BIRMINGHAM – Innovate Alabama has announced the inaugural designees of the Innovate Alabama Network, a comprehensive resource to connect communities, nonprofits and higher education institutions across Alabama fostering innovation in their local footprint.
The Cordova Economic and Industrial Development Authority was one of the groups awarded funding. The city received a $212,544 grant for matching funds for the AmeriCorp (summer work) program to be able to employ youth as young as 16-year-olds, as AmeriCorp only takes youth as young as 17.
“The Cordova Economic and Industrial Development Authority is very honored to have been selected as an Innovate Alabama Network designee,” said Renee Sides, executive director of CEIDA and director of economic development for the City of Cordova. “This designation as well as the grant associated will allow us to continue the work we started several years ago to redevelop our city. Cordova is worthy of our time and efforts, and others throughout the state and the nation see that. This designation and grant will allow us to continue to develop projects that will enhance the quality of life for our residents and visitors. We are excited to partner with Innovate Alabama.”
Fifty-one designees in 17 Alabama counties make up the group, receiving $9.3 million in supporting funds from Innovate Alabama.
“The Innovate Alabama Network is a major step forward to growing the entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem in Alabama,” said Innovate Alabama CEO Cynthia Crutchfield. “By providing funding and resources to our local communities, nonprofits and higher education institutions, we are developing a statewide network for innovation programming and catalyzing entrepreneurship in all of our communities, both rural and urban.”
By investing in these organizations who are shaping the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Innovate Alabama is driving innovation-related activities, encouraging collaboration across the state and providing vital seed funding to propel innovation forward at the community and regional level. In total, 30 nonprofit entities, 11 communities and municipalities and 10 colleges and universities received an Innovate Alabama Network Designation.
“I’m encouraged and energized to see the overwhelming response to the Innovate Alabama Network,” said Innovate Alabama Board Chairman and Alabama State Director of Finance Bill Poole. “We have a diverse ecosystem for innovation in Alabama, so to bring all of these partners together in one place to partner and collaborate together on moving our state forward is a move in the right direction for Alabama.”
Applications for the second round of the Innovate Alabama Network are now open. Any interested Alabama community, nonprofit or higher education institution can apply by 5 p.m. CT on Friday, January 5, 2024. Innovate Alabama will host a series of informational webinars and office hours through the end of the year for organizations that want to learn more about the program. To register for these sessions, visit this link.
Program guidelines have evolved since the Innovate Alabama Network was initially launched. For important key program updates and to apply to the second round of the Innovate Alabama Network, visit innovatealabama.org/innovate-alabama-network.
Designees from the first round of the Innovate Alabama Network include the following communities, nonprofits and higher education institutions:Communities:
- City of Auburn
- City of Bessemer
- City of Dothan
- City of Henagar
- City of Hoover
- City of Marion
- City of Mobile
- City of Pinson
- City of Talladega
- Shelby County
- Town of Pike Road
Nonprofit entities:
- Alabama Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence
- Alabama Trails Foundation
- Baldwin County Community and Economic Development Foundation
- BioAlabama
- Birmingham Bound
- Birmingham Business Alliance
- Bronze Valley Foundation
- Cordova Economic Industrial Development Authority
- Ed Farm
- Economic Development Partnership of Alabama
- Hardware Park
- HBCU Cares
- Higher Education Partnership
- Innovation Depot
- Innovation Portal
- Main Street Marion
- McWane Science Center
- Montgomery Tech Lab
- Prosper Foundation
- QIE Foundation
- REV Birmingham
- Singing River Trail
- Southern Research
- Teach2Lead
- The Alabama Collective
- The Arc of Madison County
- The E-Center
- The Overton Project
- United Way of Southwest Alabama
- Venture for America
Higher Education Institutions:
- Alabama A&M University
- Alabama State University
- Auburn Lowder Center for Family and Entrepreneurship
- Drake State Community and Technical College
- Talladega College
- Trenholm State University
- Troy University
- University of Alabama
- University of Alabama at Birmingham
- University of South Alabama
