FOLEY,Ala. — The city has received a $1.2 million grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation’s (ALDOT) Industrial Road Access program.

That announcement was made at Monday’s Foley City Council meeting by Mayor John Koniar. The city also issued a press release to that effect on Monday.

The grant will be used to improve road access to Goodrich Aerostructures, which has recently undergone plant expansion and added 160 jobs to its Foley operation.

The city will construct the road from the vicinity of Airport Road off of Fern Avenue to Baldwin County Road 24, the release said.

The road will help move heavy truck traffic off of Fern and out of residential neighborhoods in the vicinity, Koniar said during the council meeting.

Among the people Koniar thanked in connection with the grant were Councilman Bob Schreiber, who attended the recent ALDOT hearing in Montgomery, and Donna Watts, president and CEO of South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. Koniar said Robert Ingram, director of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, and his staff helped make the grant possible. The mayor also thanked Alabama Secretary of State Kay Ivey for her assistance.

According to the release, work on the road project should begin in approximately six months.

In other council action Monday, approval was given for the Kiwanis Club of Foley to hold its annual Christmas Parade on Saturday, Dec. 8, at 10 a.m. The parade route through the downtown area will be the same as that observed the past several years.

Approval was given for the Foley Lion’s Club to use the Heritage Park Gazebo on Dec. 17 from 2-6 p.m. to distribute pre-sold smoked Boston Butt roasts as a fundraiser for eye exams and glasses for area children who can’t afford them.

The council approved a low bid for the Soccer Complex paving project and extension of Section Avenue. The low bid for paving the parking area at the Soccer Complex and extending Section was $520,837 by James Bros. Excavating in Daphne.

Approval was also given for up to $19,000 for R&S Paving and Grading to repair a sinkhole near the intersection of Cedar Street and West Peachtree Avenue.

Fire Chief Jamie Hinton requested $5,300 for software for the Fire Department and $3,600 for a laptop. Both purchases were approved.

Council members approved a second reading of an ordinance adopting a new business license code and fee schedule.