Community Project Funding Requests: FY 2026

1.) Project Name: Rural Studio: Increasing the Supply of Homes in Africatown

Recipient: Auburn University
Recipient Address: 107 Samford Hall, Auburn, AL 36849
Request Amount: $2,500,000
Explanation of the Request: Rural Studio proposes to partner with the Africatown Redevelopment Corporation (ARC) to design and construct five prototype houses at a total cost of $2.5 million as a key demonstration component of ARC's “Africatown Forever Homes Program.” Funds will primarily be used for materials and supplies to prototype and develop the homes, personnel time, travel to visit partner organizations and projects, and to provide capacity building and technical assistance to these partners. Through their focus on energy efficiency, durability, resistance to storm damage, and indoor air quality, these homes will be a better investment for the homeowner, lender, and insurer, while honoring Africatown’s cultural heritage and legacy. This investment will yield significant returns by stabilizing families, reducing energy costs, and demonstrating replicable solutions throughout Alabama and nationwide. Africatown, Alabama, holds a unique place in American history as one of the last known locations where enslaved Africans were brought to the United States. Despite its rich cultural significance, the community faces significant challenges: over 50% of residents experience housing cost burdens, and the median household income is well below the state average. Addressing these issues aligns directly with Auburn University’s commitment to “address the most pressing challenges impacting quality of life, economic prosperity, and security.” In Africatown, there is an opportunity to pilot innovative housing solutions that harness underutilized land to bolster housing supply, increase safety and security through resistance to storm damage, and consider cultural preservation through design that respects Africatown’s history while strengthening existing neighborhoods and property values.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

2.) Project Name: Montgomery Regional Tech & Innovation Ecosystem Initiative (MRTIEI)

Recipient: City of Montgomery, AL
Recipient Address: 103 North Perry St Montgomery, AL 36104
Request Amount: $1,650,000
Explanation of the Request: The Montgomery Regional Tech & Innovation Ecosystem Initiative (MRTIEI), led by Access Montgomery—a project of the City of Montgomery—is a transformational effort to position Central Alabama as a competitive regional hub for technology, innovation, and workforce advancement. Anchored by a new Innovation Lab in downtown Montgomery, the project supports training in high-demand technology sectors and expands workforce development efforts across Montgomery, Selma, and Tuskegee. Trenholm State Community College serves as the lead institution for the workforce development component of the initiative, providing industry-aligned training, apprenticeship programs, and job placement services to address skills gaps. The project benefits unemployed and underemployed residents, students at local colleges and training institutions, regional employers, and small businesses across Montgomery, Selma, and Tuskegee.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

3.) Project Name: Alabama Capital Maxwell Gateway Project

Recipient: City of Montgomery, AL
Recipient Address: 103 North Perry St Montgomery, AL 36104
Request Amount: $5,000,000
Explanation of the Request: Alabama Capital Maxwell Gateway Project addresses critical infrastructure needs along heavily traveled I-65 through Montgomery. The City, County, and Alabama Military Stability Commission partnered to commission a comprehensive corridor study of I-65 through Montgomery. The study provides a thorough analysis of current and future impacts around Maxwell AFB, the additions of the Montgomery Whitewater facility, Tourism experiences expansion along the river, FEMA routes and growing demands placed on I-65 infrastructure as a result of the Inland Port project and the Capital Logistics Triangle. With a focus on improvements to the chosen key gateways, the Montgomery area can optimally accommodate high volumes of automobile traffic during peak periods or extraordinary events to particular points both work-related and leisure. Alabama Capital Maxwell Gateway Project has been identified as essential infrastructure to accommodate not only existing traffic counts but also to address concerns expressed by Air Force Leadership regarding increased traffic and congestion on Maxwell Blvd. associated with the Montgomery Whitewater Outdoor Center and Recreational District along Maxwell Boulevard. The gateway into the capital city and Maxwell/Gunter AFB should be a vibrant and sustainable environment for all modes of transportation in order to attract a diverse variety of activities and trip purposes, whether it be for a workday commute, an evening outing, the weekend, seasonal travel purposes, Presidential, Vice President, Cabinet, Congressional visits or direct military-related travelers requiring access to the base from Maxwell Blvd. The project will stimulate, and support planned future growth to include the development of workforce housing options to support military families and regional residents.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

4.) Project Name: Tuskegee Public Safety Building and Resilience Center

Recipient: City of Tuskegee, AL
Recipient Address: 101 Fonville Street, Tuskegee, AL 36083
Request Amount: $5,000,000
Explanation of the Request: The City of Tuskegee is seeking to build a new public safety building to house the Police Department and Fire Department. In addition, the proposed facility would serve as a Resilience Center for the citizens of the community in the event of a major storm, power outages, or other disaster within the Tuskegee-Macon County Community. Tuskegee is the County seat and is centrally located within the County. Currently, the Police Department is located in a former public Middle School facility and in the process of moving to another temporary facility that housed our Senior Citizen Program. The City recognizes that establishing a solid and strong Public Safety Department is critical to the operations within a city and to the safety and protection of its citizens. Committing public dollars to provide long-term stability for the location of the Police and Fire Departments in the central downtown district is not only a good use in support of the protection of citizens, but also businesses as well.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

5.) Project Name: Monroe County Economic Industrial Park Initiative

Recipient: Monroe County Commission
Recipient Address: 65 North Alabama Avenue, Monroeville, AL 36460
Request Amount: $1,000,000
Explanation of the Request: This is the first phase of a three phase project to build a tenant ready Industrial Park in Monroe County. The only industrial park in Monroe County is owned by the City of Monroeville. Unfortunately, it was constructed near the municipal airport and has severe elevation restrictions that are not conducive to attracting industries. With multiple industries leaving Monroe County a new approach is needed to attract industry and stabilize the workforce and population. The proximity to thriving industries in Baldwin, Mobile, Escambia and Clark Counties give us a unique ability to offer possible businesses a landing spot for their growth. New anchor tenants in an Industrial Park are needed to stifle that declining population trend.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

6.) Project Name: Crenshaw County Recreational Complex

Recipient: Crenshaw County Commission
Recipient Address: 29 S Glenwood Ave, Luverne, AL 36049
Request Amount: $1,000,000
Explanation of the Request: This funding would be used by the Crenshaw County Commission to fund the development of a Recreational Complex in Crenshaw County, providing local children and families with a safe, modern space to play and practice sports. In addition to athletic facilities, the complex will feature a walking trail that promotes health and wellness by offering a secure, natural environment for exercise and outdoor enjoyment. This investment supports community well-being and offers lasting value for residents of Crenshaw County and surrounding areas.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

7.) Project Name: Butler County Water Supply District Project

Recipient: The Water Works and Sewer Board of the City of Greenville
Recipient Address: 108 Cedar St, Greenville, AL 36037
Request Amount: $15,435,200
Explanation of the Request: The primary purpose of this project is to augment and supplement the existing water supply for the City of Greenville Water Works & Sewer Board and the Butler County Water Authority, allowing the underlying Ripley Aquifer formation around the City of Greenville to recharge and recover over time. The project includes the development of two new production wells significantly east of the City of Greenville – outside the problem area referenced above, water transmission mains, an elevated water tank, and groundwater well treatment plant. The project will create immediate jobs, support existing water usage demands, and provide dependable water infrastructure to the existing Greenville and Butler County population. This will ensure the resident continues having safe and reliable water infrastructure is vital. The project is necessary to continue to provide communities with clean and safe water.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

8.) Project Name: Bullock County Public Safety Modernization Initiative

Recipient: Bullock County Sheriff's Office
Recipient Address: 217 Prairie St. N, Union Springs, AL 36089
Request Amount: $1,104,298
Explanation of the Request: The purpose of this project is to modernize the Bullock County Sheriff’s Department by replacing outdated law enforcement equipment, officer safety, and community protection. This project directly addresses critical gaps in public safety infrastructure in one of Alabama’s most underserved counties. Bullock County faces significant public safety concerns, with crime rates substantially exceeding national averages. These alarming statistics underscore the urgent need for enhanced law enforcement resources. The proposed project will fund the procurement of essential law enforcement tools, including body-worn and dash cameras, street cameras, and crime data analytics software. These enhancements are critical for ensuring officer readiness, improving response times, and rebuilding public confidence in local law enforcement.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

9.) Project Name: Facilities Modernization - Pier D2 Berth Completion

Recipient: Alabama State Port Authority
Recipient Address: 250 N. Water Street Mobile, AL 36602
Request Amount: $4,927,880.00
Explanation of the Request: This project will design, permit, and construct 203 Linear Feet of new dock structure and fendering at the Port of Mobile’s General Cargo Terminal or the “Main Docks.” This portion of the Port’s General Cargo facilities primarily serves the Alabama Steel Terminals’ (AST) existing 900’ dedicated pier located on the Mobile River to export steel coils for AM/NS Calvert. The Project will eliminate cross-traffic flow at the berth, creating safer working conditions by eliminating draying and saving travel distance and time by making a dedicated barge berth. The Project will improve the operating efficiency, reliability, and safety of daily operations. Dray truck emissions will be eliminated, and forklift emissions will be reduced by 70%. All of these improvements will make the Port more productive and, in turn, will increase the competitiveness of the Mobile area, which will increase the amount of investment available in the area. Furthermore, this project will create short-term jobs related to the construction of the project as well as long-term jobs which will be related to the operation and maintenance of the new infrastructure.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

10.) Project Name: Waste Water Collection System Rehab – Part 2 WWC System Triage Study – Basin 2

Recipient: City of Phenix City
Recipient Address: 601 12th Street, Phenix City, AL 36867
Request Amount: $492,880
Explanation of the Request: This project will study a portion of the wastewater collection system to determine where and what rehabilitation is needed to prevent waste water overflows. The City of Phenix City (PC) wastewater collection (WWC) system has areas which are older in which rain water (inflow) and groundwater (infiltration) enter usually due to rainfall. This inflow and infiltration (I&I) overloads the WWC system and waste water treatment plant (WWTP) causing sanitary sewer overflows where waste water escapes onto the ground or into streams, creeks or rivers. This project would perform the initial portion of a three phase comprehensive triage study of the entire WWC system to find I&I sources and determine rehabilitation needed to prevent overflows in the future. This study will help protect the health of Alabama citizens and visitors, protect Alabama streams, creeks and other water bodies, and help the Phenix City WWC system meet ADEM and EPA regulations which will protect Alabama’s natural resources.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

11.) Project Name: Medical Center Barbour MRI

Recipient: Health Care Authority of the City of Eufaula
Recipient Address: 820 West Washington Street, Eufaula, AL 36027
Request Amount: $500,000
Explanation of the Request: This funding would be used solely for the purchase of MRI equipment for Medical Center Barbour. Previously, over the past 6 years, the hospital was utilizing a mobile MRI. Recently, the MRI vendor decided to discontinue that service and the equipment was removed and sold. Patients now have to travel a minimum of 50 miles for this service, as Medical Center Barbour is the only hospital that serves this area. This has resulted in 4 to 6 week waiting periods to be scheduled at other facilities due to demand and back log. With the purchase of the MRI equipment, this facility would be able to offer approximately 80 MRI procedures each month to Barbour County residents and surrounding coverage areas.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

12.) Project Name: Jackson Health Care Authority Facilities & Equipment

Recipient: City of Jackson Health Care Authority
Recipient Address: 400 Commerce Street, Jackson, AL 36545
Request Amount: $2,722,560
Explanation of the Request: City of Jackson Health Care Authority requests funding to facilitate the purchase of advanced diagnostic imaging equipment, to repair and renovate existing infrastructure in its hospital, and to provide greater security for patients and employees at the hospital. This project is part of a larger effort to improve healthcare outcomes throughout Southwest Alabama and surrounding areas. This new equipment will allow patients to receive the highest level of treatment within Clarke County rather than having to be transferred to other facilities further away, often outside the county. New diagnostic imaging equipment will enable the highest quality care and services to the Jackson community and broader region. The project will widely benefit the entire Clarke County community and all Alabamians in the surrounding region by improving access to quality health care.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

13.) Project Name: Conecuh County Law Enforcement Enhancement Project

Recipient: Conecuh County Commission
Recipient Address: 104 Liberty Street, Evergreen, AL 36401
Request Amount: $201,564
Explanation of the Request: This project will provide four new, fully equipped law enforcement vehicles to the Conecuh County Sheriff’s Office, directly enhancing public safety and operational efficiency. The Sheriff’s Office plays a critical role in protecting the community, but its aging fleet of patrol vehicles has become increasingly unreliable, leading to costly repairs and delayed emergency response times. By replacing these outdated vehicles, the department will be better equipped to respond swiftly to emergencies, deter criminal activity, and protect both officers and citizens. This investment will reduce maintenance costs, improve service delivery, and strengthen the Sheriff's Office's ability to build trust and maintain safety throughout Conecuh County.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

14.) Project Name: Hooks Lake Port Connection Road

Recipient: Washington County Commission
Recipient Address: 45 Court Street Chatom, AL, 36518
Request Amount: $4,000,000
Explanation of the Request: This requested funding would be used to design and construct a heavy-duty road and bridge connecting the existing Hooks Lake Port to the AM/NS and Outokumpu steel mills. This project will connect two of the region’s largest economic drivers with the ability to utilize existing port infrastructure and the inland waterway system via the Tombigbee River. This connectivity will further enable the mills to have resilient supply chains and continue to reinvest and grow their operations. As some of the nation’s leading steel producers, supporting their expansions is key to the success of a variety of different sectors including automotive, aerospace, defense and many other end users of their finished steel.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here

15.) Project Name: Mobile Command Center and Crime Scene and Evidence Recovery Vehicle Project

Recipient: City of Mobile, AL
Recipient Address: 205 Government St, Mobile, AL 36602
Request Amount: $1,460,000
Explanation of the Request: Over the past two decades, the Mobile Police Department has relied solely on portable small trailers to be used as a command center, which have proven to be inadequate and impractical to be used on an emergency basis. With the increase in technology that has become vital to mission accomplishment, the trailer that was once used is incapable of supporting such technology thus hindering our mission accomplishment. The requested funding for a mobile command center would present a solution that will adequately support the technology and be able to be deployed efficiently and effectively. The Mobile Police Department’s current Crime Scene Vehicle is over 18 years old and has more than 220,000 miles on it. On numerous occasions over the past few years, responding Crime Scene Investigators responded to a scene and did not have adequate lighting, power, or equipment to fully and, most importantly, thoroughly process the crime scenes.
Signed Disclosure Letter: Linked Here