For the second year in a row, the University of Alabama has received record external funding for research and other sponsored activities.

A press release from the university stated, “[F]or the 2019 fiscal year, UA’s total sponsored awards reached nearly $132.5 million, an increase of more than 33% from the previous year.”

Total sponsored awards include all competitive external funding for research, service, instruction, fellowships and construction.

“Our research and economic development initiative is designed to make a difference in the lives of our students, our citizens, our state and our country,” said University of Alabama President Stuart R. Bell. “Whether it’s getting innovative solutions into the marketplace quickly to fill a societal need, mentoring our student scholars in research labs or aiding a small business in writing its business plan, we’re searching for, and finding, impactful ways of serving others.”

Dr. Russell J. Mumper, UA vice president for research and economic development shared his enthusiasm over the research conducted by those at the university.

“We’re leveraging our emerging and established research and service strengths to benefit society,” said Mumper. “This is essential to our mission and a core pillar of UA’s strategic plan.”

Mumper added external grants and contracts supporting UA research also reached record levels with a nearly 21% increase from the previous year.

“Our faculty and staff have enthusiastically embraced our plan of moving even closer to the top of premier comprehensive research institutions in the United States over the next five years,” Mumper continued. “With their talent and hard work, we’ll see an increasing number of ways in which the University impacts research and economic development in our state, nation and world.”

“I’d like to thank our Congressional delegation for their dedication in helping us secure some of these resources,” he stated. “Their hard work will be a sound investment for the region.”

Kyle Morris also contributes daily to Breitbart News. You can follow him on Twitter @RealKyleMorris.