Primordial Ventures Selects Birmingham For Medical Supplies Production Hub

Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair announced today that startup Primordial Ventures plans to launch a manufacturing operation in Birmingham to produce high-quality medical supplies and ensure a dependable domestic production pipeline for these goods.

Primordial Ventures, a veteran and minority-owned company, plans to create 30 jobs at the Alabama production facility, which is expected to begin operating early in 2024.

“Primordial Ventures will do more than just create new jobs at its Birmingham operation — this promising startup’s facility will also help to lessen our nation’s dependence on foreign sources for in-demand medical supplies,” Secretary McNair said. “The pandemic’s supply-chain disruptions exposed the need for domestic production of these critical items, and that’s a core mission for this company. 

“I’ve found it refreshing that folks here are willing to listen and open to discussions that help me make informed decisions.”

— Nicholas C. Alexander, president and managing director of Primordial Ventures

Primordial Ventures’ primary focus is to manufacture and distribute supplies such as catheter kits, urine bags, cadaver bags and medical-grade tubing using high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, and polystyrene resins.

The company’s customer base will include markets in the U.S., Mexico, Chile and Colombia. Products manufactured in Birmingham will be custom made — designed, produced, packaged and shipped — to meet precise customer specifications and requirements. 

“Birmingham’s appeal stems from its alignment to our mission and vision,” said Nicholas C. Alexander, president and managing director of Primordial Ventures. “We have found it to be accessible, amenable to establishing network affiliations, and most importantly, committed to supporting our business after we land in Birmingham.”

Alexander said the company is committed to hiring minorities, veterans, and the disabled while also developing a skilled workforce to manufacture and distribute U.S. products to domestic and international customers.

“I’ve found it refreshing that folks here are willing to listen and open to discussions that help me make informed decisions,” he added.

GROWTH PLANS

As part of the project, the company has committed to creating 30 jobs at the Alabama facility over a three-year period, with an average annual salary of $47,840, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce. The growth project’s capital investment approaches $3.3 million. 

Before selecting Birmingham, Primordial Ventures considered locations in Jacksonville and Ocala in Florida, as well as Doraville and Duluth in Georgia, according to Commerce.

Joining Commerce in supporting the project is the Birmingham Business Alliance, the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County and REV Birmingham, a revitalization and economic development nonprofit that helped the company select its future location in a building at 1318 First Avenue North in the city’s innovation district called “The Switch.”

BBA projects the economic impact of the project at $3.7 million over 20 years.

“Jefferson County has been known as a medical hub for quite some time, but we are always excited to welcome a new company like Primordial Ventures to the family,” Jefferson County Commission President Jimmie Stephens said. “We look forward to working with them and in the future watching them expand to provide even more jobs to the community.”

Cornell Wesley, director of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity at the City of Birmingham, said Mayor Randall Woodfin’s administration has identified advanced manufacturing as a top priority because the city's strong background in the steel industry facilitates a seamless transition towards the innovative sector.

“Not only is our workforce already well-equipped and prepared but our educational institutions also offer ample opportunities for further development in this field,” Wesley said. “The decision to attract Primordial Ventures is a logical one, as our city boasts a skilled workforce and a supportive ecosystem that provides all the necessary elements for success.”

This article originally appeared on Made In Alabama.

Digital health startup Acclinate plans to add 25 workers in Birmingham expansion

Acclinate, a digital health company that’s confronting the problems posed by the underrepresentation of people of color in clinical research, plans to launch a growth project in Birmingham that will add 25 new full-time workers, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Birmingham-based Acclinate couples community engagement with data analysis to assist biopharmaceutical companies and healthcare researchers in enhancing the diversity of their clinical trials and other health initiatives.

Acclinate’s community platform, NOWINCLUDED, provides health resources, education, and support to help people of color take control of their health and learn about research opportunities. From there, Acclinate clients use the AI/ML platform, e-DICT, to find reporting on their project efforts and unique insights around community members’ willingness to participate in research. 

"As we expand our presence in Birmingham, Acclinate remains committed to our mission of health equity through inclusive research,” CEO and Co-founder Dr. Del Smith said. “This expansion marks another step toward achieving that mission and elevating Birmingham's health tech ecosystem."

Acclinate serves academic medical centers, contract research organizations, and clinical trial investigators and sponsors. The company's predictive analytics platform, e-DICT, provides unique insights around NOWINCLUDED’s community engagement efforts and uses that and external data to fuel the Patient Probability Index – showing the likelihood of a given group's willingness to participate in the client’s clinical study.

Enrolling diverse patient populations in clinical trials represents a long-standing challenge for healthcare researchers. According to Food and Drug Administration data for clinical trials in 2020, 75% of the participants were White, 11% were Hispanic, 8% were Black, and 6% were Asian.

Because certain diseases predominantly affect unique populations, this underrepresentation can undermine the reliability of research results, which has prompted regulators to call for broader diversity in trials.

By addressing the factors that contribute to the underrepresentation of minorities in clinical trials, Acclinate is seeking to improve the accuracy of clinical trial results, reduce health disparities, and build trust between people of color and the medical community.

“Acclinate is taking aim at a well-documented problem in healthcare research, and this promising startup is expanding its presence in Birmingham to advance its important mission,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Not only will this expansion project create high-paying jobs, but it will also position the company for future growth.”

With the project, Acclinate plans to expand its operation in the Denham Building in Parkside and create 25 new jobs with an average annual salary of $83,000 over a three-year period, according to the Alabama Department of Commerce. Out of the company’s 30+ employees, nine are in Birmingham and four others are at a location in Huntsville.

EXPANDING PARTNERSHIPS

Meanwhile, Acclinate continues to expand industry partnerships to increase outreach, enhance clinical trial data quality, and accelerate the drug development process.  

Last December, the company teamed with Trialbee, a Swedish clinical trial technology firm, to increase patient enrollment and retention. In March 2023, it partnered with Savvy, a patient-owned co-op, to provide an enriched patient/community experience for minorities and to advance clinical trial research diversity. 

This August, Acclinate partnered with the Alabama federally qualified health center, ARMS, to promote health equity and educate the local community on the value of participating in research.

In addition, Acclinate is among nearly two dozen partners helping to secure  Birmingham’s designation as a federal TechHub, which could ultimately inject $75 million in the city’s economy. The U.S. Economic Development Administration selected the city as 31 locations to compete for five to 10 hubs eligible for significant funding.

PROJECT SUPPORT

The City of Birmingham and Jefferson County joined Commerce in supporting the project. AIDT, the state’s primary workforce development agency, is also providing services to the company.

The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), which was very active in recruiting Acclinate to the city in 2020 and played a key role facilitating this expansion, projects the total economic impact of the company’s growth plans will approach $4.2 million over 20 years.

Acclinate selected Birmingham for its expansion over Atlanta, according to BBA.

“This is the exact type of high-paying jobs we want to encourage growth in Jefferson County,” said County Commission President Jimmie Stephens. “We appreciate the leadership of the State and support from our partners at the BBA in this expansion of Acclinate, which is a feather in cap of our growing biotech industry.”

Cornell Wesley, Director of the Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity at the City of Birmingham, said the City’s support of Acclinate is demonstrated by the awarding of RISE incentives for the project. The Retention Incentives for Success and Expansion, or RISE, program was launched in 2022 to provide resources for area businesses.

“Acclinate, a trailblazer in the pursuit of equitable representation in medical studies, has been diligently working to ensure that minorities are adequately included,” Wesley said. “By fostering strong ties with this remarkable company, our city not only reinforces its commitment to industry priorities but also guarantees the continued existence and success of a minority health-focused initiative within our diverse community." 

This article originally appeared on Made In Alabama.

BBA's Chief Operating Officer Emily Jerkins Hall departs organization to transition into advisory role

The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), the economic development agency for the seven-county Greater Birmingham Region, today announced that after nearly seven years with the organization, Emily Jerkins Hall will leave her role as Chief Operating Officer at the end of this year. Her transition marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both Emily and BBA as she continues to support the organization in an advisory capacity.

"Emily has been a driving force behind BBA's accomplishments, and her dedication has left an indelible mark on the organization," remarked Steve Ammons, BBA’s President & CEO. "Her leadership has set the stage for the BBA to continue its mission of advancing the Greater Birmingham Region's economic prosperity. We are grateful for her unwavering commitment and look forward to her continued collaboration with our team.”

Since joining BBA in 2015, Emily led and supported teams that resulted in the creation of more than 15,500 jobs and $4.8 billion in capital investments in the Greater Birmingham Region. Her commitment to the community was instrumental in unlocking $13.2 million in grants as well as establishing key programs, such as BBA’s Business Advisory Services and the Magic City Data Collective. In 2021, she served as the organization's interim President and co-CEO, where she ensured the stability and growth of the organization during a crucial 14-month period. During that time, she played a vital role in expanding program revenue and retaining the support of investors.

“I have had the pleasure of working closely with Emily for almost two years and have witnessed her intellect, strategic thinking and deep understanding of economic development,” said current BBA Board Chairman Greg Curran. “Birmingham is better because of leaders like Emily. I look forward to watching her continue to grow and develop in her next role.”

Jerkins Hall's departure from her full-time position marks the beginning of a new chapter for both her and BBA, as she is set to launch a new consulting practice early next year.

“It has been a privilege to serve this dynamic organization and to serve the Greater Birmingham Region,” shared Emily Jerkins Hall. “Under the leadership of Steve Ammons, the BBA team is well-positioned to build on our successes. I am excited about my transition to an advisory role, where I can continue to support BBA's vital work and contribute to the region's economic growth.”

BBA remains firmly committed to its mission and its service to the region’s business community. The organization is embarking on a strategic planning process and will be actively pursuing key hires to ensure the continued success of its programs and initiatives.