The Town of McKenzie has been awarded a $350,000 grant to replace a 50-year-old water system throughout the town.

The council approved of applying for the Community Development Block grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs back in May in order to replace two galvanized steal and cast iron water lines for 140 beneficiaries and replace lines at 52 households.

Streets and roads that will be affected in the process include North and South Hester, Church, Mancil and McKenzie and Hartley.

“We still have to engineer it and do all that work,” said Cara Stallman, grant consultant with Grant Management LLC. “It’ll be five streets that are right in town, but it’s good news for McKenzie.”

The new line will feature a six-inch PVC water line that will also provide fire protections for areas in town.

Because McKenzie has a population less than 1,000, there was no match required for the grant. The grant also falls under the small city fund since the population is less than 3,000.

“These grants represent important investments in Alabama communities,” Gov. Robert Bentley said.