City of Birmingham awarded $50 Million CHOICE Neighborhood Grant to revitalize Smithfield Community
On Wednesday, members of the Birmingham City Council joined U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge and Congresswoman Terri Sewell for the announcement that the Smithfield community has been awarded a $50 million CHOICE Neighborhood Grant.
The primary goal of the CHOICE Neighborhoods Initiative is to address the challenges faced by distressed neighborhoods and create positive, lasting change. This involves replacing or rehabilitating obsolete public housing, promoting affordable housing, and implementing community and economic development strategies.
The $50 million grant is part of a $282.9 million revitalization effort that is bringing multiple partners together to completely transform the Smithfield Community.
Councilor Darrell O’Quinn, who represents Smithfield, said this is the beginning of a generation of change for the historic neighborhood.
“Under any circumstances, I would celebrate this moment for Smithfield and Birmingham. However, I have also been granted the honor to serve as City Councilor for this neighborhood. As such, my joy runneth over. The District 5 motto is, ‘The Power of You.’ I firmly believe that every person no matter their station has the capacity to have a positive impact on their community. Today we see the Power of You writ large. To those among you who believed, who preserved in the face of doubt, and refused let our past define our future, please know that you have our profound gratitude.”
HUD encourages collaboration among various stakeholders, including residents, local government, nonprofits, and private businesses. Engaging the community in the planning process is an essential aspect of the CHOICE Neighborhoods Initiative.
In addition to the CHOICE Neighborhood Grant, Councilor O’Quinn has also pledged a significant portion of his office’s discretionary American Rescue Plan Act funding to supplement the improvements coming to Smithfield. Throughout the course of this process, Councilor O’Quinn has continued meeting with residents to receive feedback on improvements they’d like to see in the neighborhood.
The City will be contributing $35 million in matching funds over the eight-year term of the grant.
Some of the projects that will be made possible through this federal funding include, but are not limited to, a state-of-the-art Smithfield library, a workforce development center, a senior living development, an early learning center, affordable housing units (roughly 1,100 units total) and mixed use developments. The goal is to reconnect the Smithfield neighborhood with the downtown corridor and create economic opportunities for residents.
This is the third time the City has applied for this federal grant over the years. “None of this would be possible without the perseverance and vision of Mayor Woodfin’s administration and the Community Development team who has worked tirelessly with our residents and city officials over the years to make this possible,” O’Quinn said.
Council President Wardine Alexander believes this development will lead to catalytic growth for more communities west of I-65 that have been historically underserved.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to all the stakeholders, community members, and city leaders that have worked together to develop this comprehensive neighborhood transformation plan,” Council President Wardine Alexander said. “This plan is not just about improving housing; it’s about fostering holistic development, ensuring access to community resources, and building a strong foundation for economic growth and prosperity. This grant is a testament to our collective dedication to create a better future for all our residents.”
This is a developing story and more information will be made available in the coming days.
