Would you like to live in one of the nation's top locales for income growth, while getting the degree you need to successfully launch small business operations? Maybe you should consider setting up shop in Birmingham.
Birmingham Means Business
By H.L. Staples
Birmingham is developing a bit of a reputation. The Partnership for Liveable Communities recently named Birmingham one of America's Most Liveable Cities. The American City Business Journal ranked the city as one of the nation's ten metros for income growth nationally over the last 20 years. Salary.com named Birmingham second nationwide for building personal net worth, based on local salary rates, living expenses, and unemployment rates. Sounds like a fertile environment for the entrepreneurial spirit.
Downtown Charm
When you think of Alabama, you might have an image of rolling green pastures and white clapboard farmhouses. You'll surely find such idyllic scenes in Alabama. But with a larger metro area population of 1,170,012 people, Birmingham is an urban center. In fact, the next largest metropolitan areas after Birmingham--Mobile (567,625) and Huntsville (510,088)--also boast healthy population numbers.
Additionally, Birmingham has enjoyed a renaissance, with hundreds of millions of dollars invested in construction downtown. Lofts and condos, along with small business operations such as restaurants, retail shops, and cultural venues, are flourishing.
Banking on Birmingham
Small and big business alike are enjoying southern hospitality in Birmingham. The city holds an impressive position as one of the principal business centers in the Southeast and one of the leading banking centers in the U.S. Banks headquartered in Birmingham include the 8th largest U.S. Bank, Regions Financial Corporation; AmSouth Bankcorporation; Wachovia's recent acquisition, Compass Southtrust; and at least a half a dozen smaller banks. Two Fortune 500 companies, Regions Financial and Saks Incorporated, have located their headquarters in Birmingham. This environment provides ample job and internship opportunities for the student of small business management, along with world-class professional contacts.
Not All Business
We all need to wine and dine ourselves sometimes. Home to several cultural festivals that feature music, films, and regional hertiage, Birmingham offers plenty to do. You'll find events like City Stages, a world-famous 3-day music festival that crosses genres. Or you can enjoy entertainment such as the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival, the third largest film festival in the U.S.
Educational opportunities are also a major local feature. Over fifteen of Alabama's colleges and universities call Birmingham home. That means you can get your degree while taking advantage of a thriving business sector and premier companies headquartered locally.
If you'd like to live in a celebrated town and the idea of big business contacts has you spinning your rolodex, you might want to consider setting up shop in Birmingham.
About the Author
H.L. Staples has written articles for the Boston Review, Denver Quarterly, and Georgia Review, among other publications. She has degrees from the University of Georgia and Syracuse University.