The Birmingham Business Alliance said today that economic development activity during 2015 in its seven-county region resulted in more than 3,500 new and future jobs, along with nearly $1.1 billion in capital investment.
The BBA said significant project announcements in 2015 included:
- Auto supplier Kamtek’s $535 million expansion at its Birmingham manufacturing facility, which included a new, $80 million aluminum casting plant for lightweight parts. The project means 354 new jobs.
- Expansions by health insurer Viva Health (400 jobs) and financial services company Wells Fargo (300 jobs).
- A new Publix Super Markets distribution center that will create 200 jobs.
- Auto supplier Yorozu’s $100 million manufacturing facility in Jasper, creating 300 jobs. Construction is under way and should be complete by year’s end.
“This was a milestone year in terms of economic development and investment in the continued growth of our region,” said Ray Watts, president of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the 2016 BBA chairman.
The exact figures for the 2015 activity in the Birmingham region were 3,509 announced jobs and $1.099 in capital investment, one of the highest annual investment totals for the region.
The BBA plans to release full details next month.
