Creative Cities Fund

Our Mission

The mission of the Creative Cities Fund is to create a culture of innovation in economic development and public education.

Thinking big means planning for smart, sustainable growth. The Creative Cities Fund exists to help our community make the leap to become a visionary city that attracts thought leaders, creators, entrepreneurs and businesses alike.

We know making the leap takes time and planning. It requires creative ideas today and sustainable models for tomorrow. That’s why we look for smart, tangible opportunities to spur economic development and improve education in our community. They’re our building blocks for success.

The Creative Cities Fund is about innovation – backed by a solid business plan.

WHo we are

The Creative Cities Fund (CCF) was established in 2015 to drive innovation in economic development and education. CCF exists to help our community make the leap to become a visionary city that attracts leaders, creators, entrepreneurs, and businesses alike.

Past Events:

2013: Peter Kageyama, Author discussed placemaking and the importance of downtowns.

2015: Victor Dover, town planner, and urban designer, presented the importance of regional visioning

Event inspired the creation of Launch2035

2016: Mike Lydon, planner discussed land use planning.

Event inspired Singing River Tral

2017: Andy Stoll, Kauffman Foundation, presented on entrepreneurship

Event developed regional ecosystem study.

2018: Dr. James Garbarino, Author, discussed the culture of public education

Event-funded mental health workshop and poverty simulations.

2019: National Board Teacher Campaign

Raised $200,000 for local National Board Certified Teachers

2020: Raise Your Hand Campaign

Raised $700,000 to date for local National Board Certified Teachers

2023: Megan O’Hara, Urban Design Associates, presented innovative solutions for workforce housing.

Raise Your Hand

Raise Your Hand is a bold initiative to add 500 new National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) to Huntsville City, Madison City, and Madison County school systems. National Board Certification is the most respected professional certification available in K-12 education. Research shows that NBCTs increase student achievement, improve classroom management, and produce a higher return on investment for their schools.

We’re a smart community. North Alabama has one of the highest concentrations of engineers and STEM professionals in the country. We should have the highest concentration of NBCTs in Alabama and among our peer cities nationwide.