Gov. Kay Ivey has awarded a $700,000 grant to help create up to 300 new jobs in the Brewton area within the next several years.

The Community Development Block Grant will provide infrastructure necessary for Provalus, a company specializing in business technology and support, to locate in the city.

“Bringing new industry and employment opportunities to Alabama is a priority of my administration, and Provalus has made that same commitment on a nationwide basis,” Ivey said. “I am pleased to join with local leaders in this venture which will bring new jobs to the Brewton area.”

Provalus, a division of Atlanta-based Optomi, has a mission of building technical service centers in underserved parts of the United States.

CDBG funds will be used to provide water and sewer services to the new Dogwood Hill Technology Park off U.S. 31 where Provalus will be located. Additionally, a new water well and 300,000-gallon water tank will be developed off Alabama Highway 41 to meet industrial and residential demands.

Provalus, which currently employs 17 people at a temporary location in downtown Brewton, expects to have 300 employees at its Brewton center by 2022.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“ADECA joins with Gov. Ivey in celebrating this job-creating venture in Brewton,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “Our agency is always delighted when we have a role in projects that improve the lives of residents and help grow local economies.”

Ivey notified Mayor Yank Lovelace that the grant had been approved.

“We are ecstatic about the Monday grant award notice we received, and the first order of business is to thank Gov. Kay Ivey, Sen. Greg Albritton and Rep. Alan Baker for their constant support,” Lovelace said. “Will Ruzic and his staff at Coastal Gateway Economic Development Authority, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, Alabama Development Office, Delta Regional Authority and multiple other agencies have been stalwart members of the team that helped make the dream happen in the ongoing work growing ProValus in Brewton. This particular funding will be used to build and upgrade sewer system construction to serve the new industry as our city grows. It’s great to see good things happening.”

ADECA administers an array of programs supporting law enforcement and traffic safety, economic development, energy conservation, water resource management and recreation development.