Mid-South RC&D Council's Annual Grant Cycle Brings Aid to Alabama Schools
The Mid-South RC&D Council acts as a funding resource for schools throughout its service area of Autauga, Bullock, Butler, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery counties. Educators are eligible to apply for funding that will be used to improve the quality of school facilities and programs. On April 1, 2025, the Mid-South RC&D Council’s annual grant cycle opened for applications for fiscal year 2026.
“Mid-South’s grant cycle is intended to be a way for local organizations to acquire supplemental funds to meet needs unaddressed by traditional funding sources. Oftentimes with schools we see a broad range of projects designed to impact students and teachers.”
Grant money allocated by Mid-South is available thanks to support from the Alabama State Legislature. Over time that support has grown. For FY 2024 and FY 2025, Mid-South was able to disperse a combination of approximately $619,899 to organizations throughout its service area for educational purposes. This means that 75% of Mid-South’s Education fund budget was dedicated to strengthening schools during both fiscal years. Education Fund projects typically meet community needs by providing educational supplies, technology resources, training courses, and hands-on equipment to boost learning experiences for youth and adults.
Schools have used these funds to implement various programs from FFA to S.T.E.M., establish new playgrounds and outdoor spaces, and provide necessary technological equipment. In Lee County, Beaulah High School acquired instructional equipment for the FFA’s Forestry Program, including a sawmill, log splitter, and utility trailer. These pieces of equipment allow students to learn and develop woodworking skills through hands-on instruction. Students even use the equipment to provide woodworking services for the Beulah Community.
“Our program strives to prepare workers for employment in one of the south’s largest industries, forestry. Employment opportunities vary greatly and include jobs in logging, forest management, timber procurement, sawmills, plywood mills, pulp and paper mills, and a wide variety of companies that provide goods and services to the forest industry.”
W.O. Parmer Elementary School, located in Butler County, used a Mid-South RC&D grant to update the school’s playground and expand the physical education program’s instruction on fitness and health. Pre-K through 2nd grade students enjoy the playground during the school year, but it is also used for Extended Day and Summer Enrichment Programs.
“Our school is focusing on physical fitness and nutrition in our physical education classes. The instructional goal is for students to understand that physical activity is more than running and playing sports, giving them the option to explore new avenues of fitness and understand its lifelong impact.”
Lowndes County Board of Education introduced Wacom Tablets into classrooms. Wacom Tablets are mobile digital writing devices that enable teachers and students to write on digital whiteboards from anywhere in the room. This improves the quality of instruction and safety that teachers can provide in the classroom.
“In addition, students use the tablets from anywhere in the class to project to the interactive whiteboards to explain math problems, demonstrate note-taking, and present interactive diagramming."
The Mid-South RC&D Council is a nonprofit based out of Montgomery, AL, dedicated to improving communities’ quality of life and economic well-being by enhancing human and natural resources. Any educator is eligible to apply for a FY 2026 grant. If there are any questions about the FY 2026 Grant Cycle, please call Mid-South by dialing (334) 356-1855. Mid-South RC&D Council works with IRS certified 501(C)3 nonprofits, units/subunits of governments, or schools in Autauga, Bullock, Butler, Elmore, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, and Montgomery counties.