KANNAPOLIS ó The city of Kannapolis will receive $575,000 to upgrade its regional radio system as part of the 2009-2010 Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill passed June 25, U.S. Rep. Howard Coble’s office said in a press release.
The purpose of the project is to maintain emergency service interoperability with the surrounding region though the conversion of the emergency communication system from analog to digital. That will allow quicker response in emergency situations including portions of Rowan County in the 6th District, which is represented by Coble, a Republican.
Coble’s office said there was also an earmark for Kannapolis in the FY 2010 Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill passed by the House on June 24 to repair the aging creek crossing on 8th Street, which connects North Main Street and West A Street.
That section of street, near a Rowan County recycling site, has been closed for several months following a heavy rainfall that damaged a culvert.
The project benefits many residents in the Rowan County portion of Kannapolis, some of the more than 3,000 residents of Landis, and some of the several thousand residents of unincorporated southern Rowan County, Coble’s office said. Drivers use the east-west route in Kannapolis for shopping, accessing the city’s parks, YMCA, library and for commuting to jobs. The earmark will allow the town to repair the crossing and open the street.
The press release said Congress has approved more than a dozen other earmarks requested by Coble in various appropriations bills.
Included in the FY 2010 appropriations bill for the Department of Defense is $2 million for PPG Industries
to develop an advanced composite armor for force protection, with part of the research being done in Davidson County. The coatings and fiberglass businesses “are particularly well-aligned to contribute to the advances in composite armor design,” Coble’s office said.
The FY 2010 Interior and Environment appropriations bill includes $500,000 to buy land to close the remaining gap in the Uwharrie Trail inside the Uwharrie National Forest. This will help improve plant and wildlife habitats, reduce the threat to endangered species, increase recreation opportunities, and improve water quality in the Uwharrie River watershed.
“I am convinced that all of the projects we requested are sound investments for federal dollars,” Coble said in the press release. “I know that the word earmark has a bad connotation these days, but as long as this remains the law of the land, I will continue to support those projects impacting the 6th District that we have thoroughly reviewed before submitting a request. I have supported all of the efforts to bring more transparency and reform to the appropriations process, and I will continue to do so.”