Rep. Adams Secures Major Grants to Support Students and Feed Families

CHARLOTTE - Today, Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12) celebrated two recently-awarded federal grants in her district.

Cabarrus Health Alliance (CHA), the public health authority of Cabarrus County, received a $1,000,000 STOP School Violence Program grant from the U.S. Department of Justice. The grant enables CHA to reduce rates of suspension for students targeted for violence-related incidences including bullying and harassment in Kannapolis City Schools. Through a multistep process that includes teacher- and student-training, CHA's work will reduce violence, advance equity, and remove barriers for Black and disabled students who are disproportionately impacted by crime, violence, and victimization. CHA will partner with Kannapolis City Schools, the Mendez Foundation, and the Beginnings of Independence to implement related programming.

The West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition (WBNC), a grassroots community development organization in West Charlotte, received a $150,000 Healthy Food Financing Initiative (HFFI) Planning Grant award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to support planning activities for the Three Sisters Market, a member-owned food cooperative that aims to build community health and wealth.

The funding stems from a collaboration between the USDA and the Reinvestment Fund partnered to invest nearly $6 million to improve access to healthy foods in underserved communities across the U.S.

The HFFI grant provides WBNC with resources for staffing, administration, and marketing to carry out its mission.

"I am proud to see two important projects in the 12^th congressional district be awarded federal funds to address hunger, health, and education," said Congresswoman Adams. "This announcement both recognizes the important work of groups like CHA and WBNC and creates a path towards real progress on these issues and within our community."

With the support of the Congresswoman, WBNC previously received $750,000 through the annual Congressional community project funding process in fiscal year 2022.

Organizations based in North Carolina's 12th Congressional District are encouraged to sign up for Adams Alerts to stay apprised of federal funding opportunities.

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Congresswoman Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. represents North Carolina's 12th Congressional District (Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, Cabarrus County) and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Education & the Workforce, where she serves as ranking member of the Workforce Protections Subcommittee.