Birmingham City Councilor Clinton Woods during a meeting Jan. 6, 2026. (Source: City of Birmingham stream)
The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved spending $97,500 in federal grant money to extend a nutrition program at Huffman High School.
The program, called the Eat Your Way to Better Performance Nutrition and Performance Project, is a collaboration between the Birmingham City Schools and the nonprofit Bama Wellness Advocacy, which operates Bama Health Foods.
According to city staff, the project focuses on educating student-athletes — as well as their parents, coaches and school administrators — on the importance of proper nutrition for performance, recovery and overall well-being.
The initiative also provides student athletes with nutritious snacks and healthy meal options through existing breakfast and lunch programs.
The money to extend the program came from District 1 Councilor Clinton Wood’s funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
“They’ve already been in the schools with this program and we’ve seen it have a tremendous impact. Today’s vote was extending the program,” Woods was quoted as saying in a release. “One of the lessons we’re looking to impart is just how important it is, especially from a performance standpoint, to eat healthy. Long-term it can save you from a dollars and cents standpoint but also helps you live a long, active life.”
Dodgeball Coming to Town
The council on Tuesday also approved a $50,000 agreement under which the Magic City will host the World Dodgeball Association’s 2028 World Cup.
Councilor Hunter Williams said the event will have an estimated economic impact of between $2 million and $3 million.
“This is something we worked on in conjunction with the Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau to be able to secure this bid … . This is one of those things that we’re constantly competing for and trying to get different events to come here. This means 600 athletes, their families, support staff and more will be staying in our hotels, eating at restaurants and spending money here. It’s another big economic win for the city,” Williams was quoted as saying in a release.
Mayor Randall Woodfin has made attracting such events a major policy priority for his new administration, with city chief financial officer Chaz Mitchell recently being named commissioner of sports and entertainment.
Firearm Storage
In other business, the council approved an agreement to give LRY Media Group $100,000 to start an initiative to provide the community with education and resources for safe storage of firearms.
According to the council’s agenda, the initiative will connect community members with education and resources for the safe storage of guns as well as with licensed providers of secure storage options, along with providing demonstrations by firearm specialists.
According to its website, LRY Media Group is an event management agency whose portfolio has included Sloss Tech, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s 32nd Anniversary Celebration and Mayor Randall Woodfin’s inauguration.
