About Us
Creative Cities Fund
The mission of the Creative Cities Fund is to create a culture of innovation in economic development and public education.
Recent Grants
Funding is Provided to 501(C)3 Non-Profits or Government Entities for:
Long-term regional visioning, economic vitality initiatives, education engagement/citizen visioning efforts for local school systems, and career/workforce education.
National Board Certified Teachers – 2019
Funded 100 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in the public school systems. NBCTs are proven to increase student achievement and improve classroom management in schools nationwide. Administered in partnership with The Schools Foundation.
Summer Adventures in Learning – 2018-2020
Funded summer programs to address summer learning loss among disadvantaged youth in Greater Huntsville. SAIL is a program of The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville.
Poverty Simulations – 2018
Funded an interactive poverty simulation as a professional development experience for 600+ Huntsville City School teachers and for community & business leaders across North Alabama. The simulation was designed to foster understanding of diverse backgrounds and disadvantaged students attending our local schools.
Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Programs – 2018
Funded peer-to-peer mentoring programs facilitated by Life that Counts, a non-profit agency delivering services in local high schools.
Launch 2035 – 2017
Funded an economic development study designed to map the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, including regional strengths, synergies and opportunities for improvement.
Downtown Huntsville Inc. – 2017
Funded one of eight bicycle stands of the Downtown Blue Bikes bike share program established by Downtown Huntsville Inc. and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama.
Launch 2035 – 2016
Second year grant for regional planning for entrepreneurship, land use, and workforce development initiatives.
Launch 2035 – 2015
First year grant for regional planning for entrepreneurship, land use, and workforce development initiatives.
Committee Chair
Creative Cities Members
Leah Gradl
Chair
Linda Akenhead
Civic Volunteer
Susan Anderson
Civic Volunteer
Lynne Berry
Huntsville Hospital Foundation
Greg Brown
Brown Precision Inc.
Candy Burnett
Civic Volunteer
Shari Burnum
Investor’s Resource Group
Cindi Branham
Net Focus Marketing
Melanie Brooks
Coldwell Banker First
Jerry Cargile
Schoel Engineering
Elizabeth Fleming
Huntsville City Schools
Kyle Findlay
Keel Point
Drew Hart
UAH
Lee Hoekenschnieder
Progress Bank
Andrew Jennings
Transcend
Scott McLain
Coldwell Banker Commercial
Janice Migliore
PALCO
Caroline Myers
FLS Translation
Susan Ozment
Keller Williams Realty
Al Patterson
Navigator, Inc.
Lauren Pelto
TVA
Ryan Renaud
Trustmark
Jonathan Rosswog
DATAKATA
Judy Ryals
HMCCVB
Felica Sparks
Ad4! Group
Kelly Suber
Civic Volunteer
Melissa Thompson
Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville
Rick Tucker
Huntsville Airport Authority
Willie Williams
LtG(Ret)
