From San Francisco to the Magic City, Landing relocates HQ bringing 800+ jobs

Bill Smith, one of the Magic City’s most successful homegrown entrepreneurs, is bringing a fast growing startup to downtown Birmingham.

Landing, the company behind the first membership for flexible apartment living, is relocating its headquarters from San Francisco to Birmingham, thanks to a partnership with the State of Alabama, Jefferson County, and the City of Birmingham. 

The new headquarters will be based in Downtown Birmingham at the historic John Hand Building. The move is expected to bring 816 new full-time jobs to the region. 

Fast Growing

In a news release announcing the new headquarters, Smith calls the move a natural transition.

“As a Birmingham native, relocating our headquarters and expanding our Alabama team was a natural transition,“ said Bill Smith, Founder and CEO of Landing. “I’m excited by the opportunity to continue to scale Landing, and bring new jobs and economic opportunities to my community. As we continue to expand across the country, we’re committed to the vibrant cities we operate in and will strive to have a positive impact on all of Landing’s communities.” 

A pioneer in its field, Landing is a network of fully-furnished and unfurnished apartments that offers its members an industry-first all-inclusive, flexible living experience. Members have access to Landing’s studios, one and two-bedroom apartments with an on-call concierge service and a host of additional amenities. 

In the past year, Landing grew 1250% YoY (Year over Year), and has scaled from just nine cities in early 2020 to over 80 cities today––aiming to reach 100+ by year end.

Big Win for Birmingham

“Landing’s arrival couldn’t come at a better time,” Birmingham Mayor Randall L. Woodfin said. “As our city continues to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, the new jobs and revenue Landing will bring to our community will be a boost to our recovery efforts. The financial incentive we offer, pending the City Council’s approval, will help to hire and train our citizens for the more than 800 new jobs, and the revenue generated by the project will provide funding for City schools and infrastructure.”

Next Steps

The relocation of Landing is a great example of regional and state cooperation. According to the Landing news release, the state, city and county all pitched in resources. The incentive package included:

• The State of Alabama committing funds through the Alabama Jobs Act and training reimbursements and services through AIDT. AIDT serves as the state’s primary workforce development agency, assisting with recruitment, talent development, and on-the-job training.
• Pending approval by the Birmingham City Council, the City of Birmingham has committed funds through its Talent Investment Program (TIP), Talent Acceleration Program (TAP), and Talent Optimization Program (TOP) – programs aimed at professional skill development, hiring local talent, and attracting talent in tough-to-recruit occupations. 
• Jefferson County has committed funds tied to new job creation, pending approval by the Jefferson County Commission.

“Bill Smith is a rock star in Alabama’s innovation economy through his experience with Shipt, and Landing represents an interesting new chapter in a business career that has already produced massive success,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The company is off to a strong start, and Birmingham will offer a solid platform for its growth plans as it shakes up the real estate industry.”

An analysis by the Alabama Department of Commerce estimates the financial benefits of Landing’s relocation and expansion project over 20 years:

• Total new payroll: $1.3 billion over 20 years
• Total new state revenue: $112 million over 20 years
• Return on investment to the state: 356% over 20 years

It’s Nice to Have You In Birmingham

Welcome to downtown Birmingham – Landing! We look forward to you anchoring the 1st Avenue North corridor and one corner of the “Heaviest Corner in the World” for years to come.

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