Birmingham Business Journal
Five years ago, business and community leaders from around metro Birmingham gathered at Railroad Park for a day they hoped would change the region forever.
With signs proudly declaring that the Magic City was open for business, Birmingham Business Alliance leaders and elected officials rolled out Blueprint Birmingham -- a five-year strategic plan for the metro area.
The plan aimed to help metro Birmingham shed its longtime image as the city of perpetual promise, better compete with regional peers and, ultimately, create more jobs.
More than $22 million was raised for the plan, crafted by Market Street -- an Atlanta-based economic development firm that had worked on strategic plans for more than 100 areas. Birmingham's top power brokers, from mayors to high-level corporate executives, signed on.