The Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) reported Wednesday that Lowe’s is building an enormous distribution center in Bessemer to bolster its supply chain operations.

Details on the dollar amount being invested in the site, and how many jobs it will create, were not ascertained by the BBJ.

A Chicago-based developer has purchased 96 acres to begin construction of the project. It will be located on Morgan Rd in Bessemer, just southwest of the Ross Bridge golf course. Per the BBJ, the developer bought the land from U.S. Steel for $4 million.
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A new initiative called Birmingham Bound is set to revamp and recruit companies of high-growth to produce a satellite office or second headquarters in the Magic City.

With the help of the initiative, entrepreneurs in the city can be assured that jobs are created, which will shift the economic scene for many years. One obstacle to job creation has been getting company executives to visit, which can be cured by Birmingham Bound.

Britney Summerville, who is leading the initiative and serves as director of community engagement at Shipt, has worked with influential executives from Alabama Power, Innovation Depot, TechBirmingham, the city of Birmingham, the Alabama Department of Commerce and others. (more…)

Friday, the Birmingham Business Journal announced that three Alabamians – Tom Broughton of ServisFirst Bank, Jason Eppenger of Citizens Trust Bank and Shannon Spotswood of RFG Advisory – were named to a list of prominent influencers in the national financial sector.

The list is the “Business Journals’ Influencers: Finance” and spotlights 100 executives “who are having an impact on the banking and financial world across the nation.” (more…)

Healthcare has been the talk of nearly every political candidate, medical professional, and concerned citizen in recent history. With the passing and failure of Obamacare and the GOP’s failure to effectively repeal and replace it, many Americans face increasing uncertainty surrounding their healthcare options. It is estimated that the average American spends more than $10,000 a year on personal health care, and that number continues to increase. Our system is collapsing and needs fixing, and nowhere is this more evident than in our own backyard.

According to the Birmingham Business Journal, Alabama ranks near the bottom on a list of the best states for health care. The study, conducted by a personal finance website WalletHub, places the Yellowhammer State as 44th out of the 50 states and D.C. What is interesting is that the entire southeast falls in the same boat, with Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi ranked 40th, 43rd, 46th, and 50th respectively.

WalletHub used 35 metrics that were graded on a 100-point scale and weighted differently. Each metric was scored based on three dimensions – cost, access, and outcomes. They used these metrics to compile an average score to rank each state. Alabama scored a total of 45.45 points. Here’s how Alabama stacked up in some of the metrics:

• 19th – Average monthly insurance premium
• 17th – Hospital beds per capita
• 20th – Percent of insured children from birth to age 17
• 17th – Percent of at-risk adults with no routine doctor visit in past two years
• 19th – Percent of adults with no dental visit in past year
• 35th – Percent of medical residents retained

According to the BBJ, Alabama “ranked in the bottom five states for the fewest dentists per capita, the highest infant mortality rate and the highest heart disease rate.”

In spite of Alabama’s low rankings overall, UAB hospital is a definite bright spot.  It continues to rank No. 1 in the state, and according to U.S. News & World Report’s 2016-2017 “Best Hospitals” nine of UAB’s specialties rank among the nation’s top 50 programs in the country, with three ranking in the top 20.  Moreover,  UAB’s spot in the national rankings isn’t a new trend. The renowned medical centers have had programs ranked in top U.S. News & World Report top hospitals lists for over 20 years.

Those nine specialties and their 2016-2017 ranks are:

• Diabetes & Endocrinology – No. 30
• Ear, Nose & Throat – No. 29
• Gynecology – No. 16
• Urology – No. 49
• Neurology & Neurosurgery – No. 25
• Rheumatology – No. 11
• Nephrology – No. 20
• Cardiology & Heart Surgery – No. 37
• Pulmonology – No. 29

U.S. News & World Report began publishing hospital rankings in 1990 to identify the best medical centers for patients with the most challenging and unusual illnesses.

Japanese automotive giants Toyota Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corps. plan to partner to build a $1.6 billion auto plant in the U.S. The plant would employ nearly 4,000 workers to produce both cars and crossover vehicles. The companies are even exploring the production of electric vehicles at the facility, including developing crucial technology needed for such vehicles.

According to USA Today, Toyota also announced that it will move production of the Toyota Corolla to the U.S. plant, instead of Mexico as previously intended. This announcement comes after President Trump relentlessly criticized Toyota for manufacturing cars primarily sold in the U.S. in other countries. In January, Trump tweeted, “NO WAY! Build plant in U.S. or pay big border tax.”

For Mazda, the plant will be their first U.S. production since moving out of Ford ownership. Currently, all Mazda vehicles sold in the U.S. are manufactured in other countries.

The plant is a big victory for President Trump, as he continues to push his agenda of bringing more manufacturing jobs to American workers. He has also pushed to maintain the production of American-sold cars inside American borders.

RELATED: Racing to the Top: Alabama’s Auto Industry Continues to Grow After 20 Years

RELATED: Mississippi Labor Union Unwilling To Honor Vote of Employees – Will Do Same in Alabama

According to the Birmingham Business Journal, Alabama is among the eleven states being considered for the project. With an already thriving automotive industry, our state is a great fit for a new plant. As a right-to-work state, manufacturers have flocked to Alabama to avoid attempts at forceful unionization that have plagued other manufacturing industries across the nation. However, with the process just gearing up, Alabama will have to compete in the selection process along with the other ten states vying for the new Toyota plant. In a statement to Yellowhammer, a representative for Toyota noted that the company is using Jones Lang LaSalle to gather information on candidate sites. JLL, a commercial real estate firm, has locations in Montgomery and Mobile. The new plant will bring a significant economic impact to the area in which it is located. There is bound to be a bidding war between states eager to land those 4,000 jobs.

According to an article in the Birmingham Business Journal, a 510-acre amusement part—The Park at OWA is scheduled to open on July 21st in Foley, Alabama.

The themed park will boast 21 rides that include a roller coaster named “Rollin’ Thunder” .along with midway games, fast-food options, and the Parkside Gift Shop.

OWA’s website says:

OWA is a premier destination resort opening summer 2017 in the heart of Southern Alabama. Our proximity to Gulf Coast beaches, Tanger Outlets and a world-class sports facility makes OWA the ideal place for your growing business. This is not another tourist-driven-only market. If you are looking for year-round traffic and business, OWA is where it happens.

The park was created through a partnership between the City of Foley and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the owner, and developer of the destination.

“Our Tribe is excited to offer a family destination near Alabama’s beautiful beaches that will create memories this summer and for years to come,” said Poarch Creek Indians Tribal Chair and CEO, Stephanie A. Bryan. “We are also proud that OWA is positively impacting families living in Foley and the surrounding region through the job creation generated by this development.”

Tickets will be available for purchase beginning July 18 at the website, VisitOWA.com.

Retail and dining tenants will include: Wahlburgers, Sunglass World, Fairhope Soap Company, Alvin’s Island, Hershey’s Ice Cream Shop, and Utopia, although some of these will not be open until early September.

The OWA website also has a link to a press release stating that OWA  “the leading job creator for the state of Alabama. OWA is on track to create 620 new jobs this year alone. The report also recognizes OWA as the second largest investment in the state at $361 million.”

The site’s homepage concludes by saying,

The possibilities are endless here at OWA, and the benefits of being in a resort of this caliber are unmatched in this area of the South. Come be a part of something great. Come be a part of OWA.

Last Friday, members of the non-profit noticed that information on the page had been replaced with a video of a person dressed in all black holding a machine gun, as well as ISIS propaganda.

Upon discovering the hack, The Red Barn approached their web developer for help, who then turned everything over to the FBI. The developer has said it will build a new website for the non-profit while the FBI investigates.

According to the Birmingham Business Journal, experts at UAB said that approximately 4,000 other websites have been hacked by this same individual or group, and its targets appear to have been chosen at random.

The Red Barn offers therapy for all ages, including military veterans, through working with horses. “Each week over 100 children and adults visit the barn to work with our fabulous horses in order to strengthen their minds, bodies, and souls, The Red Barn’s new website says. “Whether they are attending a riding lesson, camp, or educational activity, everyone entering the barn is welcomed, encouraged, and loved.”

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— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015

Called a “serial entrepreneur” by the Birmingham Business Journal, Patel has created and sold several businesses since she moved to the United States from India as a 19 year old.

Being part of the list of 100 puts her in a place of honor among other entrepreneurial giants like Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, hip hop artist-turned-businessman Jay-Z, and popular jewelry designer Kendra Scott.

Tanveer Patel’s current venture, ConcertCare is a consulting company that assists medical practices with the technology side of running their businesses.

In addition to being an entrepreneur who has garnered national attention, Patel has been a wife in an arranged marriage for 22 years and is the mother of two boys.

In an interview with Upstart Business Journal, Ms. Patel said she loves Birmingham for its people, community and “Traditional American values.”

Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs?

“One thing is to be fearless. Fearless is about taking risks, taking calculated risks, raising new challenges and also making mistakes and saying what is on your mind without worrying about consequences.”

Like this article? Hate it? Follow me and let me know how you feel on Twitter!

— Elizabeth BeShears (@LizEBeesh) January 21, 2015

National Rifle Association President and Alabama native Jim Porter told the Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) Tuesday that he believes more gun manufacturers will follow in Remington’s footsteps and move to Alabama. He even alluded to some projects that may already be in the works, although he declined to get into specifics.

“I think Remington is doing what Mercedes did for us in the automobile business — it opens the doors to opportunity,” Porter said in a brief video interview with the BBJ. “There are a lot of things that we’re working on now for the state.”

Porter cited Alabama’s low tax, low regulation business climate and pro-Second Amendment policies as two of the main reasons gun manufacturers are looking to relocate to the Yellowhammer State.

“We’ve been fortune to have the most pro-gun state and the most pro-business state in the country,” Porter said. “I told (Remington CEO) George (Kollitides), ‘You will not make a better business decision in your lifetime other than to come to the State of Alabama. You will have the support of the Administration. You will have the support of the population. Everybody in the state is going to be lining up to work for Remington, to put on one of those green t-shirts.’ Through that we were able to get them to come down to Alabama and find a place that they absolutely love. And as you can see now, they have integrated a lot of their separate businesses into the facility there in Huntsville. They’re going to end up over the next couple of years with over 2,000 jobs being generated.”

Porter also expressed optimism that Alabama will continue its recent run of high-profile economic development successes.

“It’s absolutely fabulous,” Porter said of the Remington deal in particular. “And in my view there are a lot more opportunities out there that are available.”

Check out more of Yellowhammer’s Remington coverage:
1. Remington Arms moving 2,000+ jobs from NY to Alabama
2. Remington moves Bushmaster production line to Alabama
3. VIDEO: Alabama’s ‘We Dare Defend Our Rights’ motto played role in landing Remington
4. Ted Nugent: ‘God bless Alabama and God bless Remington!’
5. Birmingham Attorney Jim Porter Elected NRA President

Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims

Lisa Warren, CEO of the Birmingham-based Andrews Sports Medicine, told the Birmingham Business Journal (BBJ) today that “trying to manage patient care in a highly regulated environment” keeps her up at night.

Warren runs the business side of world-renowned orthopedic surgeon James Andrews’ medical practice.

“The facility’s orthopedists are known for working with some of the most recognizable professional athletes in the country, including Tom Brady, Albert Pujols, Bo Jackson, Jack Nicklaus and countless others. But the clinic offers its services to the everyday non-athlete as well,” explained Bryan Davis of the BBJ.

When asked what keeps her up at night, Warren said that “Health care is one of the most highly regulated environments next to money… There’s a tremendous amount of regulation, and trying to keep the patient at the center of what you’re doing in the midst of trying to get the rest of this done is a difficult battle.”

At the heart of conservatives’ criticism of ObamaCare is that they believe the law puts the government between doctors and their patients, effectively making it impossible to achieve patient-centered care.

Warren was a bit more diplomatic in her critique of the president’s healthcare law, but said she thinks parts of it are here to stay.

“People always ask if I think it will get repealed, and my answer is probably not completely,” she said. “Depending on the elections, there may be pieces of it changed, but I think by the time the elections come around in the next two years, it’s going to be so firmly entrenched that it’s not going to be able to be repealed completely.”

As for the pros and cons of the law, Warren said that ObamaCare’s requirement that insurance providers cover individuals regardless of any preexisting conditions has been a positive step, but she also noted that “Some of the deductibles and the patient responsibilities have increased.”

To read the full interview with Andrews Sports Medicine CEO Lisa Warren, head over to the BBJ’s website.

Follow Cliff on Twitter @Cliff_Sims

The Birmingham Business Journal just released their annual list of the 100 largest private companies in Birmingham, and Drummond Co. is at the top of the list after bringing in a whopping $3.7 billion in revenue in 2012.

“The industries represented vary widely, from steel production and distribution to financial services to supermarkets and everything in between,” said Anna McFaull, research director for the Birmingham Business Journal. “Companies included are headquartered in the Birmingham metro area and are privately held, with less than 50 percent ownership by an outside company.”

The top ten can be found below. To see the complete list of the top 100, visit the Birmingham Business Journal online.

Rank | Company Name | 2012 Revenue | Number of Employees

1 | Drummond Co. Inc. | $3.7 billion | 1,800 local employees
2 | O’Neal Industries | $2.5 billion | 370 local employees
3 | EBSCO Industries Inc. | $2.4 billion | 1,700 local employees
4 | Brasfield & Gorrie LLC | $2 billion 1,180 local employees
5 | McWane Inc. | $1.5 billion | 650 local employees
6 | American Cast Iron Pipe Co. | $1.2 billion | 1,700 local employees
7 | Coca-Cola Bottling Co. United Inc. | $774 million | 550 local employees
8 | Robins & Morton | $759 million | 250 local employees
9 | Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. Inc. | $733 million | 600 local employees
10| B.L. Harbert International LLC | $657 million | 318 local employees

Related:
1. Study shows Birmingham’s city government is gigantic

What else is going on?
1. Q&A with Governor Bentley while on the industrial recruitment trail in France
2. Heritage Action ranks voting records Alabama congressional delegation
3. Rogers to Obama Administration: Come Clean!
4. Will Mary Scott Hunter challenge Governor Bentley in GOP primary?
5. Shelby: the cyber threat is increasing, our adversaries grow bolder and more capable