Trevor Sutton

Vice President of Economic Development for the Birmingham Business Alliance

In his role, he leads the economic development team as they work attract new businesses and investment opportunities for the Greater Birmingham Region.

Trevor is responsible for strategy development and execution for business attraction, retention and expansion initiatives for the Greater Birmingham Region. He also serves as a project manager for business attraction projects as well as manages the HQ & Business Services, Technology and Bioscience industry portfolio of companies.

Trevor has worked data center expansions, HQ additions, and company relocations with companies of all sizes from fast-growing startups like C Model to large corporations like Wells Fargo and Brasfield & Gorrie.

He was selected as a Next Gen BHM awardee by the Birmingham Business Journal in 2022 and is a Birmingham Sunset Rotary Club member.

Born and raised in the Birmingham region, Trevor is excited to work to continue to help grow the region with exciting new jobs. Trevor has degrees from Berry College and the University of South Carolina. When he is not at work, he’s either spending time with his family or playing golf.  

Featured in: Birmingham Business Journal’s NextGen Workforce and Education 2022

Featured in: Birmingham Business Journal: Can Birmingham Win in the Corporate HQ Shuffle?


Trevor’s Target Industries

Technology has played a pivotal role in the enduring transformation of the Greater Birmingham Region. Rooted in its historical connection to the steel industry, our region has seen a continual embrace of cutting-edge technology by visionary entrepreneurs.

This enduring legacy is visible today as Birmingham takes the lead in optimizing grocery shopping, streamlining trucking operations and fortifying the security of financial institutions’ data. Birmingham stands as a trailblazer in technology and innovation, driving the region’s growth.

Learn more here.

With over 82,000 people directly employed in science, health care and pharmaceutical development, the Greater Birmingham Region is the largest bioscience cluster in Alabama. It is a center of world-class research with a highly productive and skilled workforce specializing in drug delivery, formulation science and controlled-release technology.

Currently, more than 150 companies are engaged in different aspects of life science, including representation by the world’s top pharmaceutical companies. The Greater Birmingham Region has recently been designated as a federally recognized TechHub due to our work in biotech.

Learn more here.

Birmingham has a rich culinary tradition embedded in its DNA. The region boasts innovative, award-winning restaurants and chefs, as well as rapidly expanding food and beverage manufacturers and distributors. This dynamic landscape has attracted new players like Smucker’s, investing over $1 billion in a manufacturing facility, and nurtured local success stories such as Milo’s Tea, Red Diamond, and Royal Cup. Home to seven James Beard Award winners and the prestigious base for Southern Living and Food and Wine publications, Birmingham’s culinary scene serves as a hub of chef excellence in the South.

Learn more here.

With a rich history rooted in iron and steel, the Greater Birmingham Region has seamlessly transitioned into a thriving hub for over 1,300 companies in manufacturing, spanning diverse sectors like metals, food, chemicals, mobility, composites and machinery.

Birmingham’s strength as a manufacturing stronghold is rooted in its adaptability, commitment to innovation and investment in workforce development, creating an ideal environment for companies seeking success in advanced manufacturing. The region’s appeal is not only tied to its industrial heritage but also to its ability to diversify its economy while preserving its manufacturing roots.

Learn more here.

In 1993, Mercedes-Benz chose Alabama as the home for its exclusive U.S. assembly plant, launching the mobility industry. Since then, automotive giants such as Honda, Hyundai, Toyota and Mazda, alongside a growing network of mobility suppliers, have joined Alabama’s vehicle manufacturing industry. Most recently, Autocar, a maker of heavy-duty work trucks, also began production in Birmingham. Today, Alabama’s automotive industry stands as a powerhouse with an annual production capacity exceeding 1 million cars and light trucks statewide. This growth has strengthened Alabama’s position and established it as an attractive hub for innovation and advancement in the automotive manufacturing sector. The Greater Birmingham Region has attracted over $725 million in capital investment from mobility companies since 2018, resulting in the creation of 2,200+ jobs.

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The Greater Birmingham Region is witnessing a notable uptick in the success of corporate headquarters, owing to its outstanding quality of life, abundant amenities and ranking as one of the premier return-to-office metros. Businesses here can conveniently access a diverse range of location choices and office setups within a 20-minute drive. Whether it’s a downtown skyscraper in the city center, a suburban midrise close to residential and retail centers or a campus surrounded by nature, there’s a setting to suit every preference. We have a diverse offering of industries headquartered in the region, including all of Alabama’s Fortune 500 companies.

Learn more here.

The Greater Birmingham Region was built on steel because of the area’s abundant iron ore, coal and limestone resources, a unique natural trifecta found in few places globally. This led to rapid growth, earning the region its nickname, “The Magic City.” Today, Birmingham hosts a thriving industrial supply chain landscape with nearly 200 advanced materials and manufacturing firms, encompassing major sectors like metals, chemicals, plastics, composites, aggregates, mining and machinery.

Learn more here.

The Greater Birmingham Region, strategically poised in the Southeast, serves as a vital distribution and logistics hub. With the advantage of five major Interstates, a cargo-ready airport and three Class 1 railroads, including Norfolk Southern, CSX, and BNSF, it offers an unmatched infrastructure for efficient operations. The region’s skilled workforce ensures rapid customer service fulfillment. Since 2018, Birmingham has witnessed a surge in distribution centers, with major players like Amazon, Carvana, Lowe’s and FedEx Ground leading the way. This influx has generated over 2,800+ jobs and injected more than $670 million into the region’s thriving economy.

Learn more here.


Locate & Expand in BHM!

If you’re interested in exploring available sites in the Greater Birmingham Region, visit the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA)’s website of available listings.

If you want to learn more about one of the listed sites, I’d be happy to field any questions.

Please contact Trevor Sutton at  tsutton@birminghambusinessalliance.com.

EDPA listings