If all goes as planned, construction of four dozen three-bedroom homes will begin off South First Street next year.

Mayor Joe Cox announced at Tuesday’s meeting of the Brookhaven Board of Aldermen that developers recently received $10 million in funding for Mill Creek, a housing community that will be built just north of Dale Trail Northeast.

“At this point, they’re vetting their investors and they hope to begin construction in April of 2020,” Cox said.

Cox read an email from Len Reeves of Ridgewood Consulting: “With Mill Creek, Brookhaven will be home to the only new construction community that was funded under the State of Mississippi’s recent Opportunity Zone housing initiative.”

Opportunity Zones is a federal initiative created under the 2017 Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which provides incentives for qualified investors to invest capital gains in distressed communities across the United States.

Aldermen met with representatives of Southport Financial in May who went over the details of the project and approved the Concerted Community Revitalization Plan presented.

Southport Partner Scott Seckinger, of Tampa, Florida, has a contract on 15 acres and plans for 48 lease-to-own homes with garages that will be built at an estimated cost of $9.6 million.

In other business Tuesday:

• Public Works Director Keith Lewis told aldermen employees from asphalt and concrete crews were helping pick up curbside debris this week while it’s been too wet to work in their own departments. Two trucks were out of commission last week and debris pickup fell behind, he said. The extra labor is helping the city get caught up.

• Cox said Brookhaven Police Chief Kenneth Collins plans to follow the usual traffic plan for South Jackson Street for Halloween. The street, which has become a popular spot for trick-or-treaters, will be closed for several hours at West Chickasaw Street and extended south for several blocks.

• Aldermen approved a water and sewer easement for construction of a Dollar General on Industrial Park Road between Hwy. 51 and Jackson Street.

• Aldermen approved the retirement of Roger McCaffery from the water department effective Oct. 8.

• Aldermen approved the resignation of Brandon Runyan from the Brookhaven Fire Department effective Oct. 7. They also approved hiring two non-certified firefighters, Darius Calvin and Richard Edwards, at an annual salary of $28,084.80 each.