The Alabama Power Foundation has awarded more than $36,000 in 2014 Gateway grants. The 19 grants will provide materials for signs to welcome visitors into cities, towns and communities across Alabama.

Gateway’s goal is to revitalize communities by funding well-designed entrances to greet visitors and potential new businesses.

“The foundation aims to support the people and communities of Alabama in many different ways,” said John Hudson, president of the Alabama Power Foundation. “Gateway is an example of that effort. Marking a community’s entrance with a welcoming gateway can help encourage civic pride and spur economic development.”

Communities and groups receiving this year’s Gateway grants are:

• City of Atmore
• City of Bayou la Batre
• City of Butler
• City of Calera
• City of Center Point
• City of Columbiana
• City of Dauphin Island
• City of Dora
• City of Enterprise
• City of Glen Allen
• City of Greenville
• City of Irondale
• City of Leeds
• City of Morris
• City of Moundville
• City of Oak Grove
• City of Samson
• City of Yellow Bluff
• Sylacauga Beautification Council.

In its third year, the Gateway program has already awarded over $100,000 through more than 50 grants in central and southern Alabama. Gateway is one of several community grant programs funded by the Alabama Power Foundation. For more information on Gateway and other Alabama Power programs, visit www.powerofgood.com.

Each year, the Alabama Power Foundation awards more than 1,000 grants, using nonratepayer money. Since it was founded in 1989 with an investment by Alabama Power shareholders, the foundation has given more than $140 million through more than 20,000 grants and scholarships. Its current assets exceed $140 million, making it one of the largest corporate foundations in the state.