The Existing Business Team, which focuses on business retention and expansion, is a partnership of Economic Development Professionals in the Birmingham region. These organizations work closely with the Chamber and partner with utilities, government offices, and non-profit organizations to retain and expand small businesses.

Chaired by Jim Searcy, Vice President of the Metropolitan Development Board, the Chamber's Existing Business Team is one of the most sophisticated business retention and expansion programs in the southeastern United States thanks to our partners: Alabama Technology Network (ATN), Alabama Development Organization (ADO), AT&T Alabama, Alabama Gas Corporation, Birmingham Water Works Board, the City of Birmingham, Blount County, St. Clair County, Chilton County, Shelby County, Jefferson County, Walker County, The Metropolitan Development Board (MDB), SCORE, Operation New Birmingham (ONB), Regional Planning Commission of Greater Birmingham, and the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce.

2008 Report

BIRMINGHAM COMPANIES EXPECT TO INVEST $65 MILLION FOR EXPANSIONS

Despite the economy, 53 percent of Birmingham companies interviewed by the Chamber say they plan to expand in the next three years. That’s a $65 million investment for expansions according to several local business executives. And with it will come nearly 1,400 jobs. That’s just some of the good news the Chamber’s Existing Business Team (EBT) learned during its 128 visits to local business owners and executives in 2008.

Other important information learned during these visits includes:

• Product Development- 60 percent of companies interviewed had either developed new products in the past 2 years or were planning to develop new products in the next 2 years
• Sales- 71 percent of companies interviewed said that sales were stable, while 22 percent were increasing and only 7 percent were decreasing
• Local Investment- 53 percent of companies interviewed said that they were planning an expansion in the next 3 years

  -$65 million are being invested in such expansions
  -1,356 jobs were being added as result of such expansions

• Community Services- Some of the community services that companies interviewed had issues with were:

  -Property tax assessment
  -Zoning and building permits
  -Regulatory Enhancement

• Workforce- Entry level positions and skilled laborers were the most difficult to fill according to the companies interviewed. Some companies noted having difficult finding sales positions, and a few mentioned difficulty finding minority workers.
  

  -74 percent of companies interviewed said that employment needs were stable, while 24 percent said their needs were increasing and only 2 percent said they were decreasing

EBT members sit down one-on-one with business owners to gauge the pulse of the business community. The purpose of the visit is to collect confidential information from a standardized survey form. Once all the data is collected, the Chamber is able to see trends in sales, business expansion/decline, and issues of the companies, workforce and more through the use of this program.

For more information on specific aspects of the Existing Business Team, visit the following links:

• EBT Mission
• EBT Visits

To arrange a visit from the Existing Business Team, please contact the Chamber's Manager of Existing Business Retention Patricia Mattison, at (205) 241-8114.