April 2025
The Birmingham, AL market is experiencing a surge in economic development and national recognition due to population growth, business expansion, and promising construction projects.
Every county in Birmingham Metropolitan Area is growing for the first time in more than a decade
What This Means For You: For the first time since 2008, all seven counties that make up Alabama’s largest metro gained population in 2024. In terms of total population, Shelby and St. Clair counties added the most people. By percentage, the southern part of the metro was its fastest growing.
Alabama’s economic growth continues with $7 billion in new investment from 2024 projects
What This Means For You: The 2024 New & Expanding Industry Announcements Report reveals that economic development efforts last year secured $7 billion in new capital investment across 224 projects, generating more than 8,500 career opportunities for Alabamians. The report also spotlights key industry expansions across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, aerospace, technology and logistics.
Chase to open 24 branches in Alabama, creating more than 170 jobs
What This Means For You: JPMorganChase plans to triple the number of branches in Alabama and hire an additional 170 bankers by 2030 as part of the firm’s broader efforts to increase access to financial services across the state. The expansion will bring the total number of Chase branches in Alabama to 35, putting more than half of the state’s population within an accessible drive time to a Chase branch. There are currently seven Chase branches in Greater Birmingham.
Work begins on massive, $39M mixed-use Birmingham development
What This Means For You: Site preparation work has begun at the former Southtown Court public housing site in Birmingham for the next phase in a sprawling multi-use project. The complex is a mixed-use project that includes retail, a new biotech center, and a hotel on University Boulevard near 24th Street. It should take shape over the next seven years.
New $20M McWane Economic Education Center development breaks ground in Birmingham
What This Means For You: Local leaders, developers, and members of the community met in downtown Birmingham for the groundbreaking ceremony of the new McWane Economic Education Center—a new facility for local nonprofit Junior Achievement of Alabama and its programs. The nonprofit that aims to inspire and prepare young people for success has been working on the project for over a decade.
The University of Alabama at Birmingham soars into top 6 percent of global universities
What This Means For You: The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) has reached a major milestone, ranking in the top 6% of global universities in the 2024-2025 U.S. News & World Report rankings. UAB was ranked No. 164 out of 2,459 schools, making it the highest-ranked university in Alabama and improving upon its previous top 10% and top 8% global placements in 2021 and 2022.
