Tuscaloosa To Receive 2025 Audrey Nelson Award

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The City of Tuscaloosa on Tuesday announced it has received the 2025 Audrey Nelson Award from the National Community Development Association (NCDA) for its role in developing affordable housing at Springer Estates.

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The Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award honors communities that exemplify outstanding achievement in service to neighborhoods and their lower-income residents through their innovative and exemplary use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funds.

Springer Estates is a development of single-family affordable housing, made possible through a collaboration between the City of Tuscaloosa and the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority to increase the number of quality affordable housing units for low- to moderate-income residents.

“On behalf of the City of Tuscaloosa, thank you to the NCDA for recognizing the commitment and effort that made the development of affordable housing at Springer Estates possible,” Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox said. “Through our partnership with the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority, we have been able to impact the lives of so many families in this community. We remain committed to expanding affordable homeownership opportunities and look forward to building on this important work together.”

The project was funded using grants, local funds, and land donated by the city. This will be used to develop the infrastructure to support 54 lots, complete multiple phases of construction, and provide HUD-certified housing counseling.

The city says the total project cost, including the construction of 25 homes, totals $7,377,072, with $4,737,631 from the City of Tuscaloosa through CDBG and HOME funds and $2,639,441 from the Tuscaloosa Housing Authority.

“We are extremely proud of this accomplishment and grateful for our partnership with the City of Tuscaloosa,” Executive Director of Tuscaloosa Housing Authority Chris Hall said. “We appreciate the NCDA for their recognition of Springer Estates as a national model with respect to the utilization of community development funds. We look forward to our continued partnership and to exploring new and innovative ways to provide Tuscaloosa families with opportunities to achieve the American Dream.”

Representatives from the City of Tuscaloosa’s Office of Community and Neighborhood Services will attend NCDA’s winter conference in February to accept the award on the City’s behalf and give a presentation on the project.

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