Community Development

Community and Economic Impact Grants

The University of West Alabama’s Community and Economic Impact Grant program solicits proposals from Black Belt cities, towns or communities seeking to achieve genuine economic and/or community growth through professional service grants. These grants are awarded for projects designed to significantly impact communities in the long term.

Projects may be in any one of the following areas:

• Economic research

• Community planning

• Development

• Government compliance

• Tourism

• Industry recruitment

Other community and economic related projects related to these areas will be considered as well. Proposals should be designed to prove their positive, significant and long-lasting impact.

Communities will receive service grants up to a maximum of $5,000 over a period of one year. The amount of funding received is based on the community’s ability to demonstrate how projects will improve the community’s economy or quality of life. These grants are not renewable. Cities and towns must reapply each year.

Projects previously completed through the community & economic impact service grants program include: strategic and comprehensive plans, land-use studies, marketing websites, research studies, leadership training and seminars designed to enhance small business development in the region.

Our most recent awardees include: the City of York, City of Livingston, the Town of Pennington and the County of Choctaw. The 2011-2012 funding cycle will run from November 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012.