Birmingham Business Alliance

06/13/2026

In a recent Marketplace Business News feature highlighting Birmingham as the top U.S. city for recent college graduates, listeners were introduced to Sierra, a virtual design and construction manager for Brasfield & Gorrie, who found what so many graduates are looking for: opportunity, affordability, and the ability to build a meaningful career in a city where growth is happening now.

Young talent is choosing Birmingham because of the incredible career pathways being created by employers across healthcare, bioscience, advanced manufacturing, automotive, engineering, and technology — industries that continue to drive our economy forward.

Programs designed to connect students and young professionals to real-world opportunities, including internship pipelines, workforce development initiatives, and leadership programs like FuelAL, are helping ensure the next generation sees Birmingham not just as a place to start a career, but a place to build a future.

Learn more or listen to the story here:

Birmingham is the number one metro area for young professionals when looking at hiring rates for college graduates in their 20s, affordability, and wages, according to ADP.

06/12/2026

Earlier this week, the Birmingham Legion FC hosted Small Business Night, featuring local vendors, a panel from industry leaders, and plenty of networking and pictures with Noigel – the team's mascot!

Under the bright lights of Protective Stadium, the Legion FC defeated Corpus Christi FC, 3-0., and we had a great time cheering them on. Our current cohort of the Small Business Intensive was in attendance as they celebrated the end of their 15-week program. When Birmingham wins, we all win!

06/12/2026

Big congratulations to our very own Caroline Mungenast, Economic Development Director, Business Attraction, on being recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers for 2026 by Consultant Connect! 🎉

This prestigious recognition was voted on by her peers and site selection consultants, and celebrates leaders across the continent who are making an extraordinary impact through innovation, leadership, and a commitment to building stronger communities.

Caroline’s passion for advancing economic growth and creating opportunity continues to make a lasting impact on our region, and this honor is a testament to the hard work and dedication she brings to that mission every day.

Please join us in congratulating Caroline on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

06/12/2026

Investing in students today means strengthening our workforce tomorrow. The Birmingham Business Alliance was proud to join Junior Achievement of Alabama, community leaders, educators, and business partners for the grand opening of the JA McWane Economic Education Center in downtown Birmingham.

This innovative facility will provide thousands of students with hands-on experiences in financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and career readiness, helping them connect classroom learning to real-world opportunities.

As our region continues to grow, initiatives like this play a vital role in developing the talent pipeline that will power Birmingham’s future economy.

Congratulations to Junior Achievement of Alabama McWane Economic Education Center and all of the partners whose vision and collaboration made this transformational investment possible.

Learn more about the Junior Achievement of Alabama McWane Economic Education Center at https://alabama.ja.org/.

06/12/2026

ITU AbsorbTech, Inc. has broken ground on a new 50,000-square-foot processing facility in McCalla, Alabama. As the world’s leading provider of launderable reusable oil absorbents and shop towels under the Sorbits brand, the Wisconsin-based company is expanding its environmentally friendly solutions to manufacturers and printing operations across the Southeast.

Located in Jefferson Metropolitan Park, the new facility will be ITU AbsorbTech’s sixth processing plant and first in Alabama, adding to its network of 16 locations nationwide.

“We chose McCalla for its strong business climate, strategic regional location, and high-quality workforce,” said Craig Bald, President and CEO. “Partnerships with local schools and workforce programs will be important as we grow our team and support manufacturing careers in the area.” 👏

06/11/2026

Congratulations to Ruby Tilghman on being crowned Miss Alabama! 👑 Over the weekend, Ruby competed alongside 44 other outstanding young women from across the state for the 2026 title in the Miss Alabama Competition.

Over the past year, Ruby has represented our city with grace, leadership, and a deep commitment to serving others as Miss Birmingham. We couldn't resist sharing a few photos of when she shared the invocation at one of our quarterly luncheons earlier in the year.

We know she will continue to make Birmingham and our state proud as she prepares to represent Alabama on the Miss America stage this fall. Congratulations, Ruby—we'll be cheering you on every step of the way!

06/11/2026

💪 Ready to get moving? Join us for the grand opening of TRAIN & BURN Fitness Studio at Jemison Flats. Through specialized small group training sessions, hybrid and online opportunities, and community challenges – this location has so much to offer the downtown Birmingham community!

We're looking forward to celebrating with the Train & Burn crew at Jemison Flats tomorrow, June 12 from 4:30 to 7:00 p.m. See you there!

06/11/2026

ICYMI: National leaders are taking notice of Alabama’s workforce strength!

In this article on Yellowhammer News, JPMorganChase Chairman & CEO Jamie Dimon highlighted Alabama as a model for workforce development and economic opportunity. The recognition reflects what we're seeing across the Birmingham region: strong workforce partnerships, growing employer demand and continued momentum attracting investment and jobs.

From being named the nation’s top metro for young professionals entering the workforce to expanding programs like FuelAL, Birmingham continues to demonstrate why talent and opportunity thrive here.

Read more here: https://heyor.ca/tNqHk1

Jamie Dimon and JPMorganChase are highlighting Alabama as a state uniquely positioned to help solve America’s growing labor shortages.

06/10/2026

The countdown to Sloss Tech is on! 🚀

The Birmingham Business Alliance is proud to sponsor the Southeast’s Hottest Tech Conference – serving as a premier gathering of innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers.

From groundbreaking startups to industry leaders, this event highlights the energy and momentum driving our region’s innovation ecosystem forward. This year's conference will feature keynote speeches from industry leaders such as:

🔥 Amanda Sabreah, owner of Thought Factory
🔥 Everette Taylor, creative entrepreneur and CEO of Kickstarter
🔥 Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia
🔥 Talia Cotton, founder and director of Cotton

We’ll see you at Sloss Tech! Find more information and get your tickets at sloss.tech

06/09/2026

Please join us in welcoming Ian Glasgow to the Birmingham Business Alliance team as our Business Intelligence Intern! 🎉

Ian is a rising junior at UAB - The University of Alabama at Birmingham majoring in economics, and we're excited to have him supporting our team this summer. With an emphasis on the metals industry, Ian will help analyze data, support research efforts, and contribute to initiatives that strengthen economic growth across the Greater Birmingham Region.

We're thrilled to have Ian on board and look forward to the impact he'll make during his time at the BBA. Welcome, Ian!