Birmingham to again offer grants for projects to aimed at helping improve communities
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA — Oct. 17, 2020 – The City of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity (IEO) has launched its request for proposals for the Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) Grant Program, which provides financial support to organizations and agencies that are taking creative, evidence-based approaches to solving various community issues. Monday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. is the deadline to apply.
Up to $500,000 is available to be allocated across four categories:
- Job Accessibility
- Recovery & Adaptation Technical Assistance for Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, & Disadvantaged Businesses
- Scale-Up Technical Assistance for Minority-Owned, Women-Owned, & Disadvantaged Businesses
- Social Innovation to Address a Pressing Community Problem
Projects will be selected by a committee composed of members of the Mayor’s Office and the City Council administration, ensuring alignment and transparency between the two bodies. This is the third cycle of the BOLD Grant Program, which saw successful cycles in 2018 and 2019.
IEO Director Josh Carpenter said that the BOLD program has helped residents across the City access pathways to economic opportunity by funding everything from quality job training and childcare to housing assistance and financial literacy courses. The program also aims to increase grant writing capacity through workshops and office hours for community organizations interested in applying for BOLD funding.
Carpenter added that BOLD embodies Mayor Woodfin’s ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability and effectiveness.
A public meeting for parties to ask questions about BOLD, will be held via Webex on Monday, Oct. 19 at 1 p.m. Go here to register. For more information on the program, please visit https://www.birminghamal.gov/bold.
Questions and feedback may be submitted to BOLD@birminghamal.gov.
