Founded in 1898, Miles College is a private, liberal arts HBCU located in Fairfield, Alabama, just outside Birmingham. For over 125 years, the college has served as a vital institution of higher learning—grounded in a tradition of academic excellence, civic engagement, and social justice. With deep roots in the Civil Rights Movement and a mission to cultivate intellectual and civic empowerment, Miles educates nearly 1,500 students annually across 29 degree programs spanning STEM, the liberal arts, education, and social sciences.

Miles College utilized New Markets Tax Credit allocation, provided by Hope Enterprise Corporation, to support ongoing academic operations—sustaining faculty, student services, and institutional infrastructure that are central to its impact on campus and in the greater Birmingham area.

This investment supports the mission and daily operations of one of the nation’s longest-standing HBCUs—reinforcing the vital role that institutions like Miles play in advancing educational equity, cultural identity, and economic opportunity in historically underserved communities.

Services Provided by Classic Lake:

• New Markets Tax Credit CDE Advisory

Community and Economic Impacts

• Serves nearly 1,500 students annually

• 640 jobs retained - generating $70 million in annual economic impact in the Birmingham metro area