The City of Greenville recently received a $250,000 grant from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA).

Plans call for the grant to fund the construction of a rail spur to Hysco America Company, which needs the spur for shipping purposes.

Plans call for raw materials to ship in on the rail spur and finished products to ship out to other plants, including Greenville’s other new industry, Hwashin America.

Both plants will supply the new Hyundai plant in Hope Hull, scheduled to open in 2005.

Mayor Dexter McClendon expressed his excitement over the grant and the project moving forward after receiving the DRA grant.

&uot;To be able to get the funding to put these people to work is the reason I wanted to be mayor,&uot; he said. &uot;It’s working together for a better country and a better community, and it changes the quality of life for our citizens. It’s just great!&uot;

The efficiency of the grant process pleased John Harrison, director of Alabama’s Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA).

&uot;We were impressed with the process,&uot; Harrison said. &uot;Everyone was there for the closing. We were able to bring in all the players at one time…It went perfectly.&uot;

Congressman Terry Everett said the DRA’s efforts were vital. &uot;The effort to land Hyundai and its suppliers in central Alabama has required the cooperation of many communities and all levels of government,&uot; he said.

&uot;This grant announcement is representative of that teamwork which will pay big dividends down the road in local economic growth.&uot;

McClendon said the process went smoothly.

&uot;They explained things well and what we had to do to follow-up,&uot; he said. &uot;It wasn’t a long drawn out process.&uot;

Fort Deposit and Luverne also each received $250,000 grants related to Hyundai suppliers locating in each city.