The upward alabama phase II project has created two pathways for upward mobility for communities who are informed by research in madison, jefferson, montgomery, and mobile counties through workforce…

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Alabama A & M University $400,000 on February 1, 2026, under the 1890 Institution Capacity Building Grants program (CFDA 10.216) to expand the Upward Alabama Phase II workforce development project statewide.

The project creates two pathways for upward mobility—the GO-GETTER Workforce Pathway and a Mobile Virtual Reality Lab—extending access beyond the original four target counties (Madison, Jefferson, Montgomery, and Mobile) to all 67 Alabama counties. The GO-GETTER pathway connects hard-to-reach populations with workforce training and builds supportive ecosystems for career preparation. The Mobile Virtual Reality Lab delivers education and certification preparation in food and agriculture careers, supporting career development while highlighting Alabama agricultural employment opportunities. The project advances the White House Initiative to promote excellence at HBCUs by improving workforce preparation in key industries.

Performance occurs in Normal and Huntsville, Alabama. The award period runs from February 1, 2026, through January 31, 2028. Alabama A & M University, a historically Black 1890 land-grant institution, serves as the recipient and executes the project through its Business Office Division.

The upward alabama phase II project has created two pathways for upward mobility for communities who are informed by research in madison, jefferson, montgomery, and mobile counties through workforce education and entrepreneurship. Building upon existing efforts, the next phase of the project will extend access beyond the original four target areas to all 67 counties. In this project the go-getter workforce pathway will connect with new partners who are interested in preparing hard-to-reach populations for workforce opportunities and providing training on building supportive ecosystems. Additionally, the project will create a mobile virtual reality lab that allows education and certification preparation that supports career development while also highlighting alabama jobs in food and agriculture. This project supports the white house initiative to promote excellence at hbcu executive order by improving workforce preparation in key industries.