Shelby County Target Sectors Reflect Strategic Positioning for Sustainable Growth
Among Alabama’s most diverse economies, Shelby County is well-positioned for long-term business competitiveness as a leader in the Birmingham metro. Target sectors for the county, below, build on institutional assets, workforce skill strengths, and existing business clusters.
Software & IT
One in three (1:3) tech workers in Alabama live and work within 45 minutes of the Hoover/Shelby County tech corridor
35242 is the No. 1 zip code for tech workers living and working in the 50th largest US metro Birmingham-Hoover region, and 60% of the population hold a four-year degree or higher – nearly double the national average
Available inventory of Class A office real estate in park settings within a burgeoning technology cluster along Highway 280 and Riverchase
Existing Companies: McLeod Software (HQ), Lake Homes Realty (HQ), EBSCO Industries (HQ), Regions Financial (Operations Center), FIS Global (Operations Center)
Biotech
A 20-minute drive to the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) – a leading bio research institution – ranked 15th in NIH funding and the 8th largest hospital in America
A 20-minute drive to Southern Research, an independent, non-profit scientific research organization where scientists and engineers have discovered seven FDA-approved anticancer drugs
Third-largest banking center in the U.S. Southeast, 12th in the nation employing 39,000 workers in the Birmingham region
The highest concentration of financial examiners in the nation – five times the average U.S. metro
Existing Companies: Regions Financial (riverchase Operations Center), FIS Global (Operations Center), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama (HQ), Allstate (Claims Office)
Automotive
Within two hours of four automotive OEMs (Mercedes Benz, Honda, Hyundai, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing) and within three hours of three other OEMs SEE MAP
Over 25 automotive suppliers within the Birmingham region
Approximately 18,000 skilled automotive workers in Central Alabama, twice the U.S. metro average
Existing Companies: AGC Automotive (Automotive Glass), Sunbelt Paper and Packaging (Automotive Packaging), Kontane Logistics (Automotive Packaging)
Advanced Manufacturing
Strong manufacturing legacy with Birmingham known as “The Magic City” because of the rapid growth of iron and steel manufacturing in the early 20th century
Approximately 20,000 workers are currently employed by over 600 metals and machinery manufacturers in the Birmingham region
