On Saturday, the Black Belt Community Foundation (BBCF) held a grant awards ceremony at Wallace Community College-Selma to entities across numerous counties including Bullock, Choctaw, Dallas, Greene, Hale, Lowndes, Macon, Marengo, Perry, Pickens, Sumter and Wilcox.

In November 2013, the BBCF Board of Directors adopted a strategic plan called “Connecting People … Transforming Tomorrows” that identified four areas of focus to strengthen the Black Belt region.

Those four areas are arts and culture, community economic development, education and health and wellness.

“To fully develop each concentrated area, committees of selected board members, community associates and other community leaders are collectively working to design programs and garner financial support so each area of focus is sustainable,” according to a release from BBCF. “The plan is a collaborative and on-going process that builds on the strengths and successes of the BBCF and the Black Belt region.”

Since 2005, over $5 million has been awarded to community organizations through the Community Grants Program and the Black Belt Arts Initiative.

Among those receiving awards are community training and skill development programs, tutoring programs, agriculture projects, animal rescue and control efforts, local volunteer fire departments, health liars and housing rehabilitation.

The BBCF received 64 applications from organizations in the seven Black Belt counties for the 2019 community grants process. A total of 54, or 84 percent, of applications will be funded.

In Dallas County, the ArtsRevive CDC received $1,500 to provide supplies and space to make quilts for the Bloom House.

The National Voting Rights Museum received $1,000 to purchase speeches of the 60s Educational Program DVDs and headphones to enhance the educational artifacts and information at the museum.

The Blackbelt Benefit Group received $873 to provide signage, safety apps, a bike trail and maps to promote bike safety and a healthier life.

The Michael Johnson 93-90 Foundation received $1,500 to purchase computer kits to be used to build computers for underprivileged and homeless kids who do not have a computer nor access to one.

The Women and Youth Services of Selma received $1,500 to provide presenters, marketing materials and supplies for seminars to help families impacted by Alzheimer’s and Dementia disease.

The History Tabernacle Baptist Church of Selma Legacy Foundation received $1,500 to purchase supplies and support printing costs for creation of brochures to educate the public about the Civil Rights movement and cultural history of Selma and the Black Belt.

Black Belt Human Resource and Development received $1,000 to support a camp coordinator and instructors in the areas of math, science, reading, tennis and supplies for the Summer Minds camp.

Grants also were given through Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) Selma.

The BBCF for THRT received 11 applications from organizations in Dallas County for the grants process. A total of six or 55 percent of the applications were approved for funding.

The recipients were the Blackbelt Benefit Group who received $1,500 to support the design, building and implementation of a free ride sharing website and app to facilitate access to transportation.

The Dallas County Resource Center received $5,000 to support four individual development accounts (IDA) and financial literacy classes for low income families.

The Fathers of St. Edmund received $2,800 to conduct a community wide assessment to determine the best methods to assist clients of Bosco.

The McRae Gaines Learning Center received $4,500 to promote positive self-awareness with the intent to reduce judging and bullying.

The Selma-Dallas County Historical Preservation Society received $5,000 to preserve Selma’s history by restoring the Historic YMCA.

Selma University received $5,000 to provide consultants, supplies and advertisement for a mentoring and leadership development program.