“As a Birmingham native, relocating our headquarters and expanding our Alabama team was a natural transition,“ Landing founder and CEO Bill Smith said at the time of the announcement. “I’m excited by the opportunity to continue to scale Landing and bring new jobs and economic opportunities to my community.”

Smith previously started Shipt, an app-based delivery service that was acquired by Target Corp. in 2017.

When it was announced, the Alabama Department of Commerce estimated the financial impacts of Landing’s relocation and expansion project over 20 years, which included:

• Total new payroll: $1.3 billion
• Total new state revenue: $112 million
• Return on investment to the state: 356%

“Bill Smith is a rock star in Alabama’s innovation economy through his experience with Shipt, and Landing represents an interesting new chapter in a business career that has already produced massive success,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Ron Kitchens, chief executive of the BBA, said the recruitment of Landing underscores the region’s ability to attract and grow technology-focused companies.

STATE RANKINGS

Last summer, Business Facilities also gave Alabama several high rankings in its 17th annual “State Rankings Report, including:

• Best Business Climate — No. 5
• Customized Training — No. 3
• Manufacturing Employment — No. 6
• Manufacturing Output — No. 8
• Automotive Manufacturing — No. 6

Business Facilities also singled out several Alabama metro areas in the report.

• Huntsville — No. 4 Millennial Magnet
• Mobile — No. 5 Best Business Climate (population below 200,000)
• Birmingham-Hoover — No. 5 Health Care Hubs
• Huntsville — No. 6 Tech Hubs (growth potential)
• Decatur — No. 7 Manufacturing Hubs