The Positive News Shaping Birmingham

7/22/26 By Robert Crook

The Positive News Shaping Birmingham

There’s More Happening in Birmingham Than You Think

“Why Birmingham?” It’s a question we hear often, usually from entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives looking to move or expand their businesses, as well as professionals considering a move for their next career opportunity. It’s an important question, and to us, it’s a combination of factors including economic opportunity, a collaborative business community, and a quality of life that continues to attract companies, talent, and investment.

Opportunity: A growing economy

Birmingham is Alabama’s largest metropolitan area, with a population of more than 1.1 million. It’s the economic center of the state and generates more than 30% of Alabama’s annual GDP. The city’s economy is strong in many sectors, including health care, education, finance, technology, and advanced manufacturing, and is home to more than 200 corporate headquarters.

The city also boasts a talent pipeline. The Alabama Industrial Development Training (AIDT) is ranked as the number-two workforce training program in the nation by Business Facilities. AIDT, part of the Alabama Department of Commerce, is a major reason industrial companies are attracted to the region.

A recent Wall Street Journal article, driven by data from ADP, ranked Birmingham #1 in the U.S. for college graduates landing jobs. Median wages for recent grads in the Birmingham-Hoover metro area saw a 16% jump from January 2025 to January 2026, to $59,004.

It is impossible to talk about Birmingham, its economy, its opportunities, without discussing UAB. It is one of the top five universities in the South and the number one ranked hospital in the state. It is also one of the largest recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, making UAB one of the leading research institutions in the country.

Without question, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the engine that drives not just Birmingham’s economy, but the entire state.

UAB is the largest employer in the state and generates $12.1 billion in economic impact annually. It supports 107,687 jobs throughout the state; one in every 20 jobs within the state of Alabama either is held directly by a UAB employee or is supported as a result of UAB’s presence.

State and local government revenue attributable to the presence of UAB totaled $371 million in FY22. For every $1 in state funding received by the institution, UAB generates $39.35 in economic impact.

In 2021, Forbes listed UAB first among the country’s best large employers.

In the last year, nearly $480M in projects on campus were either started or completed:

$14.6M renovation to Bartow Arena
$77M Frances and Miller Gorrie Hall (the new home of UAB School of Engineering, 110,000 SF)
$78M Altec/Styslinger Genomic Medicine and Data Sciences Building (175,000 SF)
$120M Cooper Green Mercy Health outpatient clinic (211,000 SF)
One of UAB’s most notable projects is the new $190M Biomedical Research & Psychology Building, a 228,735 SF building designed for advanced, interdisciplinary research. The project was supported by $152M in federal funding

But Birmingham is more than UAB. Take a look at the recent economic projects announced in the last year:

Innovate Alabama launched a $15M Capital Access Fund, benefiting forestry, construction technology, and legacy sectors, to ensure innovative companies can start, grow, and stay in Alabama. Birmingham companies Nyad, Accelerate Wind, and KrillPay have received funding from Innovate Alabama’s partner, Halogen Ventures, with Accelerate Wind receiving $500,000.

Fannie Mae is relocating operations from California to downtown Birmingham, bringing hundreds of high-quality jobs in finance, accounting, and mortgage servicing to the city.

Coca-Cola United recently completed their ±$330M state-of-the-art corporate campus spanning over 100 Acres and 450,000 SF of office and warehouse space, transforming a dilapidated neighborhood into a professional campus. This investment is expected to retain 750 jobs and create up to 50 new jobs.

Milo’s Tea Company is on track to hit $1B in annual sales in 2026. The Birmingham-based brand has earned national recognition, including a Forbes feature highlighting CEO Tricia Wallwork’s year-over-year compound annual growth rate of more than 20% during her 13 years as CEO.

The United States Coast Guard has acquired the former Birmingham-Southern College campus for $126.5M. The site will serve as a new training center, with operations beginning soon.

Public Safety: A Foundational Shift

For years, Birmingham has had a reputation as one of the more dangerous cities in the United States. Birmingham is seeing a measurable and meaningful reduction in crime.

2023: 152 homicides (historic high)
2025: 88 homicides: first time under 100 in a decade (~50% decline)
2026 (YTD): 19 homicides (as of mid-May), a 48% reduction year-over-year
The clearance rate has improved to 100% so far in 2026, meaning every reported homicide in the city has resulted in an arrest. This is a significant increase from ~30% just a few years ago.

Culture: Life is more than making a living; it’s about making a life.

According to livability.com, Birmingham ranks among the ten best places to live in the country. They give a number of reasons for their choice that combine to explain the city’s high quality of life. In their words: “This city… offers a lifestyle that balances big-city amenities–like James Beard Award-winning restaurants and world-class medical research – with a low cost of living and a neighborly pace of life.”

Birmingham has an incredible food culture. Shout out to Frank Stitt, owner of Chez FonFon, Bottega and Bottega Cafe and former winner of the James Beard Award for the Best Restaurant in America. He is truly the godfather of fine dining, not just in Birmingham, but in the South. But he is not alone and Birmingham has gained national recognition and no small numbers of James Beard nominations (and wins) and Michelin star recognitions. 2025 Michelin recommended restaurants include: Automatic Seafood and Oysters, Bottega, Chez FonFon, Current Charcoal Grill, Helen, Hot & Hot Fish Club, and Reve.

The Bottom Line

Birmingham’s growth story is no longer about potential; it is measurable momentum driven by a combination of talent, investment and economic diversification. The city’s affordability, expanding job base, and nationally recognized culinary and cultural scene continue to attract young professionals, while major employers and corporate relocations are reinforcing Birmingham’s reputation as a strategic business hub in the Southeast. At the same time, growth across sectors, including healthcare, finance, technology, manufacturing, and higher education, is creating a more resilient and dynamic economy, positioning Birmingham as an increasingly competitive market for innovation, investment, and long-term opportunity.