U.S. Soccer Foundation awards Mobile County Soccer Complex $64,431

Posted on: Apr 18th, 2019 | News and Announcements

The Mobile County Commission announced during its Conference Meeting today that it has been awarded a $64,431 grant from the U.S. Soccer Foundation, whose programs serve as the national model for sports-based youth development in underserved communities. This grant is intended to assist in funding the installation of field lighting and irrigation for Phase I construction of the Mobile County Soccer Complex. The Mobile County Commission was one of six institutions across the United States to receive U.S. Soccer Foundation grant funds during this grant cycle.

This grant was awarded as part of the U.S. Soccer Foundation's Safe Places to Play program. Across the U.S., children living in underserved communities often lack safe places to play in their neighborhoods, either due to absence of space or absence of funding. The Safe Places to Play grant program seeks to provide kids with safe and accessible areas to play by funding the costs of design, construction, surfacing, and enhancement in these communities through three grant cycles during the year.

Support for the U.S. Soccer Foundation's grant process is provided by the Foundation's corporate partners, including Hunter Industries, Musco Lighting, and Sport Court.

"We are extremely grateful to the U.S. Soccer Foundation for their support and for recognizing the tremendous impact this facility will have by improving access to youth sports for everyone in our community," said District 2 Commission President Connie Hudson, who has led the effort to construct a soccer complex in Mobile County over the last several years.

Phase I of the Mobile County Soccer Complex will include two tournament-quality fields and two seeded practice fields along with irrigation, sewer, lighting, landscaping, a permeable parking lot and an entrance road. The completed complex will consist of 10 tournament-quality lighted fields, including a championship field with bleachers and concession and restroom buildings. Construction of Phase I is expected to be complete by January 2020. Subsequent phases will be constructed as funding becomes available through the County Commission's future capital improvement programs, grants and community fundraising.