Project Announcement | SmartWiz Expands Birmingham Headquarters, Creating 66 High-Paying Jobs
BBA-Supported Project Showcases Growing Momentum in Region’s Tech Economy & Talent Retention
SmartWiz, one of the fastest-growing tax technology startups in the United States, is expanding its headquarters in Birmingham, creating 66 new high-wage jobs over the next five years, with plans to become a billion-dollar company by then. With its roots in the Magic City and national recognition for innovation, SmartWiz’s decision to grow locally is a strong signal of Birmingham’s rising momentum as a destination for tech talent and startups. SmartWiz’s new jobs will include roles in software engineering, customer support, project management, sales, and customer success, with an average salary of $79,500, not including benefits.
“This is a huge accomplishment for SmartWiz,” said Tevin Harrell, Founder and CEO of SmartWiz. “As a business owner, people are your biggest investment. With support from the Birmingham Business Alliance, Jefferson County, the City of Birmingham and the State of Alabama to help offset training, we’re not only able to attract top talent to the Birmingham region but also strengthen our path toward becoming a billion-dollar company within the next five years.”
Despite receiving offers to relocate to the West Coast, including full funding rounds contingent on moving, Harrell chose to stay in Birmingham, citing the strength of the local tech ecosystem and access to top-tier talent from regional universities. The support of Innovation Depot and its ecosystem, along with the ease of doing business and access to networking in Birmingham, has also been invaluable.
Additionally, SmartWiz has benefited from Alabama’s robust startup support network, winning $50,000 in early seed funding the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama’s (EDPA) Launchpad program, participating in the BBA’s Small Business Intensive (formerly known as Supplier Scale) and working out of the Southeast’s largest tech incubator, Innovation Depot. Moreover, $500,000 in funding came from Innovate Alabama’s State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI).
“The BBA has been incredible throughout this process,” said Harrell. “As a business owner, time is always of the essence, and they’ve guided us every step of the way. They introduced us to key partners and helped move this project across the finish line. Special thanks to the Birmingham Business Alliance’s Vice President of Economic Development Trevor Sutton for his support in coordinating with AIDT and the City of Birmingham to make this possible.”
The expansion of SmartWiz is projected to generate a $9.6 million economic impact over the next 20 years and has strong support from the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), in partnership with the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, and the Alabama Department of Commerce, which is providing tax incentives tied to job creation milestones. The state workforce development agency AIDT is providing services valued at $780,000.
“SmartWiz is showing that Birmingham is a place where innovative companies can thrive and scale,” said Steve Ammons, President & CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance. “We’re proud to support their team as they expand and innovate, and we remain committed to helping SmartWiz—and other tech startups—achieve success and drive Birmingham’s reputation as a hub for technology and innovation.”
To learn more about SmartWiz and to read the entire project announcement via the Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama, click the button below.
