Karla Khodanian
Greater Together: A Letter from Steve Ammons, ...

Today marks my first day as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Birmingham Business Alliance. It is an honor to step into this role for an organization whose mission I deeply believe in, and whose team I deeply admire. 

Greater Together: A Letter from Steve Ammons, BBA's President & CEO
Karla Khodanian
Steve Ammons named CEO of the Birmingham ...

Steve Ammons has been named CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA), the region’s primary economic development agency. Ammons will be responsible for leading collaboration between BBA and its community partners across the seven-county region to ensure the alignment and achievement of strategic objectives. He will begin his new role on May 30. 

Events
Tquila Automation Expands to Birmingham, ...

We are thrilled to announce that Tquila Automation, a leading automation software company, is expanding its map to the Greater Birmingham Region. This new location will create 200 new high-quality jobs with an average wage of $65,000 and expects to generate up to $21.51 million in overall economic impact over the next 20 years.

Expansion

CMC Steel Alabama to invest nearly $68 million in Birmingham plant modernization and upgrades

CMC Steel Alabama will invest $67.75 million to expand and update the capabilities of their Birmingham facility. The investment includes a modernization of more than two-thirds of their rolling mill and will add 10 new jobs.

“From bridges to buildings and everything in between, CMC’s product bolsters modern infrastructure around the world”
— Jacqueline Chandler - Parnter, Business Attaction, BBA

CMC Steel Alabama employees close to 400 employees in the Greater Birmingham Region and has served as a dedicated corporate champion in the community for nearly 40 years. As part of their investment, the company also plans to work with Lawson State Community College to develop a maintenance apprenticeship program. The City of Birmingham and Jefferson County both supported the project, which is estimated to generate significant regional economic benefits over a 20-year period.

“Jefferson County is thankful for CMC’s continued investment in their Birmingham operation,” said Jefferson County Commissioner Steve Ammons, chair of economic development committee. “They are an important part of our manufacturing ecosystem and have been a long-time corporate citizen. I look forward to seeing their operation continue to thrive and employ the citizens of Jefferson County.”

CMC Steel Alabama is a Commercial Metals Company (NYSE: CMC) affiliate. Commercial Metals Company and its subsidiaries manufacture, recycle and fabricate steel and metal products and provide related materials and services through a network of facilities that includes seven electric arc furnace ("EAF") mini mills, two EAF micro mills, one rerolling mill, steel fabrication and processing plants, construction-related product warehouses and metal recycling facilities in the United States and Poland. Through its Tensar operations, CMC is a leading global provider of innovative ground and soil stabilization solutions selling into more than 80 national markets through two major product lines: Tensar® geogrids and Geopier® foundation systems.

The company worked closely with the Birmingham Business Alliance throughout the duration of the project. BBA continues to support CMC Steel as part of its business retention and expansion efforts.

“From bridges to buildings and everything in between, CMC’s product bolsters modern infrastructure around the world,” said Jaqueline Chandler, Partner, Business Attraction at the Birmingham Business Alliance. “Their continued commitment to our region strengthens our community’s workforce and future-proofs Birmingham role as a strong hub for builders.”

The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) is the first stop destination for businesses currently operating or considering an operation in Birmingham. The BBA is the economic development agency for the Greater Birmingham Region and local chamber of commerce for the city of Birmingham. Our mission is to help businesses start, stay and succeed in Birmingham. To learn more, visit www.birminghambusinessalliance.com

O’Neal Steel announces processing equipment expansion in Birmingham

O’Neal Steel announces processing equipment expansion in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (August 1, 2022) – O’Neal Steel today announced it will invest $2.6 million in new manufacturing equipment to expand the capabilities of its Birmingham headquarters. The investment includes the addition of a flat laser and press brake for the value-added processing of metal parts and will add six new jobs to the operation.

"This capital investment of $2.6mm allows us to strategically expand our first step processing capabilities, which includes one press brake and one flat laser. These additional machines will further support our growth into new markets through our flagship plant in Birmingham, Alabama," said Tate Forrester, President and CEO of O'Neal Steel. "We are honored to have the opportunity to continue reinvesting back into the Birmingham community – as we have for the last 101 years."

Founded in 1921 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, O'Neal Steel is an O’Neal Industries affiliate that supplies a wide range of carbon and alloy steel, stainless steel, and aluminum products for companies nationwide. O’Neal Steel has 18 strategically located distribution centers throughout the country that offer inventory and value-added processing capabilities tailored to market needs, all while providing high levels of customer service.

O'Neal Industries (ONI) is a family of closely related companies, all engaged in the metals industry. Providing products and services that range from steel beams and plates to specialty alloys and complex manufactured components, ONI supplies customers across a variety of industries worldwide. Together, their companies – G&L Tube, Leeco Steel, Locate Supplies, O'Neal Manufacturing Services, O'Neal Steel, Slice of Stainless, Stainless Tubular Products, TW Metals, and United Performance Metals – represent the nation's largest family-owned network of metals service centers and component and tube manufacturing businesses.

“The City of Birmingham is pleased to support O’Neal Steel in this expansion,” said Cornell Wesley, Director of the City’s Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity. “O’Neal Steel has played a very important role in Birmingham for more than 100 years with major capital investments and in providing jobs for our citizens. We look forward to working with O’Neal Steel for many years to come.”

The company worked closely with the Birmingham Business Alliance and attorneys at Bradley to receive abatements on non-educational sales and property taxes for the manufacturing machinery. The team worked collaboratively to support O’Neal Steel through the project expansion process.

“O’Neal Steel could choose any existing company location, but we are elated that they have chosen to continue investing in Birmingham,” said Emily Jerkins Hall, President and COO of the Birmingham Business Alliance. “This commitment bolsters their long-term retention in our community and further strengthens our region’s capacity in serving original equipment manufacturing customers around the world.” The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) is the first stop destination for businesses currently operating or considering an operation in Birmingham.

The BBA is the economic development agency for the Greater Birmingham Region and local chamber of commerce for the city of Birmingham. Our mission is to help businesses start, stay and succeed in Birmingham. To learn more, visit www.birminghambusinessalliance.com