Sewell and Britt celebrate that the City of Birmingham to receive $20 Million recompete grant

August 5, 2024, Congresswoman Terri Sewell (D-Selma) announced that the City of Birmingham has been awarded approximately $20 million by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration (EDA) in hopes that it will create pathways to connect Northwest Birmingham residents to good jobs. U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) today celebrated the $20 million grant. The funding will be utilized to invest in economically distressed communities and connect Alabamians with good jobs.

The grant will go towards the Birmingham Career Accelerator Recompete Plan, which will help connect people in the North Birmingham, Pratt, Smithfield, and Northside areas to employment by making strategic investments in areas such as childcare, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and transportation.

In September 2023, Senator Britt sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and EDA Administrator Alejandra Castillo in support of this project.

"This significant grant award is a huge opportunity to lift up our communities and expand access to the American Dream for hardworking Alabamians," said Senator Britt. "This is an investment today that will pay dividends for years to come. I appreciate the U.S. Department of Commerce and Economic Development Administration selecting Birmingham to receive this important funding, and I'm grateful for the local leaders who are making this project possible."

"Today marks an exciting day in our continued fight to bring more resources and better opportunities to the people of Alabama's 7th Congressional District," said Rep. Sewell. "We are so excited that this $20 million Recompete grant is on its way to the City of Birmingham to grow our economy and connect people with good jobs. By providing greater training, business support, transportation, and childcare, this award will help ensure the residents of Northwest Birmingham have access to the tools they need to get ahead. We are so grateful to the Biden-Harris Administration for this monumental investment which was made possible by President Biden's CHIPS and Science Act."

"The Biden-Harris Administration is dedicated to ensuring every community across the country has the resources and support to grow and thrive," said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. "These Recompete investments will address key economic drivers and revitalize communities by creating jobs and developing long-term economic growth – allowing each to chart a new path to prosperity in the modern economy."

Birmingham was one of six Recompete awardees selected for implementation funding, the Reinvest Birmingham Recompete Plan will support persistently distressed neighborhoods in Northwest Birmingham by providing in-demand workforce training, support for entrepreneurs, and expanding and improving transportation and accessible childcare.

The final grant amount will be confirmed in the coming months.

"Through partnership with local communities, the Recompete program will make targeted, community-led investments to reduce unemployment," said U.S. Assistant Secretary for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. "The Recompete awardees are bringing together a wide range of partners to develop integrated approaches to support Americans in accessing good jobs."

The Recompete program was authorized by the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, a key part of the Biden-Harris Administration's Investing in America agenda. The statute authorized $1 billion for the program. To date, EDA has been appropriated $200 million for the program.

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