News You Can Use: 5-02-24

Down payment assistance program kicks off today

  • The Department of Community Development — along with Neighborhood Housing Services and Operation Hope — is accepting online applications for its Ready to Own Birmingham Down Payment Assistance Program. Ready to Own Birmingham provides flexible financing to help residents become homeowners within the City of Birmingham. The assistance is provided as a grant in the form of a loan forgivable after five years of the homebuyer occupying the house as their primary residence. See attached for details.

Birmingham Promise Deadline 

  • Wednesday, May 1 is a big deadline for students wanting to access the resources of Birmingham Promise. Seniors in Birmingham City Schools must complete their Birmingham Promise scholarship applications by May 1 to ensure they have an opportunity to attend college tuition-free. May 1 is also the deadline for juniors in Birmingham schools to complete their applications to participate next year in the internship program, which allows high school seniors to earn $15 an hour while gaining job experience and workplace skills. For more information, go to birminghampromise.org. 

Historic Preservation Month kicks off today

  • May is Historic Preservation Month, and in celebration of the City of Birmingham’s rich history and its mission to sustain its cultural landmarks, the Department of Planning, Engineering, and Permits is hosting a series of free activities for the public. See attached for a schedule of free walking tours and lectures. Wednesday, May 1 is the  Historic Preservation Month Kick-off Event Celebrating Over 30 Years of Service for the Birmingham Historical Commission; Birmingham City Hall, Gallery of Distinguished Citizens, 2nd Floor. 

    • Click here for a printable schedule of events for Historic Preservation Month 2024. For more information, contact Hannah Garmon, Historic Preservation Manager, at 205-254-2424 or Hannah.Garmon@birminghamal.gov. You can also reach Karla Calvert, Urban Design Administrator, at 205-254-2479 or Karla.Calvert@birminghamal.gov.

Discounted lunch for City workers

District Nine Derby Day at City Walk

  • Join Councilor LaTonya Tate for live music and fun. Featuring Sharon Collins, Yung Vokalz and the Movement, and Fly Dave and the Party Rockers “Go-Go” Band. Saturday, May 4. 3-7 p.m. See attached for details.

New exhibit celebrates National Autism Month

  • A World in a Grain of Sand, a new art exhibition on the first floor of the Central Library downtown, celebrates National Autism Month. It features works in various media by artists from Studio By The Tracks, a local nonprofit community arts studio that has been serving artists with autism for 35 years. A World in a Grain of Sand is the latest installment in BPL’s visual arts series, Art For Everyone, and will be on exhibition at the Central Library through May 31. Read more here. 

It is Small Business Week!

  • April 28 through May 4 is filled with events to celebrate Birmingham’s small businesses. Check out thee event calendar attached or going to www.bhmup.com.

Celebrate 2024 National Small Business Week at the Birmingham Public Library through May 4. 

  • On Wednesday, May 1, BPL will host a virtual training session on Zoom, Get Your Small Business Going with Gale Business Resources. During the session, we will dive into two of the library's most powerful research databases, Gale Business: Entrepreneurship and Gale Business: Plan Builder. For information click here.

Birmingham Night at the Universoul Circus is this Friday

The Birmingham Folk Festival is back and bigger

  • The Birmingham Folk Festival returns to Avondale Park on Saturday, May 4, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., for a FREE, family-friendly day of music, art, and community, with live performances featuring bluegrass, gospel, blues, Americana, West African drumming and dance, mariachi, hip-hop, Sacred Harp, brass band, and more. Food, arts and crafts, vendors, dance, and other activities for the whole family will be ongoing throughout the day. We invite the community to join us as Avondale Park comes alive with art and sound from around the City. Find out more at birminghamfolkfest.org.

Fashion Show at the Library

  • The Titusville Branch Library will host Hats & Hells Fashion Show on May 9 at 11 a.m. See attached for details. 

Town Hall meeting coming to several districts

  • Mayor Woodfin will join with Birmingham City Council for town halls on Thursday, May 2 at the Fountain Heights Rec Center with Councilor LaTonya Tate, and on Thursday, May 9 at the Birmingham CrossPlex with Councilor Carol Clarke. They will start at 6 p.m. 

Mental Health Day come to City Hall 

  • Food trucks, a DJ, mental health experts, speakers and more will be on hand in Linn Park on Friday, May 17 for the Third Annual Mental Health Awareness Day. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Magic City Sips returns for another year of celebrating Birmingham's thriving hospitality community   

  • The City of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity will once again host its city-wide happy hour event series, Magic City Sips. The aim of this initiative is to highlight Birmingham’s thriving hospitality industry by encouraging residents and visitors to support area restaurants and bars throughout the summer months. Sips officially kicks off May 29 and will run every Wednesday from 4-7 p.m. through August 28. Go to www.magiccitysips.com for details.


This summer:

Jazz festival returns to Birmingham

  • The Steel City Jazz Fest will return to Linn Park on June 14, 15 and 16. For the line up or to buy tickets, people should visit www.steelcityjazzfest.org. Early Bird sales will end Monday, May 13 at 6 a.m. The city nor Boutwell are selling tickets for this event. 

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