Birmingham Business Alliance Awards Match for Impact Grants to 16 Small Businesses, Strengthening a Regional Growth Pipeline
The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), in partnership with Innovate Alabama, has awarded Match for Impact Grants to 16 small businesses across the Greater Birmingham Region—advancing a deliberate, region-wide approach to small business growth, readiness, and scale.
Selected from more than 130 applicants and 30 interviewees, the 2026 Match for Impact Grant recipients represent high-potential companies ready to execute customized growth strategies and take their next step toward long-term sustainability. Through the program, each awardee receives a minimum of $40,000 in services and is paired with a qualified service provider to accelerate growth in areas such as marketing, finance, operations, and strategic planning.
“The Match for Impact Grant is about more than funding—it’s about strengthening the entire small business ecosystem,” said Victor Brown, Small Business Director for the BBA. “Small businesses don’t grow in isolation; they grow in strong ecosystems. By pairing capital with trusted service providers, we’re helping entrepreneurs move from idea to execution and positioning the region’s small businesses for long-term, sustainable growth.”
The grants were awarded during the BBA’s Match for Impact Grant Reception, where entrepreneurs, service providers, and community partners gathered to celebrate the region’s growing pipeline of scalable small businesses. Attendees also heard from Selena Rodgers-Dickerson, CEO and Founder of SARCOR, LLC and a member of the BBA Board of Directors, who shared how access to the right resources—at the right time—can turn early ideas into lasting business success.
“Thank you so much for the notification and for selecting us as an awardee of the Match for Impact Grant in partnership with Innovate Alabama. We are truly honored and grateful for this opportunity,” said Hartnel Lambert, CEO of Lambert Financial.
“This is an incredible opportunity, and we appreciate all that the BBA does to support Alabama’s small business community,” said Allison Patten, Co-Founder and Business Manager of Health Innovations of Ashville.
The reception also highlighted the strength of Birmingham’s broader entrepreneurial ecosystem.
“The Match for Impact Grant reception was genuinely inspiring,” said Tommie Coppage-Rutledge, CEO of Ergon Business Solutions. “The awardees were phenomenal, the energy made networking effortless, and I left excited about Birmingham’s momentum and the impact this ecosystem is building.”
“At the Birmingham Business Alliance, our work with small businesses is built around a simple idea: help them prepare thoughtfully and pursue growth intentionally,” said Steve Ammons, President and CEO of the BBA. “The Match for Impact Grant is a powerful example of that strategy in action. Through our Prepare and Pursue approach, we’re not just supporting individual businesses; we’re building a stronger, more competitive regional economy by helping entrepreneurs move from readiness to real, scalable growth.”
To view and download photos from the BBA's Match for Impact Grant Reception, please visit: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjCHc4V.
From Readiness to Acceleration: Applications Now Open for the BBA’s Small Business Intensive
For entrepreneurs preparing for opportunities like the Match for Impact Grant, the BBA offers a clear on-ramp through its Small Business Intensive (SBI)—a foundational program designed to help businesses build capacity, refine strategy, and scale with intention.
The free, 15-week SBI, now offered once per year, equips small business owners with the tools and guidance needed to prepare for growth and future investment. The program combines interactive class sessions, peer mentoring, and hands-on support from local experts in finance, marketing, bankability, AI, and more.
Participants complete the program with a three-year strategic growth plan, positioning them for next-step opportunities like Match for Impact and other capital- and service-based initiatives supported by the BBA and its partners.
Applications are now open for the Spring 2026 Small Business Intensive, beginning March 3, 2026. Apply by Feb. 13, 2026.