Category: Economy
Dining-ham: Birmingham Rebrands as Foodie Haven
Birmingham’s “on fire” restaurant scene is helping change outside perceptions. Once dismissively nicknamed “Bombingham” for the deadly violence during the Civil Rights Movement, today’s city officials brand Birmingham as “the dining destination of the South.” Food is a calling card. Read more.
Commissary Kitchen Planned for Woodlawn to Boost New Food Businesses, Community
Eugene’s Hot Chicken owner Zebbie Carney hopes to open a commissary kitchen in Woodlawn that would offer kitchen space for the metro area’s growing number of food trucks and add to the revitalization of Woodlawn. Read more.
Birmingham Spending $20M in Grant Money on Workforce Development in Northern Communities
Birmingham officials on Monday announced that the city was awarded a $20 million federal grant aimed at making workforce investments in the economically distressed communities of North Birmingham, Northside, Smithfield and Pratt. Read more.
The World Takes Notice of Birmingham’s Rickwood Field
Bessemer’s Kewanna Benson and her son Kamaurion were dressed for baseball. The 9-year-old rising 4th grader could have been at practice for his Hueytown youth baseball all-star team.
Instead, mother and son were at Birmingham’s Carver Theatre for a screening of the HBO Original documentary “Say Hey, Willie Mays!” It is one of several events happening around town related to Major League Baseball’s hosting three games at historic Rickwood Field.
But the real stars of the three-day extravaganza are Rickwood Field and the Negro League teams and players who applied their craft there. Supporters say the buzz over the event also is drawing attention to the western-area community around Rickwood and the game of baseball itself. Read more.
‘We’re in the Jobs Business,’ JCEIDA Leader Says in Announcing New North JeffCo Industrial Park
Jefferson County Economic & Industrial Development Authority has added about 1,100 acres to its inventory of developable land to create its latest industrial park in north Jefferson County.
JeffMet North Industrial Park, off Interstate 65 at Exit 275 near the Gardendale/Morris area, sets the stage for the creation of an estimated 4,700 new jobs and is expected to be a lure for auto suppliers. Read more.
Work Begins on First New Home in Fountain Heights Through Home Ownership Program
The Birmingham Land Bank Authority on Friday held a ceremonial groundbreaking on what will be the newest home built in the Fountain Heights Neighborhood, marking the official launch of the Land Bank’s Accelerated Home Ownership Program.
AHOP launched last year with a goal to help 25 individuals become owners of newly built homes in the historic community. It is a collaborative effort among the Birmingham Land Bank Authority, a local lender and home builders to create a pathway to homeownership.
“Everybody deserves a home,” said Caroline W. Douglas, executive director for the authority. Read more.
Commissioners Grant Tax Break to Keep Distribution Center in JeffCo
In an effort to keep a longtime business in the county, the Jefferson County Commission agreed to reimburse Red Mountain Distributing for 60% of the 1-cent sales tax the company pays to the county.
Red Mountain, which does business as Ashley Furniture, has outgrown its warehouse in Bessemer. That warehouse serves four stores in the northern half of Alabama. Read more.
Celebration Marks Beginning of Construction on New Downtown Amphitheater
The construction equipment left no doubt that the ground had already been broken behind the former Carraway Hospital.
But the lack of virgin soil took nothing away from the celebratory feel of the ceremonial groundbreaking Monday morning for the planned amphitheater that’s coming to Birmingham’s Druid Hills Neighborhood. Read more.
Good Night, BSC: Alumni and Friends Reunite to Bid Farewell to Their Alma Mater
Hundreds of alumni, family and friends of Birmingham-Southern College filed into Bill Battle Coliseum Thursday night.
Across the academic quad, more who couldn’t get a seat in the stands where Panther basketball teams played gathered in the auditorium of Munger Hall.
All returned to the college that they have known so long to bid an official farewell in a closing ceremony. Read more.
The Long View: Coca-Cola CEO Discusses New Project as JeffCo OKs $2M Investment
Mike Suco said Coca-Cola United looks well beyond the present when it looks into the future.
“We are a company that thinks not in a year or two or three years,” the president and CEO told the Jefferson County Commission on Thursday. “We think in 50-year increments.”
The Jefferson County Commission invested $2 million in that long-term vision for an estimated $330 million, multifaceted Coca-Cola Bottling Company United headquarters that is expected to create as many as 50 new jobs and retain more than 750 jobs. Read more.
