Ford Motor Company Begins Accepting Proposals For ‘HBC-You Mobility Challenge’ Grant

The Ford Motor Company Fund has announced its third annual HBC-You Mobility Challenge, a competition for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) students.

Ford is inviting HBCU students alumni, faculty, and staff to submit innovative and new proposals on smart mobility for a chance to win up to $25,000 in grants to get their ideas off the ground.

All proposals must address the theme: Making Lives Better: Changing the Way We Move Through Smart Mobility. Last year’s winners include Morgan State University, which received $25,000 for its proposal to support the school’s food resource center by connecting students to resources and dietary advice through its Freshly (Food Resources & Expanded Shuttle for Healthy Living Year-round) Program.

Talladega College received $10,000 last year for its partnership with the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind to develop improved sidewalks with truncated domes to help people with disabilities know when they’ve reached the end of the sidewalk.

The challenge was created in 2019 to empower the HBCU community to collaborate and create sustainable solutions that address needs and improve the lives of individuals in their communities. Since the challenge’s inception, Ford has committed more than $60,000 in grants to HBCU schools

“Ford recognizes the legacy of success and the tremendous role that HBCUs serve in educating our future generation. Today, HBCUs are educating our future engineers, doctors, teachers and community leaders. Ford is committed to supporting and being a part of this effort. Ford Fund’s approach to supporting HBCUs is three-pronged and focuses on success, scholarship and sustainability,” Ford said on the challenge’s homepage.

The first-place winner will receive a one-time grant of up to $25,000 and the runner-up will receive up to $10,000 for their school toward the implementation of the proposal. The deadline to submit entries is March 31, 2021. Winners will be announced in May.

Those interested can submit a proposal here.