A Birmingham-based nonprofit is the beneficiary of a nearly $500,000 grant from U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell’s office to help small businesses grow.
Sewell is presenting the $474,355 check to the Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance at a ceremony this morning.
CARA partners with the University of Alabama, Auburn University, Birmingham-Southern College, Regions Foundation and Blue Cross Blue Shield to create thriving communities, including equipping small businesses with information to grow and scale.
“I was so pleased to secure $474,355 in grant funding for the Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance, a small business accelerator program in Jefferson County. The 12-bill government funding package directly addresses the needs of our communities in Alabama’s 7th Congressional District,” Sewell said. “These investments will uplift underserved areas and foster economic development across our district, and I know they will make a real difference in the lives of so many. I am proud to have fought for this funding, which will make our community healthier, safer, stronger and even more resilient.”
Ronique Carter, CEO of Fora Investing and a CARA board member, called the funding “a game-changer for small and micro businesses, municipalities and regional collaborators for the Central Alabama region.”
“The Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance is currently doing amazing transformational work,” he said. “Now, CARA is poised, with greater capacity, to provide an even bigger impact to these sometimes marginalized and emerging business entities to upskill and thrive.”
