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Innovate Alabama awards nearly $15M to Innovate Alabama Network designees

BIRMINGHAM – When Innovate Alabama announced the third round of designees of the Innovate Alabama Network, there were 18 from North Alabama among 58 organizations statewide.
The newest designees represent all three Innovate Alabama pillars: Talent Development, Lifestyle & Recreation, and Access to Resources. The network is a resource dedicated to catalyzing innovation by fostering three components of a healthy innovation ecosystem: people, places and resources.
“The Innovate Alabama Network is a catalyst, creating and strengthening our statewide network for innovation programming and bolstering entrepreneurship in all types of communities across the state,” said Cynthia Crutchfield, CEO of Innovate Alabama. “We are encouraged by the continual growth of interest in the program, spurred by momentum built in the first two rounds of awards. Innovate Alabama is eager to harness this excitement to support designees through our most engaging and connective resources yet.”
The North Alabama designees are:
  • Alabama A&M,
  • Athens State,
  • Bear Creek Collaborative,
  • Biotechnology Association of Alabama),
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of North Alabama,
  • Downtown Tuscumbia,
  • E-Center,
  • Huntsville Metro Black Chamber of Commerce,
  • Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce Foundation,
  • Inspire and Achieve,
  • LAUNCH,
  • Landmarks of DeKalb County
  • National Speleological Society,
  • Northeast Alabama Community College,
  • Rocket City Innovators,
  • U.S. Space & Rocket Center Education Foundation,
  • University of Alabama in Huntsville,
  • University of North Alabama,
  • Wild Alabama
In the application round, 18 Access to Resources, 22 Talent Development and 18 Lifestyle & Recreation-focused organizations received an Innovate Alabama Network Designation. This round’s total funding request exceeded $33 million. Award totals included approximately $12.8 million in project-specific funding and $2.1 million in general awards for new designees.
Innovate Alabama is strengthening the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by supporting the key organizations, both rural and urban, that shape it. Network investments spark innovation, foster statewide collaboration and offer crucial seed funding to ignite innovation at both a community and regional level.
The program’s designees, past and present, are contributing to the success of their local communities and helping set Alabama up for the economy of the future.
“Innovate Alabama has certainly been a game-changer in fostering entrepreneurship and economic development across the state. My perspective as an Alabamian and community leader gives me a unique insight into its real impact,” said Mike Putman, executive director of Jasper Main Street, an Innovate Alabama Network member. “Jasper Main Street is the model community where Innovate Alabama has made a tangible and lasting difference by fostering our new Jasper Welcome Center, which will be the only welcome center between Birmingham and Mississippi along I-22.
“This will not only bring commerce and community to downtown Jasper but to our great state of Alabama.”
To learn more about the Innovate Alabama Network, please visit https://innovatealabama.org/programs/innovate-alabama-network/.

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