By Black Headline News
Birmingham, AL — This week, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell (AL-07) announced that the City of Birmingham has been designated as a finalist for the Recompete Program by the Biden-Harris Administration, through the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA). The designation is an endorsement of the city’s plan to connect workers in persistently distressed communities with jobs and workforce training. The city is now eligible to apply for the final phase of the Recompete Program, which will award an average of $20 to $50 million in implementation funding.
“We are absolutely thrilled that the City of Birmingham has been designated as a Recompete Program finalist for their plan to bring targeted workforce training and economic development to communities in need,” said Rep. Sewell. “The future of the Magic City has never been brighter. I want to thank the Biden-Harris Administration and our local officials for continuing to prioritize equity as we expand economic opportunity throughout our state.”
The City of Birmingham’s “Reinvest Northwest: Birmingham Career Accelerator Recompete Plan” will connect workers in persistently distressed neighborhoods in northwest Birmingham to good jobs. Together with business, training, and education partners, the Finalist will create a wraparound service center, a workforce development hub, a Black-owned business initiative entrepreneurship center, and the expansion of a transportation program.
Authorized by President Biden’s CHIPS and Science Act, which passed Congress with Rep. Sewell’s support, the Recompete Program targets areas where prime-age (25-54 years) employment is significantly lower than the national average, with the goal to close this gap through flexible, locally driven investments. Earning the title of Recompete Finalist is an endorsement of the community’s strategy to create and connect workers to good jobs in geographically diverse and persistently distressed communities across the country. Recompete Finalists are now eligible to apply for the final phase of the Recompete Program, which will award an average of $20 to $50 million in implementation funding.
“Recompete helps fulfill President Biden’s promise that no community in America will be left behind as we continue to grow our nation’s economy and invest in American workers,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These Recompete Finalists and grant recipients have presented a wide range of inspiring solutions to create jobs, develop long-term economic growth, and realize the full potential in communities that for too long have been overlooked or counted out.”
“As President Biden has said many times: we all just want a fair shot. Recompete helps make it possible for more Americans in more communities to find a good-paying job that puts them and their families on the path toward success. By equitably investing in new job creation opportunities across America, we can help fulfill our promise that no American, and no community, is ever left behind,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves.
“These outstanding Recompete Finalists and strategy development grant recipients exemplify the focused employment and job creation strategies required to address the unique, long-standing needs of communities,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “We look forward to supporting these communities as they work to reduce the employment gap and establish models for long-term economic growth we can apply across America.”
The 22 Recompete Finalists were selected from more than 500 applications from lead applicants representing nonprofits, local government, economic development organizations, educational institutions, and tribal government and organizations. Recompete Finalists span regions across 20 states and territories.
For more information, visit eda.gov/recompete.
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