SPANISH FORT, Ala.—City leaders got a brief glimpse June 7 into Baldwin County’s presence in Washington, D.C., and received some encouraging suggestions for financing projects at home from U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Mobile.

"We wanted the opportunity to show him our plans for the city complex. We know that grant funding is going to be a big part of our ability to make it happen, and he has always said he’d help show us the right direction on some of these grants when the time came," Mayor Bonner said.

The 29,000-square-foot complex being considered for construction on n 18-acre site at the intersection of highways 72 and 31 would include a multipurpose building; administrative building; public works building; Baldwin Rural Area System terminal; senior center; library; post office; two additional buildings to accommodate future growth; and a recreational area.

"I wanted him to leave here feeling comfortable that this (project) is worthwhile," Mayor Bonner said.

The congressman made his Spanish Fort stop in between constituent meetings and suggested several potential grant-funding sources – including the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security – the council might consider pursuing as the complex begins to take shape.

The city has already set aside more than one-quarter of the potentially $8 million needed to complete the long-discussed complex, and Mayor Bonner said a master list of grant sources will be worked thoroughly if the project, being designed by Daphne-based Forrest Daniell and Associates PC, moves forward to the bid stage.