Sewell announces $14.5 million to reconnect historic Birmingham Black Business District

U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, AL-0, announced on Monday that the City of Birmingham has been awarded $14,556,040 from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to reconnect the Historic 4th Avenue Black Business District. Funding comes from DOT’s Neighborhood Access and Equity (NAE) grant program and will be used to improve access to businesses and neighborhoods by converting Birmingham’s Black Main Street from a one-way to a two-way road.

“Birmingham’s 4th Avenue Business District has a rich history of African American ingenuity and entrepreneurship,” said Rep. Sewell.“With the help of the Biden-Harris Administration, we are working to ensure that the residents, workers, and businesses of this historic place have the infrastructure they need to thrive. This major federal investment will help reconnect our communities and pave the way for strong and equitable growth!”

Birmingham’s Historic 4th Avenue Business District was once a thriving hub of Black businesses and community before it was divided by the construction of Interstate 65 in the 1960s. Funding from this grant will be used to redesign 15 blocks of streets, converting them from one-way to two-way and reconnecting downtown neighborhoods and businesses.