Birmingham Secures $20 Million “Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program” Grant
Mon, August 5th, 2024
The City of Birmingham has been granted a staggering $20 million by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration as part of the “Distressed Area Recompete Pilot Program”. The intent of the grant is to address economic disparity in four of the city’s underserved communities.
Reinvest Birmingham Recompete Plan
The substantial capital infusion will be utilised to propel the ‘Reinvest Birmingham Recompete Plan’. This innovative scheme is currently targeting the communities of North Birmingham, Northside, Pratt, and Smithfield. These areas have been grappling with extensive economic, developmental, and environmental challenges.
“Our vision has always been to rebuild this once-thriving community,” commented Birmingham’s Mayor. “These people are deserving of experiencing the prosperity that other parts of Birmingham are currently enjoying.
Boosting Workforce, Entrepreneurship, and Transportation
The grant money will be channelled into several strata of community development. These include setting up a workforce training center, initiating a child care center for families, establishing a black business entrepreneurship center, and expanding the transportation system for easy access to resources. To ensure the longevity of these undertakings, a sustainable development plan is also being mapped out.
Community colleges are partnering with city leaders to provide the necessary workforce training to residents in these underserved communities, with the ultimate goal of creating more inclusive economic prosperity for all citizens.
Another Grant for Birmingham
This isn’t the first significant grant landing in the lap of Birmingham. The U.S. Department of Housing and Human Development has recently pitched in with a whopping $50 million as part of the Choice Neighborhoods grant. With both monies working in synergy, they could leave a formidable impact on the residents’ lives.
“North Birmingham has struggled with economic injustice for too long. This funding will set the stage for generational change,” commented a city official who is a key player in coordinating the development plan. “Our blueprint places residents at the helm and promises them responsive solutions for better quality of life in Birmingham.”
The Birmingham Reinvigorate Plan is a two-part city development strategy. Links to both phases can be found below:
- Recompete Plan – Phase 1
- Recompete Plan – Phase 2