CHILDERSBURG — State Sen. Jim Preuitt has obtained a $50,000 grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to help save and preserve Kymulga Grist Mill.Preuitt made the announcement about the grant Saturday morning at the Coosa Fest 468 breakfast at the mill.
The grant was presented to the Childersburg Heritage Committee and its chairman, Luther Crowe.
The mill has been determined to be structurally unsound and the foundation and supporting timbers need to be replaced or reinforced.
Crowe said after consultation with architects and engineers, committee members believe they can provide an emergency plan to reinforce the structure at a cost of less than $300,000.
Through the efforts of U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, the Heritage Committee, a tax deductible 501c3 organization, was awarded a $98,000 grant to help save the national historic landmark.
The committee must provide $98,000 in matching funds.
Preuitt said he requested the $50,000 from ADECA out of discretionary funds.
“I’m also working with the Talladega County Commission and Childersburg Council in an effort to hopefully have them make some funds available for this project,” Preuitt said.
He said it would be a tragedy to see the mill fall into the creek.
“It is such a historic site. A lot of functions are held here, such as this annual affair,” he said.
Also in an effort to raise matching funds for the mill project, Sylacauga artist Shirley Pody has painted a picture of the mill. Copies of the picture are $100 each.
The painting was unveiled at the breakfast and a number of them were sold.
Crowe said he hopes Saturday’s events raised several thousand dollars toward the matching funds.
Talladega County Probate Judge Billy Atkinson and Crowe offered their thanks to Preuitt for his efforts.
