A few changes were made between the Phase 1 and Phase 2 application. Specifically, our Coalition agreed to take a different approach to addressing transportation as a barrier to employment and training opportunities. In addition, our Coalition secured additional investments from private and public partners.
Transportation Project Updates
Phase 1 of the DRIVE proposal initially focused on providing access to credit so that potential participants (i.e., employees and trainees) could have increased access to private vehicle loans. During preparations of the Phase 2 proposal, a more holistic approach was taken that is intended to provide a more inclusive approach to transportation in the region that will enhance community resiliency and equitable access to new professional opportunities across the project area. Thus, the program changed from a revolving loan program to a suite of trans- portation options (increased responsiveness to community needs and technology transformation).
With this change in approach, the Coalition agreed to change the lead of the project from West Alabama Works to the Alabama Transportation Institute.
Additional Investments
Each component project has attracted investments and commitments from private and public entities (see component projects match documentation). For example, The University of Alabama Division of Finance and Operations provided $5 million in scholarship awards for rural students in Wider West Alabama and the Black Belt to connect them with higher education programs.
The University of Alabama Office of Research & Economic Development provided $7.5 million to support the programmatic component parts of the Tuscaloosa Innovation District Electrification Expansion Efforts to further research and development in electrification, facilitate training programs, as well as to support private-public partnership engagement.
The Alabama Power Company supports the DRIVE initiatives through the expansion of broad-band access in Wider West Alabama. Career and training opportunities are directly related to inter- net access. To this end, Alabama Power is aligning their own investment priorities with the target service area of DRIVE.
Transportation Project Updates
Phase 1 of the DRIVE proposal initially focused on providing access to credit so that potential participants (i.e., employees and trainees) could have increased access to private vehicle loans. During preparations of the Phase 2 proposal, a more holistic approach was taken that is intended to provide a more inclusive approach to transportation in the region that will enhance community resiliency and equitable access to new professional opportunities across the project area. Thus, the program changed from a revolving loan program to a suite of trans- portation options (increased responsiveness to community needs and technology transformation).
With this change in approach, the Coalition agreed to change the lead of the project from West Alabama Works to the Alabama Transportation Institute.
Additional Investments
Each component project has attracted investments and commitments from private and public entities (see component projects match documentation). For example, The University of Alabama Division of Finance and Operations provided $5 million in scholarship awards for rural students in Wider West Alabama and the Black Belt to connect them with higher education programs.
The University of Alabama Office of Research & Economic Development provided $7.5 million to support the programmatic component parts of the Tuscaloosa Innovation District Electrification Expansion Efforts to further research and development in electrification, facilitate training programs, as well as to support private-public partnership engagement.
The Alabama Power Company supports the DRIVE initiatives through the expansion of broad-band access in Wider West Alabama. Career and training opportunities are directly related to inter- net access. To this end, Alabama Power is aligning their own investment priorities with the target service area of DRIVE.