U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville has secured $6.6 million in federal funding for projects at the University of North Alabama, including improvements to campus safety and investments in engineering education.
The funding is part of the fiscal year 2027 congressionally directed spending process.
The majority of the funding, totaling $5.6 million, would fund safety improvements along Pine Street, one of the university’s busiest corridors. University officials said the project would improve pedestrian safety while supporting future growth.
The remaining $1 million would go to UNA’s Department of Engineering and Industrial Professions. The funding would be used to expand educational resources and strengthen workforce development efforts for students in engineering, advanced manufacturing and other industrial fields.
“Sen. Tuberville has long been an advocate for UNA at the federal level,” UNA President Dr. Ken Kitts said. “We are grateful for the continued support through these additional dollars for Pine Street safety and Engineering and Industrial Professions programs.”
University officials said the investment would provide students with additional hands-on learning opportunities while helping meet the workforce demands of North Alabama’s growing industrial economy. The Shoals region and nearby Huntsville are home to numerous aerospace and technology industries with a continued need for skilled engineers and technical professionals.
Congressionally directed spending allows lawmakers to request federal funding for projects that address local needs. Each request is reviewed through the appropriations process before receiving final approval from Congress.
Tuberville submitted dozens of requests across Alabama for fiscal year 2027. They include funding for transportation projects, military installations, public safety initiatives and higher education institutions throughout the state, according to his office.
If approved, the funding would represent one of the largest recent federal investments in UNA’s infrastructure and engineering programs. University leaders say the Pine Street project would make the campus safer for students, faculty and visitors while the engineering funding would help prepare graduates for high-demand careers across Alabama.
UNA, founded in 1830, serves more than 10,000 students and offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.
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