HarbisonWalker bringing 50 new jobs to Fairfield

Pittsburgh’s HarbisonWalker International announced it will invest $25 million to open a manufacturing, service and distribution hub for steel customers in the Southeast, bringing 50 new jobs to the Fairfield area of Birmingham.

The company proposes to convert a closed property it owns at 2595 Ensley-Pleasant Grove Road to produce world-class magnesia-carbon brick refractories specifically engineered to maximize efficiency and performance in critical steel making applications like steel ladles and low-emission electric arc furnaces (EAFs). Construction will begin during the first quarter of 2022 and the 200,000-square-foot facility is expected to open before the end of 2022.

See how refractories work. Source: HarbisonWalker International

“After considering several location options, we are pleased to become a part of the Fairfield - Birmingham business community in Jefferson County again and bring jobs to the region,” said Carol Jackson, Chairman and CEO of HarbisonWalker International. “The location is ideal for delivering quality refractory products and high-value services to our customers' growing steel operations in the southern U.S.”

HarbisonWalker’s return is a sign of Birmingham and Fairfield’s continued strength in the steel industry, said Ron Kitchens, CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, which worked with the company, the City of Fairfield and Jefferson County to attract the company to the area and negotiate abatements.

"The fundamentals for manufacturing and distribution success remain solid in the Fairfield area of Birmingham, and that's evident by HarbisonWalker International returning to build a southern hub for its refractory business," said Kitchens. "Our distribution network and workforce are strong and will support future opportunities for this global company to grow."

Employee recruitment and training will begin in early 2022. The company will seek local candidates through job fairs and other recruiting efforts, including working with Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) to hire and train new employees.

"Fairfield is excited to welcome HarbisonWalker International to our city as a southern hub for its operations,” said Fairfield Mayor Eddie Penny. “We look forward to a continued relationship to help this global company grow.”

"We are excited to work with HarbisonWalker International to bring jobs to the Fairfield area of Jefferson County," said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons, who chairs the commission's Economic Development Committee. "Providing more and better opportunities for our citizens is our goal in working with companies and municipalities.”

Click here to learn more about the project and the company.

Smith & Co. to invest $2.6 million to open new facility that will create 54 jobs in Birmingham

Smith & Co., a precision CNC machining startup, will invest $2.56 million to open a facility in Birmingham to serve the defense, aerospace, and automotive industries. The company plans to hire 54 new employees over the next three years, with an average wage of more than $68,000. The new facility will be located on Fourth Avenue South, near Birmingham’s Lakeview District.

Founder & CEO Robert Smith said the company will create and manufacture a variety of commercial parts for most any industry, but especially defense, aerospace and automotive. The 7,500-square-foot facility will have 3-D metal printing capabilities, as well as carbon fiber and nylon. Smith previously co-owned a similar company in Tuscaloosa, which he and his family sold after 30 years in business. Smith moved to Birmingham four years ago and discovered Birmingham was the perfect place for a new venture.

“There is no comparison – the restaurants, events, proximity to other cities and the airport, cost of living,” said Smith, pointing to the diversity of Birmingham’s economy. “Being in Birmingham will make it easier to attract talent, especially high-level engineers.”

In October, the Birmingham Industrial Development Board agreed to abate noneducational ad valorem and sales and use taxes for 10 years for the project. The Birmingham Business Alliance worked with the company through the approval process.

“We are excited to see Smith & Co. invest in Birmingham to bring more and better jobs to the area,” said Ron Kitchens, CEO of The Alliance. “We’ll continue to work with the company to leverage their capabilities and talent in attracting and retaining more companies to the region.”

Smith & Co. worked with Andy Jocham with the Jefferson County Economic and Industrial Development Authority, Alex Patrick with The Alliance, Tim Segars and Bo Lineberry at Balch & Bingham on this project.

Smucker to build $1.1 billion manufacturing facility in Birmingham, Ala.

The J.M. Smucker Co. announced plans to invest $1.1 billion to build a new manufacturing facility and distribution center in the Birmingham region, located in the McCalla area of Jefferson County. Dedicated to the production of the company’s fast-growing Uncrustables sandwiches, the facility will create 750 jobs.

Construction is expected to begin no later than January 2022, with production expected to start in 2025. This is the third facility dedicated to the production of Uncrustables in the United States. With this facility and an expansion of an existing facility in Colorado, the company plans to double its current production capacity to grow the Uncrustables brand to approximately $1 billion in annual sales over the next five years.

“Our Smucker’s Uncrustables brand continues to be one of the fastest growing in our portfolio and in the food sector more broadly,” said Mark Smucker, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud of the success the brand has achieved, due in no small part to the tremendous efforts of our employees, and we’re excited to take advantage of the opportunities and growth our investments will enable.”

“We appreciate the support we have received from the State of Alabama and Jefferson County officials, and we look forward to being a part of the greater Birmingham community,” he added

This announcement is one of the largest economic development projects in recent history in Jefferson County, said Ron Kitchens, CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, which worked with Jefferson County and the State of Alabama to attract Smucker.

“It is a strategic move for Smucker to leverage Birmingham’s strong distribution and logistics network, central location in the Southeast and a shovel-ready site to seize an opportunity for one of its fastest-growing brands” he said. “We are very excited to welcome them to Birmingham and Jefferson County and thank them for bringing jobs to our community that will change lives for the better.”

Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons cited the foresight of the Jefferson County Commission to purchase additional acreage for the JeffMet Industrial Complex several years ago, making it an attractive – and ready – site for the new facility.

“Smucker’s is a household name and we are proud they have selected Jefferson County for their next manufacturing facility,” said Commissioner Steve Ammons, Chair of the Jefferson County Economic Development Committee. “It’s important for us to recognize the previous Commission and their forethought to add acreage to the JeffMet Industrial Complex. The McCalla area is hot right now due to useable land availability, interstate access and productive growth potential. We are excited for the continued momentum of job creation for the citizens of Jefferson County and the region as a whole.”

Smucker said the continued demand for the frozen handheld sandwiches has driven the brand’s growth over time to approximately $500 million in annual net sales, demonstrating double-digit net sales growth annually over the past decade.

“Because The J.M Smucker Co. is one of America’s leading consumer packaged goods companies in the food sector, its decision to make a significant investment in Jefferson County represents a powerful endorsement of Alabama’s inviting business environment,” Alabama Governor Kay Ivey said. “Not only will the company’s growth project create a large number of jobs in McCalla, but it will also permit us to build a long-standing relationship with a top consumer brand.”

The J.M. Smucker Co. is based in Orrville, Ohio, and manufactures other consumer brands like Folgers, Jif and Milk-Bone and new favorites like Café Bustelo, Smucker’s Uncrustables and Rachael Ray Nutrish.

Alliance partners with Prosper and nationally recognized Interise to launch customized small business program

Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin speaks at the announcement event for The Alliance’s Small Business Advisory Services.

The Birmingham Business Alliance (The Alliance) has launched its Small Business Advisory Services to help curate a marketplace between buyers and suppliers, get buyers and suppliers ready to do business and drive collective impact on jobs and dollars throughout Birmingham.

Generously funded by Prosper, The Alliance’s Small Business Advisory Services will work with a series of cohorts, over six-to-eight-month periods, with the goal of serving 250 companies and creating 1,300 direct jobs over the next five years. The program will provide customized solutions designed to prepare local companies to do business with the region’s largest employers, many of which are members of The Alliance. It will focus on second-stage growth companies – those that have survived startup, achieved early growth, and are poised for further growth and scalability.

“We believe that growing small, scalable businesses headquartered in the region’s core is one of the most sustainable ways to drive long-term job growth and wealth creation across our communities,” said Ron Kitchens, CEO of The Alliance. “Our Small Business Advisory Services will help bridge some difficult gaps for both small and large businesses and make connections that will drive job growth in the local economy.”

The Alliance is seeking 20 eligible local small businesses to participate in the first cohort, Supplier Scale, which will begin in January. Applications to join Supplier Scale are open until December 1, 2021, to privately owned companies headquartered in Jefferson County that employ 2 to 10 people, and/or generate between $100,000 and $999,999 in annual revenue. Applicants should demonstrate interest in growing within the Birmingham region and to potential customers outside the region.

The program will be led by The Alliance’s small business team, local partners and business experts, and it will utilize programs and curriculum from Interise, a nationally recognized small business development organization. Since 2004, 9,000 small businesses across more than 80 cities have participated in Interise programs, providing guest experts, CEO mentoring groups, training, program assessment, and communications and development support, among many other things. According to the nonprofit, Interise businesses have created jobs at 11 times the rate of the private sector, with minority-owned business revenue increasing by 37 percent on average.

The Small Business Advisory Services expands The Alliance’s goals to advance women- and minority-owned businesses, as well as compliments current work leading the VITAL (Valuing Inclusion to Accelerate and Lift) program for the City of Birmingham and facilitating the Inclusive Procurement Council, which meets monthly to discuss best practices and connect with local small businesses pitching their goods and services to a curated group of buyers.

Catalyzing the growth of businesses and industries that create jobs is a focus area for Prosper, which is a local effort to align existing initiatives around job creation, job preparation and job access.

“Birmingham is a community where people help people, and our community is a great place to live, work, and do business,” said Kelly Caruso, Shipt CEO and Prosper board member, who co-chairs the initiative with Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons. “I’m proud to support the Small Business Advisory Services program as they are doing important work to support the advancement of businesses and people in our city.”

Prosper President J.W. Carpenter said he is excited by the partnership to build a more prosperous and equitable future for Birmingham.

“Prosper is excited to partner with the Alliance and our Board of Directors to launch the Small Business Advisory Services as we work to collaborate to build a more prosperous and equitable future,” he said. “If we want to be successful as a region, we need to support and invest in a diverse group of local entrepreneurs as they work toward scalable outcomes which can catapult their businesses and Birmingham and Jefferson County."

Amazon Invests in Birmingham Again

Amazon’s new facility at 7600 Crestwood Blvd in Birmingham

Amazon has invested in growing its distribution and delivery systems again in Birmingham with the announcement of a new delivery hub at 7600 Crestwood Blvd. This new facility will directly contribute 150 new jobs to Birmingham’s economy.

Amazon is hiring now for all positions, so if you’re interested in working at the new Birmingham facility, take a look at the new job listing here and apply today!

“We are incredibly proud and grateful for the continuing investment that Amazon had made in the Birmingham region, the 150 new jobs coming online will ensure families have well-paying jobs with access to educational benefits that are truly life changing.” - Chief Executive Officer of the Birmingham Business Alliance Ron Kitchens.

Amazon has created more than 9,000 direct jobs statewide and invested more than $1 billion in Alabama in infrastructure and compensation to employees. The company plans to add more than 500 full-time jobs to its operation by the end of 2021 and have created more than 1,800 seasonal positions across the state in preparation for the holiday season. The fulfillment and transportation jobs support communities of all sizes, pay a minimum starting wage of $15 per hour-which is more than double the federal and state minimum wage—and provide comprehensive health benefits on the first day of employment, paid time off, up to 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave, and more for employees and their families.

Read more here about what Amazon has to say about its investments in Alabama.

Alliance looking to fill roles in economic development, research, membership and talent

The Birmingham Business Alliance is hiring! We are looking for passionate and dedicated professionals to join our team. We believe the greatest force for change is a job, so come help us make Birmingham a world-class destination for talent and companies.

Currently we are looking for:

• Partner, Market Intelligence

• Partner, Member Engagement

• Partner, Talent Initiatives

• Project Manager, Existing Industry and Expansion

If you are interested in working for a fun group of purpose-driven people - in and out of the office - apply through the links above or send your resume to jobs@birminghambusinessalliance.com and let us know which position you are interested in.

The Birmingham Business Alliance is on a mission to grow more and better jobs. We do this by equipping job creators with the essential resources they need for their businesses to overcome barriers and grow faster, better, stronger.

Alliance Values:

Lead: We set clear priorities for our economic growth to shape a more prosperous future for Birmingham.

Respect: We work with regard for the feelings, wishes, rights and traditions of others.

Innovate: We promote creativity and having fun while also owning our successes and failures.

Serve: We provide value to our investors, partners, communities, staff and stakeholders.

Unite: We bring others together because we know inclusion is the key to our community’s success.

Check us out at www.BirminghamBusinessAlliance.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Birmingham Business Alliance is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national, social or ethnic origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

Despite Lingering Pandemic, Alabama Businesses Still Confident

Fourth quarter business confidence dipped sharply among executives in Birmingham and Alabama, compared to the previous quarter, as COVID and Delta variant concerns linger. But outlook remained in positive territory at 54.2, down 13 points from the previous quarter, according to the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse School of Business Quarterly Alabama Business Confidence Index. Alabama’s confidence index dropped 9 points to 58. An index score above 50 indicates positive outlook as compared to last quarter and below 50 indicates negative outlook. Here are some takeaways from the fourth quarter report:

• Index scores gauging sales, profits, hiring and capital expenditures all dropped from a summer high, but remained on the positive side of the index.

• Other Alabama metros decreased in confidence from last quarter as well, but overall maintained a positive outlook.

• Confidence among Birmingham area executives in the national outlook fell 14 points to 50.7.

• The highest confidence category was in hiring, giving us reason to believe that job growth will continue in the fourth quarter.

Read the full report here and sign up to take the survey each month.

Alabama Ranks Top 10 in the Nation for Doing Business in 2021

Recent projects from companies like Amazon, FedEx, Lowe’s and Carvana have helped elevate Alabama’s business environment.

As companies recover from the shock of the pandemic and begin to grow again, many are looking to move or expand operations. According to a recent survey conducted by Area Development, Alabama is one of the best places for those businesses to land.

The survey, which asked leading location and economic development consultants to rank states in thirteen individual categories, places Alabama as the overall sixth best state in the country for business readiness. Alabama also placed in the top 10 in 10 out of the 13 categories.

Alabama's overall cost of doing business is 2nd in the nation, primarily due to strong business incentives and low energy costs from providers like Alabama Power, which services most of the state.

The state's excellent business incentives programs put it third in the country in that category. Alabama has rolled out the red carpet for economic development by providing incentives such as the Investment Credit and the Growing Alabama Credit, among others.

Finally, Alabama ranks No. 1 in its speed of permitting, giving us an advantage when it comes to getting things done fast for new companies in the state. 

Click here to read the full article.

Jobs are the key force behind change

This editorial piece was originally published as a Guest Notebook in the Birmingham Business Journal’s August 13-19, 2021, edition.

By Ron Kitchens, CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance

At the Birmingham Business Alliance (The Alliance), we believe the greatest force for change is a job. That is the belief we base all our work on, from business attraction and retention to public policy, research and marketing. A job can change a person’s world and can make a community better in all ways.

In surveying how the Alliance serves the region to create jobs for everyone, we found a gap in the services we were providing for small businesses. We were working with many small businesses one-on-one to connect them with resources in the community to help them grow. But missing were more connections with larger companies to provide meaningful procurement opportunities. When local businesses are buying from and selling to one another, real wealth in a community is generated and jobs are created at small businesses.

About a year ago, the Alliance began working with the City of Birmingham on VITAL - Valuing Inclusion to Accelerate and Lift – an initiative launched by Mayor Randall Woodfin to increase diverse spend among minority- and women-owned businesses. The Alliance convened the group of 10 companies and institutions that had pledged their commitment to increase diverse spend and began sharing best practices and talking through ways to find and engage diverse suppliers. This VITAL work is gaining momentum and providing meaningful connections in our community, for both small and large companies.

We soon began asking how we could scale this initiative and reach more people. That’s when we designed Alliance Connects [Buyers & Sellers], which we will host on August 17 at Red Mountain Theatre.

Presented by Prosper, Alliance Connects [Buyers & Sellers] is a half-day event to connect potential local buyers and sellers – with an emphasis on minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises – with a goal to increase contracts with local small businesses and encourage job growth. Derrick Moore of Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria, Stephanie Stuckey of Stuckey’s, Dr. Del Smith of Acclinate and Jennifer Ryan of Blueroot will share their inspiring business stories.

In addition to networking hosted by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, sellers can apply to meet with select buyers for curated, one-on-one meetings during the morning. Those who don’t immediately get matched with a potential buyer will automatically be referred to the Alabama Small Business Development Center and its Procurement Technical Assistance Center, which are coordinating the matchmaking, to get connected within their network.

Increasing contracts for local small businesses starts with connections and we want to make that as easy as possible for all businesses in Birmingham. Sharing inspiring stories and making meaningful connections for small businesses is a major component of our goal to increase jobs in the region. We think Alliance Connects [Buyers & Sellers] will do just that.

Our plan is for Alliance Connects [Buyers & Sellers] to become a series of smaller events dedicated to connecting potential buyers and sellers, giving more small businesses throughout the region an opportunity to grow and create jobs. This event, along with VITAL and the work the Alliance will be doing with Prosper around customized business advisory services, will serve as the foundation of our programming for small businesses in the region.

Going forward, the Alliance’s goal in serving small businesses and providing programming is to curate a marketplace that offers meaningful opportunities; get buyers and sellers ready to do business; and drive collective impact in our community. The companies we work with every day will feed into our small business program, gradually building a vast network of local buyers and sellers - generating that local wealth and creating life-changing jobs.

The greatest force for change is a job. The Alliance is excited at the possibility of working with all companies in our region to make that real for every person here.

Slim & Husky’s Derrick Moore to speak at matchmaking event connecting buyers and sellers

Derrick Moore, co-founder of Slim & Husky’s Pizza Beeria, will share how he and two college friends turned a business to invigorate underserved communities in Nashville into a thriving pizza brand with nine locations in three states at the Birmingham Business Alliance’s Alliance Connects [Buyers & Sellers] on August 17.

Presented by Prosper, Alliance Connects [Buyers & Sellers] is a half-day event to connect local buyers and sellers – with an emphasis on minority, women and disadvantaged business enterprises – with a goal to increase contracts with local small businesses and encourage job growth.

Also slated to speak is Stephanie Stuckey, CEO of Stuckey’s and granddaughter of the company’s founder, who will share her family’s story of reacquiring and expanding the iconic brand and roadside oasis famous for its pecan log rolls. Bobbie Knight of Miles College will lead a conversation with Dr. Del Smith of Acclinate, and Natalie Kelly of Brasfield & Gorrie will lead a conversation Jennifer Ryan of Blueroot.

In addition to opportunities to network throughout the summit, sellers who have registered to attend can apply to meet with select buyers for curated, one-on-one meetings during the morning.

The foundation for Alliance Connects [Buyers & Sellers] is the Alliance’s small business program, which includes VITAL, a program that works with some of Birmingham largest companies around diverse procurement best practices, and upcoming programming with Prosper.

“Increasing contracts for local small businesses really starts with connections and we want to make that as easy as possible for all businesses in Birmingham,” said Ron Kitchens, CEO of The Alliance. “Sharing inspiring stories and making meaningful connections for small businesses is a major component of our goal to increase jobs in the region. We think this outstanding lineup, led by Derrick Moore and Stephanie Stuckey, will do just that.”

Alliance Connects [Buyers & Sellers] is presented by Prosper and is sponsored and supported by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama Small Business Development Center, Hoar Construction, Brasfield & Gorrie, Protective Life Corp., Regions Bank, Burr & Forman LLP and the City of Birmingham Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity.

Alliance Connects [Buyers + Sellers] Event Details

When: 8 a.m. to Noon, Tuesday, August 17, 2021

Where: Red Mountain Theatre Arts Campus, 1600 Third Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35233

Cost: FREE for Alliance members; $25 for nonmembers after July 30

Registration: https://allianceconnectsaugust2021.eventbrite.com/

Who should attend: Buyers, sellers, procurement professionals and anyone wanting to hearing inspiring business stories

U.S. Dept. of Commerce invests $450,000 to enable bioscience job growth in the Birmingham region

An effort led by the Birmingham Business Alliance (Alliance), in partnership with Jefferson and Shelby Counties, to enable bioscience job growth in the seven-county region has been awarded a federal grant of $450,000.

The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) Disaster Recovery Program awarded funds for the execution of a bioscience market intelligence study, strategy and implementation plan that will be led by the Birmingham Business Alliance to:

• Identify key bioscience assets, as well as opportunities for growth and investment;

• Identify opportunities for existing bioscience businesses to grow capacity; and

• Identify opportunities for economic developers and communities to attract bioscience businesses.

“We are seizing a perfect opportunity to build on the national attention Birmingham received during the pandemic,” said Ron Kitchens, CEO of The Alliance. “Based on the role the University of Alabama at Birmingham played in building a COVID-19 treatment and on the work of local companies like BioGX around testing, we will create a comprehensive plan for our region to work with bioscience companies to address the immediate needs of a post-pandemic world and grow jobs as a result.”

The Alliance, the Jefferson County Commission, the Shelby County Commission and 58 INC. led the grant application on behalf of over 45 economic development officials across the Birmingham seven-county region. Nearly 20 key stakeholders in the community provided letters of support.

The goal of this project is for Birmingham to work together with one voice and emerge as a vital bioscience hub nationwide, said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons.

“The Birmingham Region of Jefferson County is fortunate to call many quality health care systems home,” said Ammons. “These systems have drawn, and continue to draw, assets to our region. This grant will help us map out those assets and tailor our recruiting efforts by identifying companies that would be an agreeable addition to our ecosystem.”

By the end of 2021, the Birmingham Business Alliance, alongside its partners, will convene stakeholders to publish a Request for Proposal and select a consultant to begin the work.

“This bioscience sector study and its implementation plan will help the region maximize and build on its strengths in biotech and health care," said Amy Sturdivant, managing director for Shelby County’s economic development corporation 58 INC. and current board member of BIO Alabama and Southeast Life Sciences..

This project is funded under the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security) Act and administered by the EDA to help communities prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus.

Birmingham company earns Great Place to Work designation

Avient associates rolled up their sleeves and removed 16 bags of trash and debris found along Turkey Creek on Earth Day.

Less than a year ago, PolyOne and Clariant Masterbatch joined together to create a new company called Avient, a leading provider of specialized and sustainable material solutions for industries ranging from automotive and health care to consumer goods and building and construction.

Headquartered in Avon Lake, Ohio, Avient includes 115 facilities in 35 countries. Here in Birmingham, the company manufactures Glasforms™ advanced composite materials across its five-building campus. The company was recently certified as a Great Place to Work™ by the Great Place to Work Institute. The company received this designation after the Institute conducted an official employee engagement survey post-merger, and, compared to other global companies, Avient scored high enough to earn the designation.

Avient warehouse associate Jarmel Suttle is slitting rolls of continuous filament mat to support production lines.

“We are honored to be a part of Avient and to receive this special designation,” said plant manager Tyler Haynes. “It is a testament to our outstanding team of associates – our greatest assets – and our company’s strong commitment to continuous improvement in all aspects of the business.”

The company’s roots in Birmingham stretch back to 1995, when the region was chosen for its geographic location and its workforce, Haynes said. Since then, the company has worked with the Birmingham Business Alliance on workforce development and strategic planning as its business continues to grow.

Avient, which employs 209 people locally, has kept busy this past year creating materials that end up in life-saving products like ventilators and face masks. With the merger nearly a year in and the Great Place to Work designation fueling the company even more, 2021 looks to see the company continue to gain momentum, Haynes said.

“Our legacy is long and accomplished, yet Avient’s new era as a world-class sustainable organization, in many regards, is only just beginning,” he said.

The Birmingham Business Alliance is hiring!

The Birmingham Business Alliance is looking for passionate and dedicated professionals to join our team. We believe the greatest force for change is a job, so come help us make Birmingham a world-class destination for talent and companies. Currently we are looking for:

• Chief Financial Officer, who will oversee and strategically plan the organization’s finances

• Digital Community Storyteller, who will be responsible for telling Birmingham’s story of cool, culture and community across multiple platforms, including video, social, blog and podcast

• Executive Assistant, who will assist and manage the executive office

• Team Concierge, who will manage the day-to-day operations of the Alliance office

If you are interested in working for a fun group of purpose-driven people - in and out of the office - send your resume to jobs@birminghambusinessalliance.com and let us know which position you are interested in.

About the Alliance: The Birmingham Business Alliance actively works to improve the lives of all people in the Birmingham region. We accomplish this by cultivating high-quality jobs and a resilient economy to create a better Birmingham.

Alliance Values:

Lead: We set clear priorities for our economic growth to shape a more prosperous future for Birmingham.

Respect: We work with regard for the feelings, wishes, rights and traditions of others.

Innovate: We promote creativity and having fun while also owning our successes and failures.

Serve: We provide value to our investors, partners, communities, staff and stakeholders.

Unite: We bring others together because we know inclusion is the key to our community’s success.

Check us out at www.BirminghamBusinessAlliance.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The Birmingham Business Alliance is committed to the principle of equal employment opportunity for all employees and to providing employees with a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. All employment decisions are based on business needs, job requirements and individual qualifications, without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national, social or ethnic origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.

Business confidence soars among leaders in Birmingham-Hoover metro

The Birmingham-Hoover metro’s responses in the Alabama Business Confidence Index for the second quarter of 2021 reflect all-around optimism.

Birmingham business leaders have strong expectations for the second quarter of 2021.

That’s according to data released today from the Alabama Business Confidence Index (ABCI), a survey conducted quarterly by the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Alabama’s Culverhouse College of Business. From the first quarter of 2021 to the second quarter of the year, executives’ business confidence jumped a staggering eight points, giving the Birmingham-Hoover metro its strongest showing in business confidence since the second quarter of 2017.

After a sharp drop in business confidence in the third quarter of 2020 – following the declaration of a national emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – Birmingham-Hoover business leaders’ confidence has risen slowly since. Across the state, expectations are high as well, as business confidence soared across the state’s metro areas, with business leaders conveying strong optimism in nearly all survey components.

“Recently, the Birmingham region has had several significant project announcements and new investment from companies like Flex-n-Gate, Amazon, Lowe’s, FedEx and others, indicating our area will be emerging from a turbulent 2020 with excellent momentum,” said Ron Kitchens, CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance. “Already in 2021, we have seen prospective company interest in Birmingham skyrocket, and the Alliance is working with multiple local companies as they plan for growth this year.”

Click here to read the full Birmingham report and click here to read the statewide report.