Alabama Quilting Cooperative Secures $1.15 Million for Landmark Site

The funding supports a comprehensive restoration of the site, which serves as a center for exhibitions, research, and community engagement. Planned upgrades focus on modernizing essential building systems and improving accessibility while maintaining the architectural integrity of the landmark. This effort builds upon previous revitalization work, including the renovation of the Rev. Lonnie Brown Jr. Learning Center and the development of long-term site infrastructure.

Beyond physical repairs, the grant addresses organizational sustainability by funding the recruitment of a new Development Director. Executive Director Kim V. Kelly noted that the investment validates the national importance of the cooperative’s history, which emerged from the Civil Rights Movement as a model of entrepreneurship for rural women. By 2029, the organization intends to leverage these new resources to expand its educational initiatives, artist residencies, and public programming, ensuring the site remains a permanent fixture of Alabama’s cultural landscape.