Birmingport Mile Marker — Mile marker of Birmingport along Birmingport Road. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

This week, the Birmingham Jefferson County Port Authority (BJCPA) announced the groundbreaking of a new, cutting-edge warehouse facility at its Port Birmingham terminal in western Jefferson County.

The $1.2M project is the first in a series of public-private partnerships with full-service supply chain solutions company Watco.

A new warehouse project in Port Birmingham

Shovels and hardhats at a groundbreaking — Shovels and hardhats at the groundbreaking. (BJCPA)

Located at 8250 Birmingport Rd, this new warehouse project is meant to improve the storage capabilities, efficiency and productivity of Port Birmingham. Developed in 1920 by the Port of Birmingham Company, Port Birmingham is a unique asset located along the Locust Fork of the Black Warrior River, just 20 miles west of downtown and 400 miles off the Gulf of Mexico.

The project is made possible through several private and public partners, including:

The City of Birmingham
Jefferson County
The State of Alabama
BJCPA
Watco

“The warehouse development project at Port Birmingham exemplifies the power of collaboration between local, county, and state government.

This catalyst project for the BJCPA will begin to position us as a key economic development engine in the region, and we look forward to playing a vital role in the growth and prosperity of the region.

The leadership of the BJCPA wants to thank the City of Birmingham, Jefferson County, and the State of Alabama for the key roles they played in bringing this innovational warehouse facility to Port Birmingham.”
Mahari McTier, BJCPA Chairman

The 25,000-square-foot warehouse is specifically designed to accommodate cold rolled steel coils, a versatile product used in construction, household appliances, machinery and in automotive applications.

Port Birmingham — A rendering of the new warehouse coming to Birmingport. (BJCPA)

According to a press release from the BJCPA, the warehouse is poised to catalyze substantial economic activity within the community, with an anticipated economic impact of $1.2M, including an estimated retail sales impact exceeding $800,000.

“By investing in our city’s infrastructure, we are not only ensuring sustainability for our economic future but also enhancing our visibility to organizations that may not have considered doing business in our community before.

Birmingham’s central location, with half of the country’s population within a day’s drive, positions us to become a supplier powerhouse.

Furthermore, being just 400 miles away from the Gulf of Mexico provides us with additional advantages. We eagerly embrace the challenge and look forward to the opportunities it will bring.”
Cornell Wesley, Director of Innovation and Economic Opportunity (IEO), City of Birmingham

Excited to see improvements coming to Port Birmingham? Tag @bhamnow to let us know!