$250,000, 3-Year Project in the City of Prichard
Tim Hale, Jr. - President
Port of Africatown

The Africatown Region, encompassing Prichard and Plateau, faces economic and environmental challenges.  Industrial pollution has caused air and soil contamination, exposing residents to health risks like respiratory illnesses and chronic conditions. Meanwhile, limited green spaces and underfunded schools hinder opportunities for environmental education and community engagement.

This three-year initiative aims to transform these challenges by partnering with local schools to develop vibrant environmental education programs, offer hands-on activities like creating community gardens and planting trees to restore habitats. Advanced workshops on sustainability and environmental engagement will empower residents and students with tools to advocate for change and build a healthier, greener future.

$150,000, 2-Year Project in the City of Foley
Nick Williams - Sustainability Coordinator
City of Foley

Graham Creek Nature Preserve’s Butterfly Conservatory will be the newest edition to the ongoing educational opportunities offered by the Graham Creek Nature Preserve. Once completed, the conservatory will provide an additional exhibit for school field trips and guided tours alike to learn about Alabama’s native butterflies. Not only will the conservatory present the opportunity for students to experience each stage in the butterfly’s lifecycle, but it also provides a safe haven for Alabama’s official insect, the Monarch. Graham Creek Nature Preserve’s Butterfly Conservatory fulfills our core mission of conservation and preservation and provides new educational opportunities to our citizens.

$145,350, 2-Year Project in the City of Mobile
Laura Angle - Director of Grants Management
City of Mobile

The City will develop three products under the new initiative - Naturally Mobile: green infrastructure educational and public outreach materials, assessment guide for green infrastructure, practical implementation standards, and a model assessment of green infrastructure on Highway 90. These products will be used in public meetings, a social media campaign, private sector outreach, and will add green infrastructure review guidance to the City’s Low-Impact Development Guide and Volume I of the Stormwater Manual. Naturally Mobile will build community resilience by promoting and adopting projects that will mitigate flood risks, reduce the heat island effect, and improve water quality.

$149,916, 2-Year Project in the City of Mobile
JoAnn Moody - Marine Educator III
Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Discovery Hall Programs will partner with two, motivated high school science teachers and their students at underserved, Title I schools in Mobile County. Students will participate in a newly developed environmental ambassadors program to learn about local environmental issues and act as environmental engagement advocates for their communities. Activities will include presentations by DISL educators, content experts, and community leaders. Students will test water quality, tour a local wastewater treatment facility, and visit the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to explore coastal habitats and associated environmental threats. The program will culminate with groups of students developing community action plans and/or implementing programs on campus to address environmental issues. The students will present these plans to teachers, their families, and community leaders at a luncheon or dinner reception celebrating their accomplishments.

$49,136, 1-Year Project in the City of Bayou la Batre
Trista Stout-Walker - Executive Director
Rebuilding Together of South Alabama

Rebuilding Together of South Alabama will collaborate with the Bayou la Batre Community Center, Rising Phoenix, Boat People SOS, Gulf States Health Policy Council, and Mobile County Emergency Management Agency to gain an understanding of experiences, perceptions, and challenges around current and future flooding within the community. Through additional partnerships with YouthWorks and Mobile Bay National Estuary Program, up to 50 permanent rain barrels will be installed in Bayou la Batre to improve the community sustainability and mitigate flooding. The rain barrels will be installed by trained volunteers through a summer work program and benefit both residences and community locations.

$249,999, 3-Year Project in the City of Mobile
Zhilong Liu - Research Assistant Professor
University of South Alabama

We will integrate an advanced water quality model into an existing hydrodynamic model for studying water quality in the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta and Mobile Bay. The focus will be on key water quality issues such as hypoxia (low oxygen), algal blooms, and eutrophication caused by nutrient pollution. We will assess the impact of climate change and human activities on water quality in both critical habitats and water areas near local communities. The resulting outputs will provide valuable data to support habitat restoration, enhance community resilience, and improve water management practices aimed at conserving the environment.