Public and Private Leadership
Objective 1: Organize the Birmingham region’s business
community to serve as a powerful, proactive, and definitive voice for a unified, progressive, regional vision.
ACTION 1.1: Leverage local and national media to change internal and external perceptions of the Birmingham region.
METRICS: Increase by 5% per year the number of positive media stories.
Increase by 5% per year the number of perception survey respondents (BBA
investors) rating the region overall as “favorable.”
TACTICS: Work with regional media to encourage balanced reporting on regional issues
and events. Fund internal and external media relations campaigns. Leverage the Blueprint Birmingham process as a platform for business to
communicate the urgency for strategic regional transformation.
ACTION 1.2: Use BBA tools and resources throughout the region to encourage governments to partner for effective change.
METRICS:
Completion of website redesign by 10/1/10; Phase II completed
summer 2012. Complete.
Launch of public awareness campaign by 9/9/10. Complete.
TACTICS:
Utilize an enhanced Blueprint Birmingham website and the BBA’s new
website as public information tools related to regional strategic
efforts and actions of implementation partners. Complete, ongoing.
Launch a comprehensive public-awareness campaign (the “I’m OPEN”
campaign) associated with Blueprint Birmingham efforts. Complete.
ACTION 1.3: Produce annual state and federal legislative agendas.
Legend Green Text = Completed Tactic
Goal Statement: “We will expect and support capable leaders
who govern and manage responsibly thereby earning our residents’ trust. In addition, we will aggressively develop the
next generation of leaders who are capable, visionary, and ethical.”
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METRICS:
BBA Public Policy Committee rating of effectiveness of execution of legislative
agenda issues.
TACTICS: Develop state and federal agendas working with existing BBA
committees focused on public policy and governmental affairs.
Complete; ongoing.
Actively publicize the legislative agendas in all regional media.
Complete; ongoing.
Charge staff and contracted lobbyists with aggressively pursuing
legislative priorities. Complete; ongoing.
ACTION 1.4: Consider developing a regional political action committee (PAC) to support candidates who will best serve the
interests of the Birmingham region. Complete: BBA Executive
Committee has decided not to develop a PAC.
METRIC: Decide by 1/1/12 whether to develop the PAC. Complete.
ACTION 1.5: Create and promote a process to inform private
sector leaders about opportunities for public service.
METRIC: Number of executive committee and board members involved in public sector
leadership roles.
TACTICS: Reach out to the community to identify interested private sector leaders.
Provide opportunities for private sector leadership to elevate their voices on
issues of regional significance.
Develop an outreach and training program assisting and encouraging
qualified members of the business and civic community to run for
public office in the region. Complete; ongoing.
Objective 2: Achieve a renewed spirit of regional collaboration and cooperation between the public and private sectors.
ACTION 2.1: Establish forums and provide opportunities for dialogue between public and private sector leadership.
METRIC:
Number of BBA hosted meetings annually
TACTICS:
Host meetings, forums and events for local government and state
government officials with representatives of the business community.
Complete; ongoing. Coordinate forums and provide opportunities for dialogue on key
issues of concern. Complete; ongoing.
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ACTION 2.2: Promote efficiencies of combining city, county, and regional services to the fullest extent possible, including but not limited to, the use of online and new media tools.
METRIC:
Number of existing collaborative efforts with the region.
TACTICS:
Identify and analyze the benefits of collaboration among key municipal and
county government operations, focusing on areas such as, but not limited to,
911 services, first-responder services, fire/rescue operations, purchasing, etc.
Encourage opportunities for collaboration as they are identified.
Support the implementation of eGovernment practices to optimize
Government-to-Citizen (G2C) communications in the Birmingham region.
Objective 3: Ensure all regional constituencies are reflected in
positions of leadership and influence.
ACTION 3.1: Broaden diverse, multi-cultural participation on public appointed boards and commissions throughout the seven-county region.
METRIC: Metric noted below.
TACTICS: Conduct a full assessment of top-appointed boards and commissions in the
Birmingham region to determine where opportunities exist for volunteers to
serve. Communicate service opportunities to all BBA investor firms. Share
findings with major boards and commissions receptive to the assessment.
ACTION 3.2: Fully engage young professional individuals and groups as positive influences for regional change.
METRIC:
Number of persons in the region, ages 25 and older, with a bachelor's degree
or higher.
TACTICS:
Identify and work with young professionals in the region to encourage
participation in issues of regional significance. Encourage YPs in the region to volunteer in progressive local improvement
efforts, and to become public advocates for good government practices,
regionalism, inclusiveness, and boosting of citizens’ perceptions of the
Birmingham region.
Work with young professional leadership to schedule candidate and issue
forums for key local races, policies and referenda. Arrange meetings with young professionals and elected officials to
communicate on critical policies, programs and votes.
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Goal Statement: “We will develop a 21st century workforce by
promoting educational excellence in the Greater Birmingham region through targeted improvements in pre-K–12 education,
higher education, and training and support programs.”
Workforce Development
Objective 4: Improve pre-K–12th grade education in the Birmingham region.
ACTION 4.1: Work with the Birmingham Regional Education Partnership to leverage partnership opportunities for the benefit
of regional school systems. METRIC:
Creation of the BREP by 1/1/12. Complete.
TACTICS:
Bring together regional educational leaders to discuss educational
best practices and partnership opportunities for the Birmingham
region’s K–12 districts. Complete; ongoing.
Promote strong linkages with all public education foundations in the
Birmingham region. Explore funding and programmatic partnership
opportunities with the Birmingham Education Foundation to help achieve
public education goals.
Identify appropriate mechanisms by which the Birmingham region’s business
community can support public education improvement. Create a best
practice database, using the best practices provided in Blueprint
Birmingham as the foundation. Complete.
Determine the potential to provide full-time staff support for the
BREP Partnership. Complete.
Utilize the BREP Partnership to monitor academic performance and develop agenda
for Birmingham Regional Education Conference.
Support the annual Birmingham Regional Education Conference under the auspices of
the BREP Partnership.
ACTION 4.2: Promote the implementation of innovative programs and policies in the Birmingham region’s under-performing school
districts.
METRIC: Percentage of adult population (age 25+) with a high school diploma.
Legend
Green Text = Completed Tactic
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TACTICS:
Communicate the availability of alternative education models and campuses.
Support the development of innovative programming in under-
performing systems, to include the four strands adopted by the
Birmingham Education Foundation: Birmingham Parent University,
college and career-focused high schools (career academies),
professional development for school leaders, and Pre-AP initiative.
Form a public/private coalition in the Birmingham region with the cooperation
from other stakeholders throughout the state to support legalizing the
development of charter schools in Alabama.
Facilitate the incremental implementation of student leadership programs such as
“Leader in Me” as a pilot project within Birmingham City elementary schools and within
the region’s elementary schools.
Support incentives policies that encourage professional development for
educators.
Support funding for early childhood education for all eligible students by
requesting additional state pre-K funding.
Support efforts to help expand access for early childhood education for all eligible
students.
Objective 5: Assess the skills needed to satisfy regional
workforce demand and attract and retain talent; optimize the potential of the Birmingham region’s two- and four-year
colleges and universities to meet those needs.
ACTION 5.1: Encourage two-year and four-year degree programs that support the Birmingham region’s target business sectors.
METRIC:
Number of 2 and 4 year college graduates with degrees applicable to target sectors.
TACTICS:
Coordinate with Target Sector leadership on college and university curriculum
development (see also action item 8.2). Enable regional businesses to inform
curriculum and program-development efforts, leveraging recommended
sector leadership councils. ACTION 5.2: Leverage regional colleges and universities in talent
retention and attraction efforts.
METRIC:
Number of alumni from regional colleges and universities living in the region.
TACTICS:
Align internship and career placement programs at regional colleges and
universities with available positions in the region’s businesses.
Seek partnerships with the region’s higher educational institutions to
further talent-attraction programs through expatriate/alumni
outreach. Complete; ongoing.
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ACTION 5.3: Increase coordination and cooperation between the Birmingham region’s education and training institutions and systems.
METRIC:
Annual usage of the STARS transferability website by students in 2 and 4 year
public colleges within the region.
TACTICS:
Work with regional employers in Jefferson County to improve awareness of
the training services supported by the Governor’s Office of Workforce
Development (Region 4), and the Jefferson County Workforce Investment
Board, including the Incumbent Worker and Rapid Response programs.
Market to the business community the availability of course credit
transferability protocols between higher education institutions in the
region. Complete.
Objective 6: Address barriers to accessing training and employment destinations.
ACTION 6.1: Ensure regional constituents have access to adequate transportation options.
METRIC:
Annual improvement in transit availability ranking as compiled by the
Brookings Institute.
TACTICS:
Maximize opportunities for the workforce and employers to provide feedback
regarding transportation needs and challenges by leveraging the Target
Sector Leadership Councils. (see Action 8.2).
ACTION 6.2: Promote increases in the capacity and improvements in the quality of local child care and after school programs.
METRIC:
Distribute annual Childcare Resources assessment and database.
TACTICS:
Working with all relevant partners and providers, conduct a full
assessment of licensed child care services, and build a database of
available providers. Complete; ongoing.
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ECONOMIC PROSPERITY
Objective 7: Maximize the economic impact of UAB and the
Birmingham region’s full complement of innovators and research-focused entities.
ACTION 7.1: Market UAB as a branding mechanism for technology-based Birmingham, partnering with UAB and other entities to
achieve maximum effectiveness.
METRIC:
Increase UAB annual state funding to support specific projects directed to
economic development and research capacity activities $15M over 5 years.
TACTICS:
Continue outreach to the Birmingham region’s business leadership to best
understand the economic development potential of UAB-generated research
and innovation.
Craft a message aimed at increasing recognition of UAB’s local and
statewide economic impact and its status as a leading research
institution nationwide. Complete.
Guided by UAB, advocate for increased UAB funding and support.
Work with UAB administrators, key private sector leadership, and the BBA
Governmental Affairs Committee to develop a coordinated and aggressive
lobbying effort to encourage state support for and contributions to the
Eminent Scholars Trust Fund.
ACTION 7.2: Enhance UAB’s research, technology transfer, and
enterprise-development support capacity.
METRIC:
Increase annual UAB licenses and option agreements 5-10% annually.
TACTICS:
Work with UAB to establish a “proof of concept” pathway that
supports the development of new startups. Complete.
Legend Green Text = Completed Tactic
Goal Statement: “We will develop a more prosperous region by focusing on business retention and expansion, marketing
and recruitment, and small business development and entrepreneurship. We will encourage a culture of innovation by
supporting research, development, and technology transfer at UAB and other higher education institutions in the region.”
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Benchmark the activities and output of the University of Alabama at
Birmingham Research Foundation’s (UABRF) against comparable
institutions. Analysis should include funding mechanisms, resources,
staffing levels compared to research volume and overall role within
the university and research administration. Appropriate comparable
institutions include the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill,
Indiana University, University of Maryland-Baltimore, Oregon Health
& Sciences University, Vanderbilt University, and the University of
Massachusetts. Complete.
Consider forming a collaborative Commercialization Advisory
Committee to guide the development of the commercialization
assessment and provide qualitative input. Complete; ongoing.
Utilizing the findings of the aforementioned commercialization assessment,
work with UAB administrators and key departmental leadership to evaluate
the potential benefits of creating an Office of Corporate Alliance and
Strategic Partnerships (OCASP). Complete.
Work with UABRF and University administrators to develop a “Philanthropic
Fund” to support the technology-based economic development at UAB,
including start-ups.
Working with UAB’s Governmental Affairs officials, continue to lobby for state and
federal appropriations that support key UAB, technology transfer and economic
development initiatives. Support continued growth within the region’s entrepreneurial capital continuum,
with a heightened focus on seed-capital funding in conjunction with and supportive
of CAC and UAB activities in order to foster and advance technology-based
economic development activities in the region.
ACTION 7.3: Develop entrepreneurial districts in the region
supported by growth of research/resource centers and facilities.
METRIC:
Number of annual graduates from research/resource centers in the region.
Number of jobs held within research/resource centers in the region.
TACTICS:
Study best practice entrepreneurial districts that have been
developed in recent years around the country, including but not
limited to the CORTEX district in St. Louis, Missouri and the Piedmont
Triad Research Park in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. – Completed.
Create a Master Plan for an Entrepreneurial District in partnership
with UAB’s Development Office, Facilities Division, Innovation Depot,
and other key partners. Complete; ongoing.
Leverage the Master Plan to design, fund, and develop new facilities in the
Entrepreneurial District.
Identify research/resource centers across the region that could
potentially form the core of additional entrepreneurial districts.
Complete. (Note: Victor Brown maintains the list.)
ACTION 7.4: Maximize the region’s research capacity for the benefit of
the target sectors.
METRIC:
Target sector employment growth (as a % of total employment).
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TACTICS:
Healthcare Services; Biological, Medical and Information Technology:
Utilize and expand new, up-and-coming biological and medical technology
programs at UAB, and explore potential approaches to facilitating
collaboration with other local institutions.
Encourage the Southern Research Institute (SRI) to optimize the
value of its $14.7 million National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant to
become a production site for a national collaborative research
network designed to expedite drug development. Complete.
Work with the Lakeshore Foundation to determine the potential to focus
research and development monies on its efforts to provide therapeutic and
recreational opportunities for physically disabled clients.
Metal and Steel Manufacturing:
Promote the integration of research and development conducted at UAB’s
Materials Processing and Applications Center with target development efforts.
Facilitate potential partnerships with SRI in a wide variety of industrial
medical research projects and contracts.
Trade and Distribution:
Determine if the Birmingham region’s strong information technology capacity
in regional universities and companies can be directed towards opportunities
in logistics.
Investigate potential synergies between the Birmingham region’s Healthcare
Services and Biological Medical and Information Technology sectors and the
region’s Trade and Distribution sector.
Diverse Manufacturing:
Pursue opportunities to leverage the Birmingham region’s traditional
production economy into employment growth in “green” manufacturing.
All Sectors
Collaborate with faculty and staff at the region’s colleges and universities to
provide value-added research of interest to firms in the region’s core sectors
and emerging opportunities.
Objective 8: Effectively leverage existing businesses for the growth of the Birmingham region’s economy.
ACTION 8.1: Enhance and expand the BBA’s business retention
and expansion (BRE) program.
METRIC:
Announced new jobs.
Announced capital investment.
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TACTICS: Transition from a volunteer-based to a professionally staffed
program. Complete. (Note: BBA staff and professional economic
development allies in the seven-county region now manage the BRE
program.)
Partner with the Existing Business Team to redesign regional business
retention and expansion efforts based on the newly staffed BBA program.
Complete.
Optimize BBA’s economic development allies and staff(s) in economic
development data gathering, aggregation and analysis for the BRE program.
Formalize the components of the staffed regional BRE program, including the
formalization of outreach and follow-up processes. Complete.
Acquire industry-standard BRE project management software to better manage BRE
program.
Work with medium to large employers (greater than 250 employees) to map supply chains
and identify potential recruitment targets that could benefit from co-location near existing
businesses in the region.
Work with small, minority-owned and women-owned businesses to identify
large employers with diversity supplier programs to facilitate entry into the
large business’ supply chains.
ACTION 8.2: Establish business leadership councils in the Birmingham region’s priority target sectors. METRIC:
All Target Sector Leadership Councils meet quarterly.
TACTICS:
Leverage the councils to support the development of formal sector networks,
inform BRE and business development efforts, assist with the coordination of
regional talent development efforts, and inform new enterprise development
opportunities.
Determine if an existing industry group, council, or board can serve as the
basis for a sector leadership council affiliated with the Blueprint plan.
Determine the optimal membership levels and dynamics, meeting
frequencies, and strategic roles and responsibilities of the councils during
their development phase.
Utilize the councils to develop cross-industry linkages that could benefit the development of
the Birmingham region’s target business sectors.
Encourage representation from private businesses, education and training institutions,
public-sector officials, and non-profit leadership on leadership councils, as appropriate.
Staff each leadership council with a BBA staff member. Complete.
Coordinate workforce needs specific to each economic target sector with
college and university curriculum development personnel.
Leverage the sector leadership councils and affiliated groups to determine the
media, messages, and markets for each sector.
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Objective 9: Provide the support and coordination necessary to
enable small businesses to launch and succeed in the Birmingham region.
ACTION 9.1: Augment and better coordinate regional small business and entrepreneurial assistance by establishing the Birmingham Regional Enterprise Council (BREC).
METRIC:
Number of small businesses (< 250 employees) in the region.
TACTICS Initiate discussions with members of BBA’s small business councils to
establish an omnibus, holistic model branded as the Birmingham
Regional Enterprise Council (BREC). Ensure that all existing councils
are included in discussions, including the African American Business
Council, the Entrepreneur’s Roundtable, the Executive Women’s
Roundtable, the Hispanic Business Council, the Small Business
Council and the Women’s Business Council. Complete.
Aggregate all existing small business development programming under the
auspices of the BREC, while maintaining the independent operations and
strategic initiatives of the BBA’s various small business councils. Complete.
Leverage the Birmingham SCORE chapter and assist the chapter in
expanding their volunteer base and small business development
programs. Complete.
Implement a program in the Birmingham region to better coordinate
regional small business support services. Complete.
Expand the Entrepreneur’s Roundtable Program to serve a broader regional
constituency.
ACTION 9.2: Establish and support targeted, minority business development programs.
METRIC:
Number of minorities and women in management roles in publically-owned companies.
TACTICS Support and enhance operations of the South Region Minority Supplier
Development Council. Support minority business mentorship programs and
networking opportunities that engage the regions minority business leaders.
Promote awareness of new educational programs that target minority
students in collaboration with high schools and higher education institutions.
Objective 10: Market the Birmingham region for the purpose of recruitment of domestic and foreign-based businesses.
ACTION 10.1 Facilitate person-to-person marketing opportunities through which the Birmingham region will be promoted.
METRIC:
Announced new jobs.
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Announced capital investment.
TACTICS
Continue to implement a marketing campaign focused on business location
consultants and business sector-targeted companies.
ACTION 10.2: Market the Birmingham region as a top destination for innovation, research, and technology commercialization.
METRIC:
Job growth in the innovation, research and technology commercialization
sectors
TACTICS Identify the highest-value markets and media to promote Birmingham as a
top destination for innovation, research, and technology commercialization.
Develop a protocol for following up with leads and prospects.
Complete.
Maximize opportunities to locate aerospace/aviation companies in the Birmingham region.
ACTION 10.3: Enhance the Birmingham region’s marketing collateral, new media, and public relations efforts.
METRIC:
Announced new jobs.
Announced capital investment.
TACTICS Create a new Birmingham Business Alliance website. Complete.
Capitalize on the reach and relevance of Alliance magazine as a prime
communication channel to promote the region’s quality of life as a
key ingredient of successful economic development. Complete;
ongoing.
Develop targeted marketing materials for talent recruitment efforts.
Continue to publish monthly BBA newsletters for both external and internal
audiences. Complete; ongoing.
Develop a branded PowerPoint template and slide library that can be
drawn from to create custom sales presentations. Complete.
Produce a regional overview brochure highlighting the Birmingham region’s key
business-competitiveness advantages, resources, and its economic profile, by
county.
Create target audience datasheets highlighting the region’s assets specifically
to the profiled sector.
Invest in additional software and online tools to facilitate contact and sales
cycle management.
Contract with a top public relations firm or individual to promote the
Birmingham region in the local, state, and national press. Complete; ongoing.
ACTION 10.4: Evaluate and promote export/import opportunities for existing companies.
METRIC:
Measure the annual percent change in the region’s export values.
Announced new jobs.
Announced new capital investment.
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TACTICS Utilize BBA’s business retention and expansion program to leverage relationships
with the region’s businesses with overseas headquarters, affiliates, and
buyer/supplier networks for regional benefit.
Best leverage international trade support capacity from the state of Alabama
by continuing to expand and develop new partnerships.
ACTION 10.5: Continue to support the CVB in their efforts to aggressively promote the Birmingham region as a tourism destination.
METRIC:
Number of tourists, by county, annually.
Tourism dollars, by county, annually.
TACTICS Work cooperatively with local CVBs to enhance efforts to promote the
Birmingham region’s most popular tourist attractions.
Objective 11: Ensure that the Birmingham region’s business
climate is competitive for existing and future companies.
ACTION 11.1: Optimize development, review and permitting processes in the region.
METRIC:
Review and assessment of permitting processes completed by 12/31/12.
Recommendations submitted to cities/counties for consideration by 7/1/13.
TACTICS Work with regional governments to effectively streamline operations and services to
improve customer efficiency and oversight.
Support regional governments in efforts to enable clients to apply for, review, and
receive permits online to the highest degree possible.
Produce a seminar for all local governments in the region highlighting best
practices in municipal government management.
ACTION 11.2: Ensure the region’s tax and incentives climate is
competitive.
METRIC:
Announced new jobs.
Announced new capital investment.
TACTICS Pursue the potential development of a regional “super authority” that would include
cooperation among all counties and municipalities to allow for the creation of competitive
incentives on a regional level.
Engage the BBA’s Finance and Taxation Committee to develop a plan to promote
competitive taxation structures within the region. Complete; ongoing.
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Continually collect qualitative and quantitative assessments of the region’s tax
climate from external audiences and perspectives.
Continually discuss tax and incentive issues with existing businesses as a
component of BBA’s staffed BRE program.
ACTION 11.3: Collaborate with economic development allies throughout the region to improve prospect-management
processes with counties and municipalities in the region.
METRIC:
Increased number of new and expanding company announcements in
metropolitan Birmingham.
TACTICS Encourage partnerships between economic developers and municipal
and county staff that provide value to prospects.. Complete; ongoing.
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Community and Regional Stewardship
Objective 12: Provide competitive infrastructure capacity in the Birmingham region.
ACTION 12.1: Promote development of priority regional road
transportation and transit system projects.
METRIC:
Travel congestion index (% of daily travel in congested conditions).
Mean travel time to work.
TACTICS:
Support the process of determining the long-term potential to expand
the geographic scope of the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) to
include Bibb County. Complete.
Build consensus on the critical need for local and regional transit capacity in the
Birmingham region, including but not limited to key transit elements of the Long
Range Transportation Plan and the In-Town Transit Partnership.
Leverage ongoing Regional Planning Commission and Metropolitan Planning
Organization efforts to coordinate transit route planning based on employment and
training demand.
Fully leverage the BBA’s Governmental Affairs Committee to proactively and positively
impact transportation-improvement projects.
Advocate for the timely and efficient completion of Interstate-22 as a means of
improving transportation congestion and enhancing economic development
opportunities in the Birmingham region.
Support the Coalition for Regional Transportation’s efforts to fund and develop the
Northern Beltline as consistent with planning priorities regionally, statewide, and
nationally.
Support timely mitigation of traffic congestion on U.S. 280. Complete.
Continue to partner with the RPC/Transportation Subcommittee to support the RPC
and MPO in advancing priority road-infrastructure projects throughout the region.
Legend Green Text = Completed Tactic
Goal Statement: “Building a highly-attractive quality of place
is central to Blueprint Birmingham. In order to develop a more attractive region for existing and future residents and
businesses, we will support improvements in physical infrastructure, affordable public transportation, public safety,
environmental quality, entertainment options, and cultural amenities.”
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ACTION 12.2: Support actions of the Birmingham Airport Authority to enhance the competitive position of Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport.
METRIC:
Number of passengers served annually at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth
International airport.
Number of daily flights.
Number of cities served by non-stop routes.
Air cargo shipped/received in tons per year.
TACTICS:
Ensure that continued business community representation on the Birmingham Airport
Authority Board is maintained. Support efforts to upgrade the arterial gateways to
and from the airport.
Support efforts to increase passenger demand at Birmingham-Shuttlesworth.
ACTION 12.3: Support Connecting Alabama to ensure regional communications infrastructure remains a competitive advantage.
METRIC:
Combined deployment of broadband communications facilities in the seven-
county region by providers in the Connecting Alabama Broadband Taskforce.
TACTICS: Leverage ongoing business retention and expansion visits to
determine regional businesses’ needs and concerns related to
broadband wireless and wire-line communications capacity.
Complete; ongoing.
Maintain partnerships with communications providers to best manage
companies and institutions’ technology needs and performance demands.
Complete; ongoing.
Objective 13: Improve the Birmingham region’s “quality of
place” amenities.
ACTION 13.1: Support efforts to enhance the Birmingham region’s cultural and
entertainment amenities.
METRIC:
Number of tourists, by county, annually.
Tourism dollars, by county, annually.
TACTICS:
Support the development of The Uptown entertainment district and
other entertainment districts in the region. Complete; ongoing.
Participate on planning committee with Rev Birmingham; integrating
district planning into overall Downtown development plans, and
pursuing available funding mechanisms to support district development.
Complete; ongoing.
Partner with the Cultural Alliance of Greater Birmingham to most effectively
implement the Cultural Master Plan of Greater Birmingham.
Support continued expansion of the Birmingham Zoo, elevating its reputation
as a best-in-class location for tourism in the United States. Complete; ongoing.
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Partner with regional cities and counties, educational institutions, and other
key partners to promote and link to a comprehensive events, activities, and
resources website for the Birmingham region. Complete.
Work with hospitality and tourism development staff and regional company
representatives to help advocate for optimization of the City of Birmingham’s business
climate and promote development incentives that enable investors to complete projects
in Downtown Birmingham and other regional activity centers.
ACTION 13.2: Promote and expand the Birmingham region’s opportunities to be a more livable and active community.
METRIC:
Metric to be determined by CRS Advisory Group.
TACTIC: Support Red Mountain Park, Railroad Park and Ruffner Mountain Nature Center in the
implementation of their Master Plans.
Work collaboratively to support ongoing efforts to implement the region’s bicycle,
pedestrian, greenway and parks projects.
Work collaboratively to support the Red Rock Ridge and Valley Trail
System in Jefferson County. Complete; ongoing.
Design and build bike and pedestrian trails around the Birmingham
Zoo/Botanical Gardens that will connect with the Shades Creek
Greenway/Jemison Park Trail/Railroad Park and Red Mountain Park.
Objective 14: Improve public safety in the Birmingham region.
ACTION 14.1: Promote regional public safety coordination.
METRIC:
Violent crimes per 100,000 population.
Property crimes per 100,000 population.
Number of law enforcement jurisdictions participating in Crime Stoppers.
TACTIC:
Expand Crime Stoppers to include representatives from the BBA, law
enforcement, campus police, City Action Partnership, neighborhood
watch entities, corporate security representatives and others from
the region. Complete; ongoing.
Leverage Crime Stoppers to discuss comprehensive, coordinated region-wide public
safety solutions.
Evaluate the idea of establishing a community court system in Birmingham.
Assist the proposed public safety task force (Crime Stoppers) in researching
and developing plans to establish a community court in Birmingham.
Support the establishment of community courts in other regional jurisdictions,
as needed.
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Objective 15: Effectively remediate the Birmingham region’s
environmental quality and protection issues.
ACTION 15.1: Support Alabama Partners for Clean Air in their efforts to improve regional air quality in an appropriate and timely
manner.
METRIC:
Achieve EPA attainment status for ozone and PM (particulate matter) standards in
Jefferson and Shelby counties as adopted by the Alabama Partners for Clean Air.
TACTIC:
Initiate constructive dialogue with key regional stakeholder entities
to determine the necessary steps to achieve attainment status.
ACTION 15.2: Work with governmental officials to remediate Brownfields and Greyfields in the Birmingham region.
METRIC:
Brownfield/Greyfield sites to be inventoried by jurisdiction; remediation
efforts to be tracked by project/parcel.
TACTIC:
Work with public and private leaders to create a plan to pursue
remediation strategies and tactics. Complete; ongoing.
Work with the region’s economic development allies, to pursue and support the
administration of Brownfield loan funds and other grants as they are received.
Work closely with other allies and the Alabama Department of Environmental
Management as appropriate to leverage their expertise and support for site
assessments, clean-up assistance, and technical support in repositioning
properties.
Actively market Brownfield and Greyfield properties in the region.
ACTION 15.3: Support the Clean Water Partnership in their efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of water in the region.
METRIC:
TBD by Water Quality Committee.
TACTIC:
Assemble a working group of private sector leaders, academic and
private sector researchers, and representatives from the Alabama
Department of Environmental Management to produce
recommendations for short-term improvements in, and long-term
maintenance of, water quality standards in the region. Complete;
ongoing.
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Objective 16: Work to make the Birmingham region’s residents
and businesses strong advocates for its existing businesses and future prospects.
ACTION 16.1: Design and implement an internal marketing campaign to elevate and improve community pride and perceptions.
METRIC:
Percentage of annual image survey respondents having a favorable
impression of the region.
TACTIC: Reach out to regional constituencies and leadership to capture stories that speak to
the Birmingham region’s unique people, places, programs, and partnerships.
Create an interactive website associated with the internal campaign.
Complete.
Leverage a multi-channel approach to marketing the internal campaign.
Complete; ongoing. (The following “channels” were added during 2012:
- Weekly BBA/Blueprint e-newsletters.
- Bi-weekly BBA newsletter.
- Ongoing contract for promotion with Development Counsellors International.
- Bi-monthly Alliance magazine.
- Newly designed BBA website premiered 3Q12.
- Ongoing local media relations programs.
- Public talks by senior BBA management team and CEO.)
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Technology + InnovationTechnology and innovation are thriving in Birmingham,
Alabama, energized by a globally recognized research
university and medical center, the University of Alabama at
Birmingham, the Southeast’s largest and globally recognized
technology incubator, Innovation Depot, and the more than 700
technology businesses that call Birmingham home.
$500 Million
IN MEDICAL RESEARCH
1,400ACTIVE
CLINICAL TRIALS
TECHNOLOGY-BASED COMPANIES
700+
Later
Expansion
R&D
Early
Seed
22%47%
23%
6%
2%
$2 billionIN INNOVATION CAPITAL
#1 TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR
$1.25 billionECONOMIC IMPACT
R&D
SEED
EARLYEXPANSION
LATER42% OF NET NEW REGIONAL
JOBS WERE TECHNOLOGY CLUSTER RELATED.
top 5MEDICAL CENTER IN U.S.
WITH MORE THAN 1.3 MILLION PATIENT VISITS ANNUALLY
Silicon Valley
OF THE SOUTHEAST
GREATER THAN NATIONAL AVERAGE2.6 x
6th Best BRAIN MAGNET IN THE U.S.
Top 5% I.T. SECTORS AND
INNOVATION CITIES IN U.S.
— NETWORK WORLD
— CLUSTERMAPPING.COM
— FORBES
INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM
● TEDx Birmingham is the Birmingham edition of
TEDx, a program of local, self-organized events
that bring people together to share ideas worth
spreading through TED Talks, video and live
speakers that combine to spark deep discussion
and connection.
www.tedxbirmingham.org
● Ignite Birmingham is an information exchange
for fostering and inspiring the city’s diverse
community. Ignite nights are organized around the
globe and provide a unique stage for anyone with
a good idea to speak.
www.ignitebirmingham.com
● Meetups are self-organized local groups getting
together to learn something, do something or
share something. Birmingham has a wide range
of innovation and entrepreneurship-oriented
meetups that are constantly evolving.
www.meetup.com/cities/us/al/birmingham
● The Real Business Solutions Center provides
a single location where small businesses
can access a variety of business resources,
technology, research tools and support
organizations relevant to Alabama entrepreneurs.
realbusinesssolutioncenter.com
Incubators and coworking
● Innovation Depot is a business incubation facility and program that focuses on the development of emerging
biotechnology/life science, information technology and service businesses, operating in partnership with the University
of Alabama at Birmingham. The 140,000-square-foot facility offers the largest technology incubation program in the
Southeast U.S. and has been recognized as technology incubator of the year and international soft landing center by the
National Business Incubator Association. innovationdepot.net
● Bessemer Business Incubation System operates two facilities in the Bessemer, Alabama, area that provide space and
services to service, light industrial/manufacturing and information technology business.
www.bessemerincubator.net
● SocialVenture is a coworking space and business community where entrepreneurs, freelancers, small businesses and
others can establish an office in a collaborative environment.
www.revbirmingham.org/catalytic-development/social-venture
● Sparkbox is a coworking space located at Innovation Depot. Its members share open office space to work on their project
or business alongside other independent professionals. sparkboxcoworking.com
RESOURCE PROVIDERS
Trade groups, networking and other support organizations
● The Birmingham Venture Club is an association of business professionals who seek to increase the amount and quality
of venture capital-related activities in the Birmingham area. www.birminghamventure.com
● Birmingham Entrepreneur encourages, assists and inspires potential entrepreneurs and startups in Birmingham. It
promotes connections between new and serial entrepreneurs, supplies members with startup-pertinent information, and
connects entrepreneurs with resources and people that can help them with their business.
www.birminghamentrepreneur.com
● TechBirmingham is a trade group that strengthens and promotes Birmingham’s technology ecosystem through
the promotion of tech companies, helping recruit and retain, and providing technical training and education for IT
professionals. www.techbirmingham.com
● BioAlabama is a statewide organization representing Alabama’s bio-related industries, research scientists, clinicians and
business professionals who are working together to foster, develop and support the life sciences in Alabama.
www.bioalabama.com
● Birmingham Startup Drinks is a grassroots effort shared with cities around the world where people gather around a bar
to have a pint and discuss what they are working on, what they need help with and what they can do for each other.
www.bhmstartupdrinks.com
● Tech-on-Tap is a Birmingham networking group created to foster relationships and ideas among Birmingham’s IT and
Creative Professionals. techontapbham.com
Mentoring and Technical Assistance
● The Birmingham Venture Club’s Entrepreneur Accelerator Program is a leadership development and
entrepreneurial networking program that builds relationships with other high-caliber entrepreneurs in addition to
funders, mentors and other proven leaders that help grow high-quality businesses.
www.birminghamventure.com/accelerator
● The Ensley Business Resource Center offers small business owners and entrepreneurs one-to-one coaching,
helping them take their business from slow to successful. www.revbirmingham.org/growing-business/ebrc/
● Alabama Technology Network is a part of the Alabama Community College System and the Manufacturing
Extension Partnership, which links industries and businesses with resources from the state’s network of universities,
colleges, businesses and government to deliver the training. www.atn.org
● The Alabama Small Business Development Center Network is a statewide, inter-institutional program to enhance
economic growth in Alabama by providing no-cost management and technical assistance to small businesses.
birminghamsbdc.org
● AIDT is the award-winning state agency that encourages economic development through job-specific training,
offered in many areas, at no cost, to new and expanding businesses throughout Alabama.
www.aidt.edu
● The UAB Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship serves as the nexus for UAB innovation, entrepreneurial
educational models, applied research, management of intellectual property and an entry point for industries seeking
to collaborate with UAB.
www.uab.edu/research/innovation/
● The Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) is for entrepreneurs only and is a dynamic, global network of more than
9,500 business owners in 40 countries. The Birmingham chapter, like many others around the world, serves as a
catalyst for entrepreneurs to learn and grow from each other.
eoaccess.eonetwork.org/Birmingham
● The Spark mentoring and coaching program is an initiative of the Birmingham Business Alliance to help
Birmingham-area startups succeed in the Alabama Launchpad startup competition through technical assistance and
active mentoring and coaching.
birminghambusinessalliance.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Spark-Workshop-Flyer.pdf
Online Communities, Meetups, and Information Sources
Incubators and co-working
Trade groups, Networking and other Support Organizations
Mentoring and Technical Assistance
Online Communities, Meetups and Information Sources
Advocates
Educators
Research & Innovation Centers
Competitions
Early Investors
Expansion Stage Investors
Later Stage Investors
Government
INVESTORS
RESOURCE PROVIDERS
IDEA CREATORS & INDUSTRY INNOVATORS
Central Alabama
Angel Network
Alabama Department
of Commerce
Bonaventure Capital
Redmont Venture Partners
Targeted Technology
Fund
New Capital
Partners
Alabama Launchpad
Regions New
Venture Challenge
Social Venture
Sparkboxco-working
Innovation Depot
Bessemer Incubation Network
TEDx Birmingham
Ignite Birmingham
The Real Business Solutions
Center
Birmingham Business Alliance
Economic Development Partnership
Alabama
VA Medical Center
St. Vincent’s
Health System
American Sports
Medicine Institute
Southern Research InstituteJe�erson
State Community
College
Lawson State
Community College
Birmingham Southern College
Samford University
University of
Montevallo
Miles College
University of Alabama
at Birmingham
Gas Tecnology Institute
Alabama Power
Economic and Community
Development
Children’s Alabama
Lakeshore Foundation
28 regional chambers of commerce
REV Birmingham
Meetups
The Ensley Business Resource
Center Alabama Technology
Network
Spark
Entrepreneurs’ Organization
AIDT
The UAB Institute for
Innovation & Entrepreneur-
ship
The Alabama
Small Business Development
Center Network
The Birmingham
Venture Club
The Birmingham Venture Club
Entrepreneur Accelerator
Program
Birmingham Startup Drinks
Tech-on-Tap
TechBirmingham
BioAlabama
Birmingham Entrepreneur
Power Ten Medical Ventures
Founders Investment
Bank
Greer Capital
Advisors
Timberline Investments
Jemison Investments
Alabama Innovation
Fund
Alabama CAPCO
Alabama NMTC
BBVA Ventures
StonehengeCapital
Kirchner Private Capital Group
Fidelis Capital
Porter, White & Company
Harbert Venture Partners
Later stage investors – providing mainly equity investments and/or debt to companies with profits
● Jemison Investments
● BBVA Ventures bbvaventures.com
● Kirchner Private Capital Group www.kirchnerpcg.com
● Stonehenge Capital www.stonehengecapital.com
● Founders Investment Bank www.foundersib.com
● Porter, White & Company www.pwco.com
Educators
● The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is one of the leading research universities in
the U.S. It has a total annual R&D expenditure of more than $500 million, 32 National Institute of
Health (NIH) research awards in 2012, and ranks No. 10 among all NIH-funded institutions for active
grants. It helps make Alabama rank 12th nationally for R&D intensity and have nearly $5 billion
in annual R&D expenditures statewide. UAB has one of the most prominent academic medical
centers in America. As one of U.S. News and World Report’s Best Hospitals, UAB Health System is
a national leader in patient care, research and training. It is a major center for clinical research with
more than 930 ongoing clinical trials. Areas of extraordinary clinical expertise include oncology,
cardiovascular disease, neurology, arthritis, immunology and diabetes. The university is a magnet
for top-tier talent, offers a master’s program dedicated to biotechnology and ranks the eighth best
place to work for postdocs in the nation.
Research & Innovation Centers
● Southern Research Institute is a contract research organization located in the heart of
Birmingham, adjacent UAB. It has 550 employees and more than half a million square feet of life
sciences lab space. It conducts applied research in the areas of drug discovery, preclinical drug
development, advanced engineering and environmental protection. Southern Research Institute
has seven drugs approved by the Federal Drug Administration and seven compounds currently
in preclinical development or clinical trials. It has collaborated with its neighbor UAB in numerous
areas, such as materials engineering, high-performance computing, breast cancer research, glial
biology, cystic fibrosis research and gene therapy, and with academic and industry clients around
the world.
Birmingham is home to a rich collection of nearly 800 industry innovators spanning the information
technology, life sciences and advanced manufacturing industry sectors.
IDEA CREATORS AND INDUSTRY INNOVATORS
INVESTORS
Competitions
● The Alabama Launchpad startup competition gives early stage startups from across Alabama the
momentum to take an idea from concept to reality. Up to $100,000 in cash awards are awarded on
a competitive basis during each competition cycle. www.alabamalaunchpad.com
● Regions New Venture Challenge is an annual student business plan competition offered by
Samford University’s Brock School of Business and Regions Bank. First prize for the Open Division
is $7,500.
Early investors - providing mainly equity investments in companies with no revenue
Expansion stage investors - providing mainly equity investments in companies with growing revenue
● Bonaventure www.bonaventurecapital.net
● Fidelis www.fideliscapital.net
● Harbert Venture Partners
www.harbert.net/investment-strategies/private-capital/venture-capital
● New Capital Partners www.newcapitalpartners.com
● Redmont Venture Partners www.redmontvp.com
● Alabama Innovation Fund
www.madeinalabama.com/assets
● Alabama CAPCO alabama-capital.com
● Alabama NMTC alabama-capital.com
Government – Alabama state-supported grant, equity and debt financing
● Alabama Power Economic and Community Development
www.amazingalabama.com
● Birmingham Business Alliance
www.birminghambusinessalliance.com
● REV Birmingham www.revbirmingham.org
● Alabama Department of Commerce www.madeinalabama.com
● Economic Development Partnership Alabama www.edpa.org
● 28 chambers of commerce across the region
Advocates
Incubators and co-working
Trade groups, Networking and other Support Organizations
Mentoring and Technical Assistance
Online Communities, Meetups and Information Sources
Advocates
Educators
Research & Innovation Centers
Competitions
Early Investors
Expansion Stage Investors
Later Stage Investors
Government
INVESTORS
RESOURCE PROVIDERS
IDEA CREATORS & INDUSTRY INNOVATORS
Central Alabama
Angel Network
Alabama Department
of Commerce
Bonaventure Capital
Redmont Venture Partners
Targeted Technology
Fund
New Capital
Partners
Alabama Launchpad
Regions New
Venture Challenge
Social Venture
Sparkboxco-working
Innovation Depot
Bessemer Incubation Network
TEDx Birmingham
Ignite Birmingham
The Real Business Solutions
Center
Birmingham Business Alliance
Economic Development Partnership
Alabama
VA Medical Center
St. Vincent’s
Health System
American Sports
Medicine Institute
Southern Research InstituteJe�erson
State Community
College
Lawson State
Community College
Birmingham Southern College
Samford University
University of
Montevallo
Miles College
University of Alabama
at Birmingham
Gas Tecnology Institute
Alabama Power
Economic and Community
Development
Children’s Alabama
Lakeshore Foundation
28 regional chambers of commerce
REV Birmingham
Meetups
The Ensley Business Resource
Center Alabama Technology
Network
Spark
Entrepreneurs’ Organization
AIDT
The UAB Institute for
Innovation & Entrepreneur-
ship
The Alabama
Small Business Development
Center Network
The Birmingham
Venture Club
The Birmingham Venture Club
Entrepreneur Accelerator
Program
Birmingham Startup Drinks
Tech-on-Tap
TechBirmingham
BioAlabama
Birmingham Entrepreneur
Power Ten Medical Ventures
Founders Investment
Bank
Greer Capital
Advisors
Timberline Investments
Jemison Investments
Alabama Innovation
Fund
Alabama CAPCO
Alabama NMTC
BBVA Ventures
StonehengeCapital
Kirchner Private Capital Group
Fidelis Capital
Porter, White & Company
Harbert Venture Partners
● Central Alabama Angel Network (AIM) caangelnetwork.com
● Greer Capital Advisors www.greercap.com
● Power Ten Medical Ventures powertenventures.com
● Targeted Technology Fund www.targetedtech.com
● Timberline Investments timberlineholdings.com
For more information on the Birmingham region, contactSteven Ceulemans, Vice President of Innovation and Technology(205) 241-8122 | [email protected]
www.birminghambusinessalliance.com
SQUARE FOOT FACILITY
90+CLIENT
COMPANIES
15
42
14
11
15
8
140,000
$1.25 Billion
$123 Million
540WITH
EMPLOYEES
COMPANIES GRADUATED FROM INNOVATION DEPOT IN 2013
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY & SOFTWARE COMPANIES
BIOTECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES
BUSINESS SERVICE COMPANIES
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS
IN ECONOMIC IMPACT IN THE LAST 5 YEARS
CLIENT COMPANIES GENERATED
IN SALES IN 2013
Innovation Depot is a business incubation facility and program that
focuses on the development of emerging biotechnology, life science,
information technology and service businesses. It operates in partnership
with the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In 2011, Innovation Depot
was named the Technology Incubator of the Year by the National Business
Incubation Association. The same organization designated Innovation Depot
a Soft Landings International Incubator, meaning the Innovation Depot’s
programs can help international businesses of any size grow and break into
the U.S. market.
Innovation Depot sits in the heart of downtown Birmingham and
anchors Birmingham’s Innovation District for entrepreneurs. It is just a few
blocks from its partners at UAB – another world-renowned Birmingham
institution – and is in close proximity to award-winning Railroad Park, Regions
Field and the Birmingham city center’s buzzing housing and restaurant
scene.
Innovation Depot is more than just a building. Its award winning
programs help companies develop strategic alliances; identify funding
sources; plan strategically; educate entrepreneurs; market products and
initiatives; and provide technical support. Its tenants have access to a
professional network of accounting, insurance, payroll and legal firms for
early stage companies.
For more information contact Devon Laney at (205) 250-8000 or
AWARD WINNER2011 TECHNOLOGY INCUBATOR
SOFT LANDINGSINTERNATIONAL INCUBATOR
NATIONAL BUSINESS INCUBATION ASSOCIATION
BIRMINGHAMLife Sciences Industry Overview
22%47%
$2 Billion
23%
6%
2% Later (equity and/or debt in companies with profit)
Expansion (equity in companies with growing revenue)
R&D (grant-funding)
Early (equity in pre-revenue companies)
Seed (non-dilutive funding)
46
27
23
194 Research Testing and Medical Labs
Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
Medical Devices & Equipment
Bioscience-Related Distribution
Agricultural Feedstock & Chemicals
A THRIVING BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY
119 TOTAL ESTABLISHMENTS46
27
23
194 Research Testing and Medical Labs
Drugs & Pharmaceuticals
Medical Devices & Equipment
Bioscience-Related Distribution
Agricultural Feedstock & Chemicals
A THRIVING BIOTECHNOLOGY INDUSTRY
119 TOTAL ESTABLISHMENTS
1,409Clinical Trials*
119Companies
$2 Billion Capital
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Other
Phase IV
Phase III
Phase II
Phase I
Phase 0 7
117
401
564
70
25022%
47%
$2 Billion
23%
6%
2% Later (equity and/or debt in companies with profit)
Expansion (equity in companies with growing revenue)
R&D (grant-funding)
Early (equity in pre-revenue companies)
Seed (non-dilutive funding)
With 1.1 million inhabitants and a GDP exceeding $58 billion,
the seven-county Birmingham region is the engine of the state
of Alabama and one of the leading metros of the southeastern
United States. It is also a leading life science hub. Birmingham
is home to the University of Alabama at Birmingham — a leading
American research university and one of the largest academic
medical centers in the country — as well as to a vibrant
biotechnology industry with well over 100 companies. As a top-
10 finance center in the nation, the Birmingham region boasts
competitive capital access with more than $2 billion in active
technology capital, ranging from research grants to late-stage
investments and loans. Birmingham’s accomplished institutions
and companies are leading innovation in Alabama, the Southeast
and the world.
*1,020 of these trials were active at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Retrieved from clinicaltrials.gov on June 9th, 2014.
AGRICULTURAL FEEDSTOCK & CHEMICALS
Aqua Services LLC
Dow Agrosciences LLC
Progressive Turf
Terraplan LLC
BIOSCIENCE-RELATED DISTRIBUTION
Archer Daniels Midland Company
Bass Medical Inc.
Biolife Plasma Services L.P.
Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
Carefusion Solutions LLC
Cetec, Limited Liability Company
Crown Therapeutics Inc.
D & K Healthcare Resources Inc.
JANSSEN PHARMACEUTIC
McKesson Corporation
Medaus Inc
Medfusionrx LLC
Origins Natural Resources Inc.
Promotional Concepts
Ri-Med Inc.
Russ Pharmaceuticals Inc
Salient Labs
Southern Surgical Technologies LLC
Spar Medical (prior Alabama Micro
Specialties Inc.)
Industry Innovators
AtherotechAtherotech specializes in cardiometabolic testing and disease management solutions to enable health care professionals to more accurately assess cardiovascular health and employ effective and personalized treatment strategies.
Evonik IndustriesEvonik Industries is a leader in bioresorbable polymer and injectable drug delivery technologies. Evonik will open its first U.S. Innovation Center in Birmingham focused on medical devices and technology.
Biohorizons Inc.BioHorizons is one of the fastest-growing global implant and biologics companies in the dental implant industry. Its portfolio of dental implants, instruments and biologics products are sold in more than 85 markets around the world.
Soluble TherapeuticsSoluble Therapeutics rapidly optimizes protein solubility and stability enhancing the research, development and production of protein-based therapeutics, vaccines and research tools.
DRUGS & PHARMACEUTICALS
Advanced Skin Technologies
Aeon Bioscience
Agenta Biotechnologies
Aligon Pharmaceuticals
Amerisource Bergen
Aptalis Pharma Inc
Avanti Polar lipids, inc
Axcan Pharma
Baxter Healthcare Corporation
Cebert Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Central Admixture Pharmacy
Services Inc.
Centrix Pharmaceuticals Inc
Deva Nutrition LLC
Evonik Industries
Gem Pharmaceuticals Inc.
Immunology Laboratories Inc.
Kor Therapies, Inc
Medaus, Inc
Nektar Therapeutics
Omega Pharmaceutical Inc.
Petnet Solutions Inc.
PNP Therapeutics Inc.
Prescription Benefits Inc
Progressive E M U Inc.
Protein Biosystems
Vector Logics, Inc
VistaPharm
MEDICAL DEVICES & EQUIPMENT
3 D Medical Concepts LLC
Advanced Tear Diagnostics LLC
BioDtech Inc.
BioGx Inc.
Biohorizons Inc.
Bonenta Inc.
Compression Works LLC
Dermavista
Durect Inc
Endomimetics LLC
Foodsource Lures
Frontier Devices Inc.
Hayes Handpiece RPR
Hygia Health Inc.
Integrated Medical Systems
Ibbex Inc.
InTec Industries
Nidek Medical Products Inc.
Radiation Shielding Inc.
Synovis Micro Companies Alliance
Tingle X-Ray Products Inc.
VIPAAR Inc.
Vision Research Corporation
RESEARCH TESTING AND MEDICAL LABS
Adv Bioscience LLC
Alabama Clinical Therapeutics
Alabama Tissue Center Inc.
Alliance Clinical Research
Alpha Services
American Diagnostic Imaging
American Testing Laboratory Inc
Antech Diagnostics
Armstrong Testing Lab Inc
Atherotech Diagnostics Lab
Avanti Polar Lipids Inc.
Bendiner Lab
BET Reporductive Laboratories
Brookwood Biomedical
Cahaba Pathology, PC
Capstone Clinical Trials, Inc
Choice Research of Birmingham
Chrysallis Research
Laboratories Inc
Discovery BioMed Inc.
Dynacare Laboratories Inc
GE Clinical Services Inc.
Healthsouth Diagnostic
Center Inc.
Individualized Treatment
Technology Laboratories LLC
Lab Care
Lab First
Lab of Medical Genetics
University of Alabama
Laboratory Corporation
of America
Laboratory Resources &
Solutions
MRI of Clanton
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
Soluble Therapeutics
Southern Biotech
Southern Research Institute
St Clair Removable Dental
Sutherland Environmental
Company Inc.
Technical Assurance Corporation
TLC Mobile Medical LLC
Tuv Rheinland Industrial
Solutions Inc.
U S Diagnostic Labs Inc
Uab Pathology
Unified Testing Services Inc.
University Clinical Research
University of Alabama Health
Service Foundation PC
VIP Labs
Vivo Biosciences
Wearren Engineering Testing
Over 550 companies and 10,000 professionals support the bioscience industry across the state of Alabama. The Birmingham area is home to 119 of these firms, spanning multiple industry segments.
Institutional CapabilitesWith over $500 million in annual R&D expenditures at its major research centers, over 1,400 active clinical trials and one of the largest U.S. academic medical centers, the Birmingham-area bioscience technology capabilities and resources are exceptional.
The UAB Center for Clinical and Translational Science is a targeted effort to enhance the clinical and translational research among a network of twelve of the Southeast’s most cutting-edge research institutions. A centralized physical and virtual hub of Research Commons streamlines resource accessibility and support across the center, which uniquely houses a Phase I Clinical Trials Unit with 8,000 square feet of centralized first-in-human study capabilities.
The UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute designated cancer center in the Deep South region of the United States. It is home to over 330 researchers and clinicians, focused on the fields of gene therapy, immunotherapy and drug discovery and development. The center treats an estimated 5,000 new patients each year, including those participating in many clinical trials to target a broad array of cancers, including breast, gastrointestinal tract, lung, ovary, head and neck, brain tumors, and lymphomas.
Southern Research Institute is a contract research organization headquartered in Birmingham. With over half a million square feet of wet lab space, the organization provides comprehensive contract research services in basic discovery research, in-vitro and in-vivo efficacy; ADME/PK; GLP toxicology and reproductive toxicology; gene therapy/biologics; method feasibility, development and validation; formulation and bioanalysis; qPCR and RT-PCR.
The Alabama Drug Discovery Alliance is a drug discovery and development partnership with cross-institutional capabilities in molecular target identification, high throughput screening,
iterative medicinal chemistry, preclinical toxicology and absorption,
distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) analysis, and clinical trials. The
current portfolio encompasses 17 drug discovery programs with a primary focus on the central nervous system and oncology, although other therapeutic areas such as diabetes and infectious diseases are touched upon as well.
Innovation Depot is one of the leading technology incubators in the world. The 140,000 square-foot facility includes 20,000 square feet of wet lab space and a shared equipment lab with
common instrumentation. The program houses
90 companies (14 in biotechnology) with 540 total
employees, operating in all 50 states and over 40 countries,
contributing $1.25 billion in economic impact to the region over
the past five years.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is home to over 100 combined university-wide
interdisciplinary research centers and core facilities, aimed to enhance UAB’s
contribution to new knowledge and economic growth: http://www.uab.edu/
research/administration. An example of the university’s commitment to research discovery is the recently expanded Central Alabama High Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) facility, housing the highest field NMR (Bruker
Avance III HD 850 with cryoprobe) in the state and one of the largest
in the U.S.
Resources and incentives
The Birmingham region and the state of Alabama
have a strong economic development track record
and a solid history of companies swiftly integrating
and thriving in our community. As a recent example,
Evonik Industries - a world leader in specialty
chemicals - recently announced a global Innovation
Center for research and development (R&D) of
medical devices and technology at the company’s
Birmingham facility.
Both the region and state have emphasized in
long-range economic growth plans the crucial
importance of technology and innovation to
continued growth and prosperity. As part of
Accelerate Alabama, the state’s long-term plan for
economic development, the Alabama Innovation
Fund was recently formed to support research and
economic development. The Birmingham Business
Alliance (BBA), the leading economic development
organization in the Birmingham seven-county
region, supports a Commercialization Advisory
Committee and life science industry Leadership
Councils, which provide forums for senior leaders
from across the business, policy, capital, academic
and entrepreneur communities to promote and
grow innovation pathways for enhanced technology
growth in the Birmingham region. Alabama and
the Birmingham region offer a strong innovation
ecosystem with a number of support organizations,
such as BioAlabama, TechBirmingham, the
Birmingham Venture Club and the Central Alabama
Angel Network.
For talent recruitment and development, AIDT,
the state’s award-winning and no. 1 nationally
ranked workforce recruitment and training
program, is available to help identify, recruit and
train a high-quality and skilled workforce at no
cost to companies looking to locate or expand
within the state of Alabama. The University of
Alabama at Birmingham and other area colleges
and universities have a strong graduate pipeline,
providing a skilled workforce with training
specifically geared toward the biotechnology
industry. Attractive and competitive incentives are
available for companies looking to grow in
the region.
For more information on the Birmingham region, contact
Steven Ceulemans
Vice President of Innovation and Technology
(205) 241-8122
www.birminghambusinessalliance.com
Alabama Research Economy
1st quartile
2nd quartile
3rd quartile
4th quartile
Alabama:
$3.7 billion annual R&D expenditures, most R&D intensive state in the Southeast
Source: National Science Foundation Science and Engineering Indicators, 2014.
Alabama ranks No. 8 in the U.S. for biopharmaceutical job creation — 62% of those jobs were created in Birmingham
—Site Selection Magazine and Clustermapping US
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