Birmingham City Council Highlights 12.13.22
Here are a few of the legislative highlights from Tuesday’s Birmingham City Council meeting, in case you missed it.
ITEMS 1-8
Today, the Birmingham City Council approved a total of eight program agreements through the Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) Grant program with the City.
Now in the fifth year, BOLD supports the growth of women-owned, minority-owned, and disadvantaged businesses, and focuses on developing our small businesses environment.
Today’s BOLD funding agreements are as follows:
The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), under which BBA as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) program will create a digital network of resource partners and dedicated professionals to provide support to the City’s Legacy Biz program for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $110,000.00.
Birthwell Partners, Inc. (Birthwell Partners), under which Birthwell Partners as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) program will train new doulas and employ doulas on contract basis to provide birth doula services to lowresource families from across Birmingham with a focus on geographic priority areas, East Lake, North Birmingham, and Smithfield/Elyton for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $121,806.00.
Diane’s Heart, Inc. (Diane’s Heart), under which Diane’s Heart as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) program will professional coaching, guidance on setting goals, and educational assistance to help single moms in Birmingham, Alabama rise above the statistics of poverty and lack by providing a support system and access to financial resources, practical assistance and social networks for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $98,450.00.
East Lake Initiative, under which East Lake Initiative as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) program will provide micro-grants of up to $1,000.00 to prospective small business owners to start in-home businesses through Thrive Together (collaboration between ELI and Serving You Ministries with coaching) and Birmingham Community Incubator (six (6) week business boot camp in collaboration with Salvation Army and Community Resource Development) for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $84,250.00.
Is-Able Ministries, under which Is-Able Ministries as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) program will provide employment and job readiness services; social engagement and support groups (for those dealing with depression or grief) and training in life skills and health and wellness for individuals with disabilities for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $75,000.00.
Rebirth Community Corporation, under which Rebirth Community Corporation as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) program will support small businesses with business development, mental health support, and direct services through the provision of wellness assessments and emotional and economic action plans, group mental health sessions, group business development workshops and through the provision of direct services to participants through stipends and grants for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $148,500.00.
Tech Alabama (dba) Education Farm, under which Tech Alabama (dba) Education Farm as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) program will provide IT workforce training for underemployed adults and youth and ensure they have the tools and coaching they need to be successful for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $135,200.00.
The Surge Project, Inc. (The Surge Project), under which The Surge Project as part of the City’s Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (“BOLD”) program will provide workforce development for adults ages 18-35 to aid in the reduction of gun violence through a 9-week soft skills training program that has four (4) main workshops: Oral Communication, Conflict Management, Time Management, and Resume Building through a partnership with the National Training Institute for Healthcare Technicians which will provide an opportunity for forty (40) individuals to become certified healthcare professionals for a term of twelve (12) months, for an amount not to exceed $80,800.00.
This past year the Council approved an allocation of $1 million in the City’s budget to fund this important initiative to help foster small business growth in Birmingham. Over the next year, the awardees will report back to the Council periodically with updates on how their businesses have been performing.