Commissioner Perkins told the Chilton County Commission that the county has been awarded a $10,000 grant to build a community archery park at Manuka Park and that the county has secured multiple professional fishing events including a National Professional Fishing League stop in May 2026.

Perkins said the grant notification came through the countys grant writer (identified in the meeting as Stallman). He said the award of $10,000 would fund an archery facility the grant presenter called "Bullseye Manuka," describing three youth targets (5 to 20 yards), seven adult stations (20 to 50 yards) and a 3-D competition walking trail. Perkins said the county would have roughly 18 months to complete the project under the grant terms.

Perkins also announced that Chilton County had signed a three-year agreement to host a top-tier professional bass tournament trail. He said the first event in the three-year run would be the National Professional Fishing League launching from Beeswax Park and holding daily weigh-ins at Clanton City Park on May 21, 2026. Perkins estimated the event would bring about 120 professional anglers, roughly 3,000 visitor-days and approximately $1,100,000 in direct revenue to the county (figures based on prior event questionnaires and multiplier assumptions). He told commissioners the county expects anglers and their parties to travel from about 25 states and that many competitors pre-fish several days before the official event, increasing length of stay.

Perkins said the county is pursuing additional tourism events including women's and division-level bass events and has been in talks for tennis and disc-golf tournaments. Commissioners thanked Perkins and other county staff for pursuing events and facilities designed to increase tourism revenue. No formal county funding action was taken at this meeting; Perkins said some county investments have already been made and the commissions prior decisions helped secure the events.