Birmingham is back, thanks to its startups, according to Entrepreneur columnist

48382301 2097026377040783 8161386079509807104 o Birmingham is back, thanks to its startups, according to Entrepreneur columnist
Photo via Innovation Depot Facebook

Entrepreneur columnist Jeff Barrett is a sold on Birmingham.

Just read his January 2020 piece that appeared in the national magazine titled:

“How Startups Helped Birmingham Bounce Back.”

In the opinion piece, Barrett describes Birmingham as the most interesting place he visited in 2019.

Why did he say that?

Welcoming to newcomers

Birmingham, Mixtroz
Mixtroz founders Ashlee Ammons and Kerry Schrader. Photo via Mixtroz

According to Barrett, Birmingham is becoming a hub for startups because we are welcoming newcomers to our city with innovative ideas. He backs it up in the column profiling Innovation Depot, Shipt, and rockstar startups Mixtroz and Pack Health.

Here is the money quote in the piece for our economic development folks:

“What I’ve noticed most in all of my travels is that the cities with the most to prove band together the most. Birmingham is getting stronger because it doesn’t care who you are, where you are from, what school you went to or who your parents know. They only care if you can help Birmingham grow. And if you can, they will put all of their energy in to making it happen together with you.

That sounds simple but its surprisingly rare. There’s no ego in Birmingham to get in their way. Their path is clear.”

Big Endorsement

Bham Now Imerge
Imerge attendees. Photos courtesy of EDPA

These are strong and encouraging  words coming from Barrett who has traveled to nearly every state in the country writing about startup ecosystems in publications like Entrepreneur and Inc.

He is also a Shorty Award winner, a prestigious award show/program that honors and recognizes the best content creators and producers on social media.

Bottomline, his endorsement means something.

A keepsake

Bham Now keeps a running tally of articles written about Birmingham (below).  This  particular column is a keepsake.

Enjoy the list!

Forbes – Forbes names Birmingham to worldwide affordable winter 2020 destinations list

Forbes – Birmingham named one of the top job markets for the 1st quarter of 2020 by Forbes

Birmingham, Alabama Skyline
Birmingham, Alabama skyline. Photo by Pat Byington for Bham Now

fDI Magazine – Birmingham named among top 10 Mid-Sized American Cities of the Future by international publication

Pat Byington
Pat Byington

Longtime conservationist. Former Executive Director at the Alabama Environmental Council and Wild South. Publisher of the Bama Environmental News for more than 18 years. Career highlights include playing an active role in the creation of Alabama's Forever Wild program, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Dugger Mountain Wilderness, preservation of special places throughout the East through the Wilderness Society and the strengthening (making more stringent) the state of Alabama's cancer risk and mercury standards.

Articles: 2411