For the last three years, the City of Abbeville has undergone major projects. Those projects could not have happened without receiving free money from the state and federal government.

The city, with a population of around 12,000, was awarded $5.2 million worth of Capital Outlay money and other grant money in the year 2008.

The city has taken advantage of that money amd spent it on projects to upgrade everything from the drainage, to the airport, to streets and building a new police station.

Mayor Mark Piazza has been involved in Abbeville government for 20 years and he said this is the most grant money the city has received.

“It has been a really busy year in Abbeville,” said Abbeville Mayor Mark Piazza at this weeks Rotary meeting. “We have a lot of projects going on. We have received hundreds of thousands of dollars thanks to Sen. Nick Gautreaux who has been a good job bringing home money to Abbeville. We have received numerous of Capital Outlay funds.”

Two men who helped secure the millions of dollars for Abbeville are Rep. Jonathan Perry and Sen. Nick Gautreaux.

In 2008, Gautreaux sat on the Capital Outlay Committee.

“When you have a mayor like Mark (Piazza) and a City Council who are willing to put up large amounts matching funds, it makes it easier to go after the money.”

Sen. Gautreaux added that is also helped to have a governor in office who was from the Acadiana area. In 2008, Gov. Kathleen Blanco was in office.

The largest amount of capital outlay money received is $760,000 for the reconstruction of the lift stations at the city barn and on Washington Street.

The city received $674,156, which is a FEMA long-term recovery grant, to improve the drainage on Frank’s Alley.

Thirty eight streets in Abbeville are being repaved thanks to $600,000 in LCDBG funds.

• $580,600 FAA Grant - money was used to improve the drainage and build perimeter fencing at the Chris Crusta Airport in Abbeville.

• $508,000 LCDBG Economic Development Fund used to improvement to the rail system.

• $300,000 Capital Outlay Grant to bue used to repair the roof and windows at City Hall.

• $284,000 LCDBG money is making it possible to upgrade sewer in the Martin Luther King Drive area.

$150,000 - From State Capital Outlay. Money used for the Mt. Carmel Heights Drainage Project.

• $132,000 FAA.LA DOTD Grant was used to resurface taxiway at the Chris Crusta Airport in Abbeville.

• $400,000 of Capital Outlay Funds helped build Abbeville’s new police station.

• $87,000 - AFG Award purchased breathing apparatuses for the fire department.

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• $23,000 - Public Safety Grant to purchase equipment for the fire and police departments.