate the awarding of $148,313 in grant funding to 10 organizations across Shelby County. The grant day event highlighted the diverse community projects that will strengthen public safety, support youth development, and enhance local services.
The celebration brought together local elected officials and organization leaders to recognize the collaborative efforts that make these vital projects possible. Each funded project represents a targeted investment in addressing specific community needs identified by local people and implemented by local organizations.
2025 Projects
Impact Grants
Calera Main Street Facade Improvement
Calera Mainstreet continued updates on their downtown revitalization project, the Calera Courtyard, with rear façade improvements, including architectural plans, commercial-grade gutters, and structural metal components needed for back-entry enhancements. These visible signs of progress are boosting confidence in the downtown district, encouraging further investment, and strengthening public support for continued revitalization.
Forest Fire & Rescue UTV Skid
Dunnavant Fire District equipped its Utility Terrain Vehicle with a skid fire apparatus. Their service area is surrounded by mountains, so equipping this UTV allows them to access dense areas with rough terrain, opening an entirely new avenue of protection for the 4,000 people in its service area.
“We worked to get that skid device out at Dunnavant Valley [Fire District] and hearing all your stories today has really inspired me to think about what else can we do when we work together,” Rep. Susan DuBose reflected on the collaborative effort behind this project. “Thank you all for what you do in our community.”
Fund the Bus
Ady’s BiG Army secured a bus to provide greater accessibility, independence, and inclusion for the adults with disabilities in their program. The bus will enable their 18 participants to take educational field trips and engage in life skills outings that help them develop greater independence.
LUCAS Device
The City of Pelham and the Pelham Fire Department purchased a LUCAS (Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System) device, an automated CPR system that will help save lives during cardiac emergencies. The device takes over the manual chest compression process, allowing paramedics to focus on other critical interventions during life-threatening situations and better serve the 25,000 citizens who call Pelham home.
Mountain Biking Course
The University of Montevallo’s mountain biking team in front of their new facility 
The facility offers ample space for team members to store and work on their bikes 
The University of Montevallo Foundation & the Shelby County Legislative Delegation 
Scott Dillard, Executive Vice President of Advancement, University of Montevallo
The University of Montevallo Foundation transformed an unused old storage unit into a functional space that supports the 19 students on their mountain bike team’s growth and success. The refurbishment of this building created an environment where team members can collaborate, train, and thrive. Further, this project enhances the UM Biking course, making it an attractive venue for future biking events. It provides participants with a designated area to address their bike needs during competitions.
Rope Rescue
The Helena Fire Department equipped one of its fire stations with sufficient rope rescue equipment so firefighters can respond more effectively to rescue situations involving individuals stranded or in danger in local waterways, including the Buck Creek Tributary and the Cahaba River. “Rope Rescue” benefits the hundreds of people who use the area rivers and parks for recreation, the thousands who drive through the roads and call the area home, and all the employees who work in the area quarries and industrial complexes.
Education Grants
Montevallo CO.STARTERS Program
Montevallo Main Street’s CO.STARTERS Program walks entrepreneurs through business fundamentals in 10 weeks, all within a local context. The project covered the CO.STARTERS franchise fee and a facilitator stipend. Montevallo Main Street plans to welcome up to 15 participants in the fall 2025 program.
Pelham Garden Club Native Plants And Pollinator Project
The Pelham Garden Club purchased a pull-behind tiller to remove invasive, non-native plants along the Pelham Greenway Trail, as well as wildflower seeds and plants to replant with native species. The “Native Plants and Pollinator Project” enhances the quality of life for over 24,000 residents of Pelham.
Playground Surface Restoration
The Linda Nolen Learning Center installed new turf on its playground so it can be accessible for children of all abilities. The new surface provides a safe and welcoming space for the school’s 100 children to play, learn, and connect. Families now have a local spot to gather, promoting a sense of community and encouraging healthy, active lifestyles. The playground has become a vibrant hub for social interaction, fostering friendships and joy for children.
“In the case of the Linda Nolen Learning Center playground project, the grant awarded covered only a portion of the total cost,” said Rep. Kenneth Paschal, sharing the special story behind the project’s completion. “Although the Linda Nolen Learning Center is located within my House district, I saw an opportunity to involve our entire Shelby County Legislative Delegation and asked if they would consider joining together to help. I’m proud to say that every member of the delegation stepped up and contributed funds to cover the remaining project costs—so we can get this playground renovated and see smiles back on the faces of these students even sooner.”
Shelby County Agriscience FFA Garden Shed & Internships
Shelby County High School’s FFA engaged with 11th and 12th-grade agriscience students to plan, draw, design, and build a garden shed. The project impacted nearly 160 students and engaged nearly 80 volunteers. The shed will be used to store the tools and supplies for the school’s community garden, which provides fresh vegetables for the community.
Shelby County High School FFA also hired student interns to work collaboratively with students with disabilities to grow and harvest vegetables in their community garden. They provides food shelters and the community with a supply of fresh vegetables. The students are building soft skills while being exposed to agricultural careers.
Building Partnerships for Lasting Change
The success of these community projects reflects the power of collaboration between local organizations, government partners, and dedicated volunteers. The projects demonstrate how strategic investments in community infrastructure create lasting positive change across the county.
The impact of these projects would not be possible without the continued partnership and support of the Shelby County Legislative Delegation. Special thanks to Sen. Lance Bell, Sen. April Weaver, Sen. Dan Roberts, Sen. J.T. Waggoner, Rep. Leigh Hulsey, Rep. Corley Ellis, Rep. Arnold Mooney, Rep. Susan DuBose, Rep. Jim Carns, Rep. Russell Bedsole and Rep. Kenneth Paschal for their commitment to supporting locally driven solutions to strengthen Shelby County.
The legislators expressed their enthusiasm for the program and its impact on the community.
“This is one of my favorite days of the year,” said Sen. April Weaver. “First of all, I would like to say congratulations to all of the grant recipients and to thank you for the great work that you do in our community. I would also like to say thank you to my friends at RC&D… Thank you for transitioning [state budget] money into projects that we can see doing great things for our district and our citizens.”
“As legislators, we play a small role in what’s happening…. It is so fun to be able to see where the rubber meets the road and when the money gets back and all the good it does,” said Rep. Corley Ellis.
“There have been so many organizations that have benefitted [from RC&D grants], and we are thankful for what [Cawaco RC&D] does and continues to do”, said Rep. Arnold Mooney. “We are blessed to have all of you serving in our area.”
“I hope you’ve enjoyed today as much as I have,” said Rep. Susan DuBose. “This has just been so rewarding and interesting and gives us all so much enthusiasm for what our community does for each other. It’s such an honor to be a small part of this.”
“What an honor it is to serve in the state legislature and to help bring your tax dollars back home to benefit our communities,” said Rep. Kenneth Paschal. Congratulations to all of the grant recipients—thank you for the incredible work you do to make a lasting impact. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if there’s ever anything we can do to support your efforts.”
“A heartfelt thank-you goes out to the members of our delegation, the Cawaco RC&D Council, and their entire staff for making these projects possible and successful,” Paschal added.
Cawaco RC&D is proud to support educational and community development projects like these throughout Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, and Walker Counties. These grants represent our ongoing commitment to fostering vibrant communities that achieve balance between economic, human and natural resource needs.
