Innovate Alabama Network

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About

The Innovate Alabama Network serves as a comprehensive resource that connects communities, nonprofits and higher education institutions across the state who are fostering innovation in their own backyard. Through this designation program, Innovate Alabama recognizes those who are shaping the state’s ecosystem.

The program aims to catalyze innovation throughout the state by:

• Increasing innovation-related activities in local communities
• Creating a broader network of innovation-related programming and assets in urban and rural areas
• Providing access to innovation-related seed funding for localities and communities
• Encouraging partnership and coordination among partners

Innovate Alabama Network designees are eligible to apply for the Innovate Alabama grant. When applying for the Innovate Alabama Network, applicants can also submit their grant application. Applicants which are accepted into the Innovate Alabama Network will be reviewed for the grants.

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Economic Impact

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Eligibility

To apply for the Innovate Alabama Network, applicants must be a community, nonprofit or educational institution.

To qualify as a community, the applicant must be a:

• A municipality in Alabama; 
• A county in Alabama; or 
• A federally recognized Native American tribe in Alabama

To qualify as a nonprofit, the applicant must be a: 

• A nonprofit validly existing and registered to do business in Alabama, with a determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service evidencing its 501^©(3) status.

To qualify as an educational institute, the applicant must be a public or private university or college, accredited by any of the following accrediting institutions: 

• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• National Accrediting Commission of Career Arts and Sciences (NACCAS)
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE)
• Council on Occupational Education (COE)
• Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC)
• Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
• Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
• American Osteopathic Association (AOA)

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Apply for the Innovate Alabama Network

If you qualify as a non-profit organization, educational institution or community, you are eligible to apply. The application consists of three to four parts, depending on the applicant. 

1. Narrative application 
2. Innovation asset inventory
3. Executive summary
4. Capacity assessment, only required for non-profit applicants

Download the Innovate Alabama Network Program Guidelines for detailed information and download the individual application documents below. 

To apply, please email your completed application as a PDF to partners@innovatealabama.org.

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Apply for the Grant

To apply for the grant, you must be:

• Applying for the Innovate Alabama Network designation; or
• Already a member of the Innovate Alabama Network

To apply, please email your completed grant application as a PDF to partners@innovatealabama.org.

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Catch up with our most recent Webinar from the Innovate Alabama.