Federal Grant Money Sought To Purchase Old K-1 School Property

Fairhope, Alabama

K-1 on Church Street

PARTNERSHIP WITH BCEDA

Details are still sketchy, but the city council has authorized application for a $6.1 million 'Disaster Assistance Grant' to purchase and begin renovating the old K-1 building on Church Street.

If approved, the city will have a 20% match of $1.2 million.

During a work session last week, the Baldwin County School Board reviewed a "letter of intent" from council president Burrell to purchase the property, and gave its tentative approval.

The city is to be a co-applicant with the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance for the grant, from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (click) ... through the local HATCH program (click), "a downtown business hub for technical entrepreneurs and program that assists in constructing and operating storefront incubators to encourage growth of local technology based businesses."

Proposed uses for the building were not specified at this time but more details should come out in the next two weeks, according to Burrell.


TECHNOLOGY VILLAGE PLANNED?

The HATCH program is a city partnership with the University of Alabama begun in 2016:

"The University of Alabama has partnered with two Alabama cities to create entrepreneurial hubs and spark tech business growth. The Technology Villages program assists communities in constructing and operating storefront technology-focused incubators by fostering entrepreneurial culture, developing a resource ecosystem and linking University of Alabama resources with emerging tech companies across the state."

But first: What is a technology village?

The Technology Villages program assists communities in constructing and operating storefront technology-focused incubators by fostering entrepreneurial culture, developing a resource ecosystem and linking University of Alabama resources with emerging tech companies across the state.

The program will soon launch centers in Cullman and Fairhope, where business leaders and city government officials are supporting the program through annual funding and business space. Both community centers are fully funded for the first year, and training will occur over the next six months.

“I’m excited about the University’s strategic partnerships with Cullman and Fairhope,” said UA President Stuart R. Bell. “One of our primary goals as Alabama’s flagship is to increase activities that drive economic development for our state. As we reach out to emerging tech businesses in these areas, we look forward to helping small businesses thrive and bolster their local economies.”

The program is unique in its structure, operating less as a traditional incubator and more as a start-up resource hub where entrepreneurs receive real-time distance learning with hands-on consulting support.

Additionally, The University of Alabama will provide research, preliminary patent searching, contract manufacturing strategy and a host of other business-related development services in its multi-state network of collaborative programs. UA undergraduate and graduate students from the Office for Technology Transfer will participate in coordinating services, which are funded by participating communities.