Birmingham receives $10.8M “Good Jobs Challenge” grant to build healthcare workforce

The City of Birmingham is receiving a $10.8 million “Good Jobs Challenge” grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).

The Magic City is one of only 32 cities nationwide to earn the award.

Purpose of the Good Jobs Challenge

What is the purpose of the grant?

It builds a pipeline of skilled healthcare and digital healthcare workers through partnerships with local healthcare employers and provides access to high-quality healthcare jobs to those communities that are traditionally underserved, including women and people of color.

“We are honored to receive the Good Jobs Challenge grant. This is truly a collaborative effort between the city and our partners to enhance workforce development in our region. These funds from the Biden-Harris administration will go far in our commitment to building a more equitable and inclusive economy designed to serve the people.”

Mayor Randall L. Woodfin

Partnerships Work!

One thing Birmingham has learned over the past decade—when we work together regionally, great things happen. From the recent construction of Protective Stadium to The World Games 2022—business and local government working together is the secret to our success.

That is why Birmingham was one of 32 cities selected out of 509 applicants.

For this grant, the following groups pledged to work together:

• City of Birmingham
• Jefferson County
• The region’s five largest healthcare employers
• Birmingham Business Alliance
• Central Six AlabamaWorks!
• Innovate Birmingham
• Prosper
• Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham
• STRIVE
• Women’s Foundation of Alabama.

In the first year of the three-year grant, these partners will collaborate to establish the Birmingham Region Health Partnership and develop a roadmap to connect the region’s workers to training opportunities and career pathways within the healthcare industry. Over the duration of the grant, partners expect to train and place over 1,000 jobseekers in high-quality healthcare jobs. 

Learn More

Want to learn more about this important national grant? Read more about the award and the press release here — https://eda.gov/arpa/good-jobs-challenge/awardees/City-of-Birmingham.htm

Birmingham is on a roll. Tell us what kind of projects you are proud of in the Magic City by tagging us on social media at @bhamnow.