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people networking — FuelAL participants enjoy an evening at Topgolf Birmingham, allowing them to network, make connections and have fun, too, (BBA)

Figuring out what comes after college can raise a lot of questions: Where will you work and live? And maybe most importantly, who will you meet along the way? Fuel Alabama (FuelAL) gives college students a chance to explore these questions while getting to know communities and career opportunities, including right here in Birmingham.

Here’s how FuelAL helped two participants build connections, find career direction + feel more confident about what comes next.

How the BBA connects students to Birmingham

The Birmingham Business Alliance (BBA) helps power Greater Birmingham’s business community, and part of that work is helping the region build its future workforce. In Birmingham, the BBA administers FuelAL, a talent retention program of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), supported by Innovate Alabama. The summer program connects undergrad and grad students with communities, employers and experiences that show them what life after college could look like.

The summer program connects undergraduate and graduate students with communities, employers and experiences that show them what life after college could look like.

In Birmingham, FuelAL gives students opportunities to:

Build professional skills through development opportunities
Meet people through networking + mentorship
Explore Birmingham + local career opportunities
Have fun through social events, sporting events + concerts

The goal? Help students experience the Magic City firsthand, build relationships and see how they can start or grow their careers right here in the Greater Birmingham area.

Find a new way to network in Birmingham

person smiling at camera — Makayla Brewer loved her 2026 FuelAL Birmingham experience, building relationships, exploring the city + making memories along the way. (Makayla Brewer)

Makayla Brewer participated in FuelAL Birmingham from June 2026 through August 2026. It was her second year in the program after participating in FuelAL Tuscaloosa the previous summer.

The Auburn native graduated from The University of Alabama and is now pursuing her MBA at UA’s Manderson Graduate School of Business with a focus on real estate. She also spent the summer interning with Regions Bank in corporate Banking Operations and Risk.

One of her favorite FuelAL experiences was a Birmingham Legion game, which led to an opportunity to bring people together.

“During the summer I invited people from Fuel and some of my fellow Regions interns to hang out and watch the World Cup final together. I loved being able to bring both groups together, and it showed me that networking can be as simple as creating a space for people to connect and have fun.

I think it made a difference because the connections felt natural. We were actually doing things together, not just standing around at networking events exchanging business cards.”
Makayla Brewer

If you’re interested in creating connections in a way that’s natural and more fun, consider joining FuelAL. Here’s how to sign up.

How a BBA internship helps gain first-hand knowledge of Birmingham industries

_{Through FuelAL and his Birmingham Business Alliance internship, Ian Glasgow had opportunities to network, build relationships and learn more about Birmingham’s business community. (BBA)}

Ian Glasgow participated in FuelAL in June and July 2026 while spending his summer as a Business Intelligence intern with the Birmingham Business Alliance.

A junior Economics major and Math minor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Ian was able to use his BBA internship to research Greater Birmingham’s Metals and Advanced Materials sector, looking at wages, workforce data, investment, education and tariffs.

The BBA supports business growth and strengthens Greater Birmingham through economic development, business support and public policy.

For Ian, the internship offered a closer look at Birmingham’s business community.

“I didn’t know that the metals sector was still so strong, and I certainly didn’t know it was growing with over a billion dollars of investment in the past decade.”
Ian Glasgow

Ian’s internship also influenced his career goals.

“I’ve always been interested in investing back into Birmingham, mostly through public policy, but I am now specifically interested in business attraction after being able to witness it firsthand.”
Ian Glasgow

Finding a future in the Greater Birmingham Region

_{FuelAL helps college students build connections in Birmingham. (BBA)}

For Makayla, FuelAL meant finding new ways to connect with people. For Ian, it meant discovering a potential career path in economic development.

Ian has one piece of advice for students considering FuelAL:

“I would strongly encourage it. It’s fun, you’ll be well-connected and it’s free! There’s no reason not to.”
Ian Glasgow

Want to learn more? Explore the Birmingham Business Alliance to learn more about Greater Birmingham’s business community and career opportunities, then visit FuelAL to learn more about the program and sign up for upcoming FuelAL opportunities.

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