Federal $50M Grant to Revitalize Birmingham's Historic Smithfield Community

A Transformational Federal Award

The Housing Authority of the Birmingham District and the City of Birmingham received a $50 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Announced on July 26, 2023, by HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge during a visit to Birmingham, the award represents the maximum possible amount under the Choice Neighborhoods program and is considered one of the most significant federal investments in the city in years.

Scope of the Revitalization Plan

The grant focuses on the Smithfield-College Hills area and will fund replacement of the aging Smithfield Court public housing development with new mixed-income housing. Plans call for new multifamily and single-family units, mixed-use developments, and community amenities across the broader Smithfield area, which includes the historic Smithfield, College Hills, East Thomas, Enon Ridge, and Graymont neighborhoods. Nearly 1,000 new housing units could be built as a result of the plan, including about 350 units on 11 acres of former surplus property near A.H. Parker High School.

How Choice Neighborhoods Works

The HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant Program helps communities revitalize severely distressed public or assisted housing and the neighborhoods around them. The program takes a three-part approach by improving housing, supporting residents, and investing in the broader community. Funded activities include replacing outdated public housing, providing wrap-around services such as workforce training, early childhood education, and health programs, and supporting commercial development and infrastructure improvements in the surrounding area.

Local Leadership and Partners

U.S. Representative Terri Sewell joined Secretary Fudge, Mayor Randall Woodfin, and community leaders at the announcement. Local partners in the revitalization plan include the Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, the City of Birmingham, community-based organizations, educational institutions, and private developers. These partners collectively committed more than $900 million in leveraged housing, education, and neighborhood investments that are expected to be catalyzed by the federal dollars.

Why Smithfield Matters

Smithfield is one of Birmingham's oldest and most historically significant African-American neighborhoods, home to generations of civil rights leaders, educators, and professionals. The community has experienced decades of disinvestment, aging infrastructure, and declining housing stock. Federal officials noted that the Choice Neighborhoods award is intended not only to modernize housing, but also to preserve the neighborhood's cultural legacy while creating new opportunities for residents.

What Residents Can Expect

Current Smithfield Court residents will be offered replacement housing opportunities in the new developments as construction phases roll out. Supportive services will help existing residents access job training, education, and health resources. Implementation is expected to span multiple years, with transparent engagement from the housing authority and city throughout the process.