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Birmingham’s mayor on Wednesday presented a $45 million education investment plan that would include creating a career development center at the former Arthur School site.
The mayor said the money for the proposal would come from property tax revenue earmarked to fund public school building projects.
City leaders said they envision the Future Ready Career and Innovation Center as a regional hub where students could gain industry-recognized skills, hands-on experience and pathways to high-demand careers from HVAC and welding to nursing, cybersecurity and accounting.
In addition to the career center, the proposal includes $4.1 million to renovate basketball courts at Birmingham City Schools elementary and middle schools as well as $1 million to support the Junior Achievement Economic Education Center, providing immersive financial literacy and career readiness experiences for Birmingham students.
“By investing in career and technical education, modern school facilities, financial literacy and safe recreational spaces, we’re building a stronger return on investment for taxpayers: a better-educated workforce, greater economic competitiveness and more opportunities for our young people to succeed right here in Birmingham,” Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said. “This is how we make strategic investments today that deliver benefits for generations to come.”
The proposed investment in the Junior Achievement Economic Education Center would provide Birmingham sixth- and eighth-grade students with immersive experiences in entrepreneurship, personal finance, business management and civic leadership through nationally recognized JA BizTown and JA Finance Park simulations.
City leaders expect about 3,200 Birmingham City Schools students to participate annually.
Goodloe White, president of the investment banking firm Porter, White and Company, spoke to the council Wednesday to explain the potential funding for the project.
A portion of the property taxes collected for Birmingham is dedicated specifically for payment of debt on school building projects. Birmingham has not had a bond offering in a long time, White said, which has lowered the city’s annual debt services payments and has built a reserve of the money earmarked for school building projects.
Officials expect that reserve to reach more than $71 million for the 2026 fiscal year.
A statewide constitutional amendment in 2021 clarified that such earmarked tax revenues can go to any debt service as long as it’s for public school building projects, White said, “and that’s what gave rise to this opportunity.”
Woodfin presented the proposal Wednesday during the City Council’s committee of a whole meeting along with Birmingham City Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan. The plan now goes to the council for consideration.
