Several central Baldwin cities that have seen significant residential and population growth will receive COVID-19 relief funding to upgrade water systems and infrastructure.

Baldwin County Commission on July 7 approved a one-time use of $750,000 to the city of Loxley for a water improvement project to drill and develop a new water well for public well supply. The day before, the commission approved projects in Summerdale and Silverhill for each city to build a new water tower and allotted $1 million for each project.

The county said the projects are needed to meet growing demands for water and infrastructure from the growing populations in these communities. Money is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act, a federal economic stimulus bill passed in 2021. The county commission is allowed to use a portion of its "awarded fiscal recovery funds" from ARPA for investments in potable water, sewer and stormwater public infrastructure projects.