U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures announced $2.5 million in federal funding is going toward helping rebuild and revitalize the historic Africatown neighborhood in Mobile. The Africatown Redevelopment Corporation has already built 8 new homes and renovated 8 existing ones in the past year and a half. These "forever homes" honor the original architectural styles created by the community founders. Karlos Finley, executive director of ARC, explains: "These are quality built, energy efficient homes. We've not cut corners. These are foundational homes that can be used for generational wealth building." Africatown is a community founded by survivors of the slave ship Clotilda, who built a community that preserved their language and culture after the Civil War. This marks the first direct federal allocation for Africatown's redevelopment efforts. Reporting by Lawrence Specker #renovations #foreverhomes #communitybuilding