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The city of Bessemer’s Public Improvements Department is announcing some possible delays in Animal Control efforts for the next several weeks.

The delays are due to the Greater Birmingham Humane Society’s announcement earlier this week that it will go to Priority-One Pick-up and Impoundment Status for its facility, which services Bessemer and other communities in Jefferson County.

GBHS announced it will respond to high priority/emergency calls such as law enforcement calls and cases of animal cruelty but suspend non-emergency calls such as stray in-takes and non-emergency owner surrender while in this status. Non-essential shelter intake will also be limited.  The Priority One status will continue for a period of 30 days, according to GBHS officials.

Lawrence Hatter, Public Improvements Director for the city of Bessemer, said this status will limit some animal control services available to Bessemer residents for the foreseeable future. Hatter asked that residents be aware of the limit in service in Bessemer due to the impoundment interruptions.

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The city of Bessemer has two on-going programs designed to assist small businesses and residents recover from the impacts of COVID-19.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR RESIDENTS

The city of Bessemer and the Birmingham Urban League are partnering to provide emergency rental and utility assistance to Bessemer residents impacted by COVID-19.

The project is being sponsored with funds from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) special CARES Act allocation provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to the city.

Eligible households are able to receive up to $4500 for up to three months in emergency assistance under the program. Households must demonstrate that they have been impacted by COVID-19 through loss of employment or a reduction in income, among other eligibility requirements.

The program will be administered as long as funds are available. For more information, contact the Birmingham Urban League at 205-326-0162 or by visiting its website at https://birminghamul.org/. Application packets can also be picked up at Bessemer City Hall during normal business hours.

 

MICROENTERPRISE ASSISTANCE
The city of Bessemer’s Economic and Community Development Department is providing assistance to microenterprises/entrepreneurs in the city impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The assistance programs are funded by the Community Development Block Grant CARES Act, or CDBG-CV, allocation provided to the city by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The program is being conducted in collaboration with Create Birmingham.

The City of Bessemer Small Business/Micro-enterprise Recovery and Resiliency program will provide technical assistance to eligible microenterprises in Bessemer that have experienced the detrimental impacts of COVID-19 with an aim of preparing, preventing and responding to the pandemic. Qualified owners will take part in a business consulting/mentoring program aimed at helping to stabilize their businesses for sustainability in a COVID-19/post COVID-19 environment.

Microenterprises, defined as businesses with five or fewer employees, who complete the program will be eligible to receive financial grant assistance of up to $5,000. Grant assistance can be used to provide capital to meet commercial lease or utility payment requirements or to purchase supplies and equipment needed to operate in a COVID-19 environment. To be eligible, microenterprises must have had a current business license with the city on March 17, 2020 and must document how their business has been impacted by the pandemic. Businesses who have received PPP loans from the federal government are not eligible for financial assistance under the program, but may be eligible for technical assistance.

A Town Hall informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, August 19, 2021 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Bessemer City Hall for interested businesses.

 

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The LiveSmart Mobile Market is now making bi-weekly stops in Bessemer.

The Mobile Market visited Jess Lanier Manor on Tuesday, August 10 and provided an opportunity for local seniors to shop for fresh produce and groceries. The introduction of the Mobile Market into the community was made possible through a collaboration of the city of Bessemer, UAB Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Center, East Lake Market, the Bessemer Coalition and the Bessemer Housing Authority.

Live HealthSmart Alabama is the inaugural project of the UAB Grand Challenge, an effort to combine innovative approaches to address real-world problems affecting Alabama’s communities.

A schedule of visits for the Mobile Market is outlined below. You can also learn more by visiting the Mobile Market page at https://www.uab.edu/livehealthsmartal/about-nav/mobile-market.