Arab, AL Advocacy Foundation Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Advocacy Foundation Update

The Corina Mae Foundation is encouraged to share important progress from ongoing conversations with city leadership. While Arab cannot immediately fix the sidewalks due to long grant cycles and funding limitations, the city is taking steps forward to improve accessibility in other areas.

Handicap Parking Ordinance

The Mayor and City Attorney have discussed new handicap parking regulations similar to Cullmans, and the ordinance is scheduled to be brought before the City Council. If approved, this ordinance will allow law enforcement to enforce handicap parking spaces on private property when open to the public. This would be a major milestone for accessibility in Arab, ensuring disabled residents and seniors can safely access businesses without barriers.

Sidewalk Grants

Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) apply only to low/moderate income areas, with the next cycle opening summer 2027 for 2028–2029 projects.

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grants could help with sidewalks along Cullman and Guntersville roads, but are highly competitive and also tied to the 2028–2029 cycle.

What This Means for Arab

Sidewalk improvements will take time due to grant cycles.

The handicap parking ordinance is not yet approved, but moving forward in the process.

Once passed by the Arab City Council, it will mark a big win for accessibility in Arab.

The Corina Mae Foundation will continue researching grants and advocating for safe, accessible infrastructure.

Arab is putting in effort to make accessibility better step by step. Sidewalks will take time, but progress is happening now in other areas like handicap parking enforcement.