Economy

Birmingham Community Foundation Announces Grants. Preparing Future Workforce One Emphasis

Birmingham-area projects to prepare local workers for jobs likely to be in demand were among those that got support from Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham in its May round of grants, the foundation announced this week.

The CFGB said Birmingham Business Alliance will receive $60,000 to support efforts to align curriculum at local post-secondary institutions with the needs of local industry, as well as offer education and outreach to students and faculty regarding career pathways.

A $40,000 grant went to Birmingham Urban League to scale-up thrice-weekly educational enrichment and career-ready programs in neighborhood opportunity centers in the western area of Birmingham.

CFGB awarded $65,000 to Central Six Development Council, Inc., to implement apprenticeships and work-based learning models that connect high school students with high-demand careers.

Jefferson State community college received $75,000 to expand the Welding Technology Program to the Shelby-Hoover campus.

Also, $50,000 went to Nest to form an Artisan Incubator in Birmingham, identifying business and entrepreneurs overlooked in the current maker movement and providing resources to sustain their business and develop a workforce.

CFGB earlier was among Birmingham institutions that commissioned a study of the area’s economy. Preparing people for changing job demand was one of the issues highlighted.

Overall, the Community Foundation announced $1,237,500 in grants to 43 area nonprofits in Jefferson, Blount, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker counties. The Community Foundation supports programs and initiatives through discretionary funds entrusted to the foundation by generations of donors.

The full range of CFGB grants focused on career and college readiness, access to health care, nutrition, and physical activity and early learning categories.

You can see the full list of grants here.