By james art 
Birminghamal.gov
The city of Birmingham and builders + supporters have announced a strategic partnership for the progress of innovation and entrepreneurship at Magic City. Cooperation will immediately open applications for the Spring 2025 idea accelerator program, offering the residents of Birmingham the opportunity to turn their innovative ideas into viable enterprises. 
The partnership is aligned with the vision of Birmingham for the development of an inclusive and sustainable economy, combining the city’s focus on promoting entrepreneurship with the proven Builders + Backers model of Backers. This initiative is based on Birmingham’s commitment to creating quality jobs and providing fair access to economic opportunities for all residents.
“This partnership with Builders + Backers is a significant step forward in our mission to create an inclusive economy that works for all Birmingham residents,” says Cornell Wesley, director of innovation and economic opportunities for Birmingham. “By providing our entrepreneurs with funding, mentoring and proven path to launching their ideas, we invest in the future of Birmingham and create opportunities to build wealth in generations in our communities.”
The selected participants in the spring of the accelerator of the Spring 2025 will receive up to $ 5,000 in Nurum funding and dedicated assistance from the Builders + Backers’ Venture Studio team to test and develop their ideas. The program is especially welcomed innovations that can strengthen the ecosystem of Birmingham’s small business and create new opportunities in our neighborhoods.
“We are excited to partner with the city of Birmingham and to support their vision for inclusive economic growth,” says Dona Harris, CEO of Builders + Backers. “Birmingham has a rich entrepreneurial spirit and huge potential for innovation. Our program to accelerate the idea will help the surface and support promising ideas from the whole community, contributing to the growing ecosystem of entrepreneurship and innovation in the city. “
The Accelerator Idea program combines a quick bootcamp bootcamp with practical performance of the experiment, which allows participants to quickly test and validate their business concepts with the help of a special Venture Studio team. The applications are already open by March 11, with the program starting on April 10, 2025. Interested residents can learn more and apply to bit.ly/Spring25-Caply.
This initiative complements other programs for the economic development of the city of Birmingham, including services to support small business, initiatives to develop labor and efforts to increase access to capital for undervalued entrepreneurs.
For the city of Birmingham innovation and economic opportunities The Department of Innovation and Economic opportunities works to create an inclusive and sustainable economy for Birmingham by promoting entrepreneurship, strengthening small business and providing fair access to economic opportunities for all residents. Visit: Ieo.birminghamal.gov
For builders + supporters Builders + supporters help entrepreneurial dreamers become builders who create and raise promising new companies. Through innovative programs and investments, the organization enables everyone to lived up their ideas and to make a real impact on their communities. Visit: