Birmingham Council allocates $75,000 for Birmingham Corps workforce program

The Birmingham City Council approved $75,000 on Tuesday to fund a workforce development initiative for underserved residents.

The money will go to Birmingham Corps, a nonprofit organization established in 2022. The group trains local residents seeking employment and connects them with area businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits for community-focused jobs.

Council members passed the funding item without discussion. The agenda described the program as a service to guide participants from initial consultation to securing employment in a targeted career field.

The program aims to provide personalized career coaching, increase earning potential, and prepare individuals for career transitions to benefit poor and needy residents of the city.

Birmingham Corps is modeled after Baltimore Corps, which was founded in 13. The Maryland organization developed a national platform called City Corps, and Birmingham became the first city to receive funding from the group.

Birmingham Corps has partnered with several local organizations, including Cahaba Riverkeeper, Birmingham Promise, YouthServe, Breakthrough Birmingham, the Jimmie Hale Mission, and Urban Impact.

City leaders have made workforce development a policy priority in recent years. In 2026, Mayor Randall Woodfin announced a plan to use $45 million in education funds to establish a career training hub at the Arthur School site.