This federal Project Grant award of $450,000.00, issued on April 18, 2024 by the Delta Regional Authority, aims to address deep-seated employment issues in rural Alabama through a collaboration between Tuskegee University and TrendCo USA, in partnership with the Macon County Economic Development Authority. The funding will support scalable remedies and systemic solutions to improve economic development and increase employment opportunities in the targeted rural region. As the awardee, Tuskegee University, a private, non-profit, and historically Black university, will leverage its expertise in areas such as agricultural sciences, veterinary medicine, engineering, and biomedical research to contribute to this initiative under the Delta Area Economic Development program (CFDA 90.201). The two-year project period runs from April 18, 2024 to April 18, 2026.