ORANGE BEACH — The Office of the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Alabama recently awarded a second Alabama K-12 Capital Grant to the Orange Beach City School system which will go toward the safety and security of the Sportsplex upgrades that are currently underway.

A $182,804 grant “will be used to install advanced surveillance cameras and door access equipment at the athletic complex,” according to a Nov. 19 press release. “Installation is scheduled for spring 2025, and the project is expected to be completed in July 2025.”

The Makos are no strangers to this grant program as $2.5 million in funds were awarded in 2023 to help kick off the $46.1 million in upgrades to the athletic complex around the corner from the Middle/High School.

With the second capital grant, Orange Beach City Schools’ nine-member grant-writing team pushed its total to 36 grants which have brought in $5,877,161 in its brief history.

“These funds have been pivotal in elevating the district’s facilities and educational programs, further cementing its place among Alabama’s elite school systems,” the release says. “The athletic complex, a district cornerstone project, symbolizes Orange Beach City Schools’ focus on blending academics, arts, and athletics to foster well-rounded excellence.”

Superintendent of Orange Beach City Schools, Randy Wilkes, mentioned that the awarding of the grant shows the system’s consistency.

“We are deeply grateful for this continued support from the state,” Wilkes said in the release. “This grant is another testament to our commitment to providing safe, modern, high-quality facilities for our students and community. It also reflects the hard work and vision of our grant-writing team.”