In August 2024, the City of Birmingham was awarded a $20 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration, one of only six cities nationwide to receive the award. The funding targets four communities: North Birmingham, Northside, Smithfield, and Pratt. Mayor Randall Woodfin, who was born in Northside, called it a long-held dream to see real investment return to a neighborhood he grew up in. The grant funds five component projects:
- A centrally located workforce training center
- Expanded micro-transit options
- Child Care Center of Excellence
- Birmingham Black Business Entrepreneurship Center
- A governance model to sustain the initiative long-term
The city led the winning application through a coalition that included Lawson State Community College, AIDT, Central Six AlabamaWorks!, BJCTA, the YMCA of Greater Birmingham, Childcare Resources, Prosper, Regions Bank, and the Black Business Initiative, backed by more than 30 regional employers.