Connected Pathways Birmingham: Our BOLD Grant Application
An update from the Hattie E. Evans Family Foundation
The Hattie E. Evans Family Foundation has submitted an application to the City of Birmingham's BOLD (Building Opportunities for Lasting Development) FY27 grant program for a new initiative called Connected Pathways Birmingham. If awarded, the one-year project would run from January 2027 through January 2028, serving residents of North Birmingham and Smithfield/Elyton.
A funding decision from the City is still pending. We're sharing this now because the work ahead needs the community behind it, regardless of how this particular funding decision turns out.
Why This Matters
Birmingham is in the middle of a major employment expansion. The City's own workforce strategy sets a goal of connecting just 30 percent of newly created jobs to residents through existing systems. That gap, between jobs being created and residents being connected to them, is exactly what Connected Pathways Birmingham is built to close.
What We're Proposing
Most workforce programs offer a single referral to a single service. Connected Pathways Birmingham is different: it follows a resident from first contact through readiness, training, employer connection, and the first year on the job, with every handoff between partners tracked in one shared system. The goal is simple to state and hard to build: no resident falls through the cracks between services.
The project would launch with an initial cohort of 20 to 25 residents and grow toward serving at least 100 Birmingham residents across the year, with a focused presence in North Birmingham and Smithfield/Elyton neighborhoods.
Our Partners
Four organizations have signed on to bring this project to life alongside the Foundation.
CLR Advising
Leads employer engagement, translating what Birmingham businesses need into readiness programming residents can use.
Kikstart Inc.
Maintains a verified Birmingham resource network and coordinates closed-loop referrals for residents facing barriers such as transportation, childcare, or documentation.
Continuum Nexus
Provides the coordination platform that tracks each resident's progress and every handoff between partners, so a referral is never just a name on a list.
The 2150 Center for Innovation
Contributes strategic guidance and connections across Birmingham's innovation and HBCU network.
How You Can Help
An application is only the beginning. We'd welcome hearing from:
- Birmingham employers interested in connecting with residents through this program
- Residents of North Birmingham or Smithfield/Elyton who want to learn more or get involved
- Community organizations doing related work in these neighborhoods
- Anyone who wants to follow our progress or offer support while we await a funding decision
Stay Connected
We'll post updates here as the City reviews applications and reaches a decision. If you'd like those updates sent directly to you, reach out at info@evansff.org.