Category: Economy
Funnel Cakes, Turkey Legs and Fellowship: Another Magic City Classic Is in the Books
An announced crowd of 69,125 attended the 2024 Magic City Classic, which had a projected economic impact of about $23 million. Read more.
Magic City Mania
The Magic City Classic will take over the streets and venues across Birmingham this week in the ramp up to Saturday’s premier HBCU football showdown of the year between Alabama State University and Alabama A&M. Read more.
Density in Proposed Residential Developments Concerns Jefferson County Commission
A McCalla-area development request on Thursday’s commission agenda has stirred the conversation about high-density development proposals and their locations. Read more.
A Seat at the Table: Group Brings Together Unhoused and Housed Folks at Railroad Park Picnic
Urban Purpose’s A Seat at the Table event was designed to put people on a level playing field during a relaxed, laid-back late afternoon hang out, leaders said. Read more.
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.
