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Miles College Awarded Prestigious National Science Foundation Grant
By: Alabama Newscenter Staff
Student Rashika George in the biology lab at Miles College. The institution has been awarded a prestigious National Science Foundation grant. (Ta’Ron Williams)
A researcher at Alabama’s Miles College has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant, the first for the historically Black institution.
“This prestigious award, managed by the Environmental and Ecological Systems Division at NSF, marks a significant milestone in the institution’s commitment to advancing scientific research and education,” the school said in a news release announcing the grant.
The $300,000 research grant was awarded to Nikaela Flournoy, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biology who joined the staff at Miles College in 2021. Flourney is a native of Fairfield, the Birmingham suburb where Miles is located.
The three-year grant will fund a deep-dive study into bacteria found in the West Fowl River watershed of Mobile County. The “indicator bacteria” they will be measuring, Flournoy explained, typically do not cause diseases. But when their numbers exceed standard limits, it may indicate the presence of microbial contaminants that can affect the water quality in Portersville Bay, located between Bayou la Batre and Dauphin Island – a critical area for the region’s shellfish industry.
Under Flournoy’s guidance, Miles students will spend the coming year gathering, monitoring, testing and analyzing water samples taken from several sites within the watershed. She said the project will provide students with valuable experience in the field, opportunities to conduct experiments in the lab and experience analyzing the research data.
Nikaela Flournoy, Ph.D., in the lab at Miles College. (Ta’Ron Williams)Flournoy noted that students from diverse majors – including biology, environmental science and computer science – will take part in the research. The students will also be involved in pulling together the information and writing the results for submission to peer-reviewed scientific journals, and for presentations to scientific meetings and conferences. She said the hope is that the study’s results can also be used by watershed management experts to help identify sources of certain types of pollution affecting the bay, to help reduce their impacts.
“I look at this grant as the first of many opportunities,” said Flournoy, who has been working with Miles students on other water-quality research projects in the state’s Black Belt region.
“It’s an opportunity for Miles to shape what research looks like at the college, and for students to get high-quality research opportunities, build their research competency and their research confidence,” Flournoy said.
She noted the grant, and other science-related projects taking place on campus, are also helping to open Miles students’ eyes to post-graduate research options and career paths.
“Seeing them realize, through their undergraduate research training, the careers they want for themselves … it’s an exciting time to be a student at Miles College.”
Flourney is “dedicated to conducting innovative research that will impact both academia and the broader community,” the news release from Miles said. The NSF award “reflects the institution’s commitment to fostering research excellence, faculty mentorship and expanding opportunities for students in the sciences.”
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Two Programs Boost Opportunities for Diverse, Small Businesses in Birmingham, Central Alabama
By: Alabama News Center Staff
Two Birmingham-area organizations have announced new cohorts supporting small businesses and minority entrepreneurs.
REV Birmingham announced the first round of Black business owners who will receive funding and professional services through its Magic City Match program, with support from Birmingham-based Prosper.
And Central Alabama Redevelopment Alliance (CARA), based in Fairfield, recently announced the launch of its fourth cohort of the Central Alabama Micro Business Accelerator. The program is designed to provide aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners in central Alabama with essential skills, resources and support to accelerate their business growth.
“In our second year of Magic City Match, the response from applicants and the strong support we’ve garnered highlights the need for this program in the Birmingham small business ecosystem,” David Fleming, CEO and president of REV Birmingham, said in a news release. “We are excited and honored to be able to invest in these businesses to help more Black entrepreneurs realize their dreams.”
Building on the success of the pilot Magic City Match in 2022, the program has been refined to support businesses at various stages of growth, offering grants and/or professional service funds, along with business coaching, real estate assistance and additional support tailored to each stage of development.
“With everything learned during the pilot, I am confident that these next-round businesses will gain not just personalized resources but access to the community,” said Dee Manyama, initiatives director at Prosper.
“It cannot be overstated how much expert attention, along with peer support from fellow travelers, can aid in belonging, a healthier form of competition, and feeling genuinely supported and elevated through the entrepreneurial process,” Manyama added. “Magic City Match is an amazing gateway opportunity.”
In all, 20 entrepreneurs were selected through Magic City Match to receive technical assistance or grant awards valued at a combined total of $135,000. Selection committees chose the awardees based on strength of business plan and financial model, experience and potential to succeed in a brick-and-mortar space. Awardees must either be seeking to establish a brick-and-mortar location in Birmingham or already have an established presence in the city.
Additional opportunities are expected to be available in 2024, with Magic City Match’s “Open Stage” applications opening early in the year. The Alabama Power Foundation is among the supporters of Prosper and REV Birmingham.
CARA’s Micro Business Accelerator is a 12-week intensive program designed to equip participants with the knowledge and tools required to navigate the challenges of the competitive business landscape.
The program, which offers a comprehensive curriculum encompassing key areas such as business planning, financial management, marketing strategies and operations is designed to “empower local entrepreneurs and help them thrive in today’s ever-evolving market,” according to a CARA news release.
To date, 36 small businesses have taken part in the accelerator.
Jay Kemp, owner of the sneaker and fashion digital marketplace Stoqpile, said in the CARA news release: “The accounting workshops allow for deeper insight into foundational principles of running a business. These workshops are extremely valuable.”
CARA is focused on supporting economic growth and development in the central Alabama region. According to CARA’s news release, the Micro Business Accelerator provides participants with access to industry experts, experienced mentors and networking opportunities, all aimed at enhancing their business acumen and positioning them for long-term success.
“Since its establishment, CARA has made a real difference in the lives of so many across Alabama’s 7th District by empowering our small business owners with the resources and tools they need to thrive,” U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell said in the CARA news release.
“The micro-business accelerator program provides training, technical assistance and other tools to ensure our small businesses are competitive and viable. I know that this program will continue to impact the economic development of this entire region, and I am proud to support it.”
To learn more about Magic City Match, click here. To learn more about CARA and its programs, click here.
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