The Birmingham City Council voted to fund a local business’ mental health initiative for men.A year ago, the council approved the RISE program to support local businesses’ retention and growth. “This new tool is for our existing businesses and is a resource that is funded through the liquidation of surplus property that helps us retain our companies here,” Cornell Wesley with the Office of Innovation and Economic Opportunity said. On Tuesday, the city awarded one of the first grants to the downtown men’s boutique, Bridge and Root. “To be so excited about your growth, and about where you are going next means everything as a small business owner,” Aisha Taylor Bridge and Root founder and CEO said. The money will help them add staff and equipment.“But, a new wrinkle in that is that equipment will be purchased for a mental health perspective,” Wesley said. The plan is to set up a space in the heart of the store, called “The Lounge,” for men to come together and discuss often overlooked and difficult topics.“Just things that they just have a really hard time getting out and expressing,” Taylor said. Conversations will be streamed and made available to the public as a podcast. They already have a licensed psychiatrist on board to facilitate. Bridge and Root was recently named the state’s emerging retailer of the year. “As a municipality, investing in her future makes perfect sense in that the state already recognizes her success,” Wesley said. Taylor hopes to continue helping men up their style and spark change in the community. “Our murder rate is not where it needs to be,” Taylor said. “So, if men can talk about something and learn how to address something, versus always wanting to there be some kind of combat, you know, I just feel like that will just help us in so many different ways.”