The City of Birmingham’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity (IEO) is soliciting proposals to grant public funds to any firm, corporation, or other business entity, public or private, for the purpose of promoting the economic development for the City.
Donor Name: City of Birmingham
State: Alabama
City: Birmingham
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 08/07/2025
Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
IEO is requesting creative, evidence-based proposals for programming and services that advance economic resilience and mobility in Birmingham under the Building Opportunities for Lasting Development (BOLD) funding program. IEO is working to fuel an ecosystem that allows innovation and opportunity to thrive by providing resources to nurture talent; by establishing infrastructure that supports the growth of women-, minority-, and disadvantaged businesses; and by focusing on developing the small businesses. Now in its eighth year, the BOLD funding program seeks to develop partnerships with community organizations that share IEO’s vision of making Birmingham the model of an inclusive and resilient economy.
Objectives
- Small businesses: provide resources to Birmingham entrepreneurs and small business owners who have been in operation in Birmingham for over two years, generating revenue of less than $400,000, to sustain or scale their businesses.
- Workforce development: implement a strategy for Birmingham residents to access good jobs through training, education and job-readiness interventions that are directly connected to employer demand with a focus on dismantling barriers that limit labor force participation.
- Eliminating barriers: address barriers to economic prosperity for minority, women, and disadvantaged residents and/or business enterprises (MWDBEs) within the City of Birmingham (e.g. access to training, scholarships, transportation, healthcare, childcare, food access, housing, etc)
- Creative placemaking: advance economic resilience, mobility, and inclusive growth in Birmingham’s neighborhoods
- High-Growth Industries: use data-driven and innovative approaches to invest in Birmingham’s high-growth, high-demand industries (e.g. clean energy, construction, medical, technology, advanced manufacturing, etc).
Funding Information
- Any equipment over $5,000 will require prior approval from IEO.
- Most BOLD awards range from $50,000 to $150,000, though compelling proposals for other funding amounts will be considered.
Grant Period
January 5, 2026 – January 4, 2027.
Geographic Priority Areas
- East Lake
- Ensley
- Five Points West
- Fourth Avenue Business District / Civil Rights District
- North Birmingham
- Smithfield/Elyton
- Titusville
- Woodlawn.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for BOLD funding, applicants must:
- Be a firm, corporation, or other business entity, public or private (documentation required in application for verification). No individuals may apply. Applications are encouraged from Alabama-recognized non-profit organizations (IRC Section 501(c)(3) entities preferred), post-secondary education institutions, and relevant for-profit enterprises, particularly those with a social impact focus. Minority-, women-owned, and disadvantaged business enterprises (MWDBEs) are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Provide a cost matching plan, with matching funds secured at a rate of 20% of the total project budget (not 20% of the amount of funds requested from BOLD). For example, if an application has a total project budget of $250,000, the proposal may request up to $200,000 from BOLD and provide the other $50,000 toward the project as leveraged funding. Proposals that do not meet the 20% leveraged funding requirement of the total project budget will not be eligible for consideration.
- Demonstrate organizational fiscal sustainability by uploading financial documentation to the application, including 1) a Profit and Loss Statement, and 2) IRS form 990 or 990-N (if tax-exempt entity) OR a recent audit report (if for-profit entity).
For more information, visit City of Birmingham.
