Walker County, AL; November 2, 2023 —In partnership with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) announced that the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham (RPCGB) was selected for a $50,000 grant award through the ARC’s POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. The project will lead to the preparation of a comprehensive Economic Development Strategic Plan (EDSP) for Walker County, with the goal of improving community capacity within the county and its communities, enhancing multijurisdictional collaboration, and conducting regional project implementation. The project represents a partnership between government agencies, economic development authorities, and nonprofit organizations, and the planning process is set to begin at the beginning of 2024.
“The Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham is proud to announce this collaboration with the Appalachian Regional Commission”, said Charles Ball, Executive Director at RPCGB. “We are excited to partner with the Walker County Commission, the Walker County Economic and Industrial Development Authority, and the Walker Area Community Foundation to harness the county’s unique assets and advantages to produce a comprehensive action plan that is reflective of the county’s goals for implementable development projects.”
“On behalf of the Walker County Commission, we are honored and excited to be a part of this project in partnership with the RPCGB”, said Walker County Commission Chairman, Steve Miller. “We are grateful for the opportunity to work with our local partners and look forward to the ways this plan will equip us to continue moving Walker County’s economy forward.”
The plan will align communities’ priorities with federal funding initiatives from recent legislation and existing funding programs. Through partnerships with local and regional development organizations, the plan will be based on local community engagement and develop specialized plans for the Interstate 22 corridor and expansion of outdoor recreation industries in the county.
“Congratulations to the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham on receiving this funding for a plan that will help Walker County leverage its strengths and assets, especially along Interstate 22, for economic development,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “This POWER Initiative grant is another example of the beneficial partnership between the state and the Appalachian Regional Commission.”
The RPCGB will provide additional support for the Walker County EDSP through in-kind services conducted by the agency’s Economic Development department staff.
“I am thrilled about the award of funding to the Regional Commission of Greater Birmingham by the Appalachian Regional Commission. The collaboration and teamwork between the Appalachian Regional Commission and the state has been incredible, and I am excited this funding will be used to create the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Walker County”, stated President Pro Tempore Greg Reed of Senate District 5. “This funding and development plan will ensure that we can capitalize on the resources we have in Walker County to move our economy toward an even brighter future.”
“It is great news to hear that the Walker County Commission has been awarded a $50,000 ARC power grant for a countywide strategic economic development plan”, said Representative Tim Wadsworth, representing House District 44. “We thank the Birmingham Regional Planning Commission for providing the $50,000 match money. This grant will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the county and its residents, and the ARC POWER grant will provide much-needed financial support to the commission, allowing them to develop a plan to benefit all citizens of Walker County, including the rural cities and towns.”
Representative Matt Woods, representing House District 13, commented that "with this grant, Walker County will assess its strengths and opportunities, paving the way for future economic development. Thanks to ARC, ADECA, and the Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham for this tremendous opportunity to improve our county”.
The RPCGB’s EDSP program was designed to assist local communities with developing long-term strategies that capitalize on local economic strengths and identify market challenges. Walker County was selected as a focus area for this grant program specifically due to its economic distress levels and historic reliance on coal.
To learn more about today’s awardees and their work to boost industries that create a stronger economic future for Appalachia, visit www.arc.gov/POWER. For more information about this project or other RPCGB economic development programs, visit www.rpcgb.org/economicdevelopment or contact Jesslan Wilson, Director of Economic Development, at jwilson@rpcgb.org.
About the Appalachian Regional Commission
The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.