The Columbia Board of Aldermen on Nov. 4 formally accepted a $750,000 Neighborhood Revitalization Program grant and took the first steps to implement it.

The money will be used “for housing rehabilitation south of Highway 64 to get rid of older collapsing structures and rehab some buildings off N.C. 94 [South Broad Street],” explained town manager Rhett White.

After the deteriorated building (once a barber shop) at the corner of South Broad and Railroad streets is torn down, a community park or garden will be established temporarily on the site, White said. At the end of three years the property is to be offered for sale or used for a housing site.

Initial action is to employ a program manager, and proposals for program management services are to be submitted to the town by Nov. 15. In the past this work has been performed by McDavid Associates of Farmville.

Alderman Sue Griffin moved to accept the grant, and her motion carried unanimously.