{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"DT #647 From Legacy City to Regional Powerhouse: How Birmingham Is Rewriting Its Economic Future","description":"What does it take for a legacy industrial city to reinvent itself into a modern growth hub? In this episode of Develop This!, Dennis Fraise is joined by Trevor Sutton to explore Birmingham\u2019s ongoing economic transformation and the strategies shaping its future. From major wins like the Fannie Mae project to the continued rise of life sciences and metals industries, Birmingham is positioning itself as a diversified and competitive regional economy. Trevor breaks down how strategic investment, infrastructure, and workforce alignment are driving that shift. A major focus of the conversation is workforce development\u2014specifically how the region is working to align education, training, and industry needs to retain talent and support long-term growth. The discussion also highlights a broader truth in economic development: strong economies don\u2019t exist in isolation. Regional collaboration, quality of life, and coordinated planning are all essential to attracting and keeping major employers. A key takeaway? Birmingham\u2019s growth story is less about reinvention and more about intentional alignment across industry, talent, and region. Key Takeaways   Birmingham is evolving into a diversified, modern regional economy   Major projects like Fannie Mae are reshaping regional momentum   Workforce development is central to talent retention and growth   Regional collaboration is critical to long-term competitiveness   Industry diversity and quality of life must be balanced strategically   Key Topics Covered   Birmingham\u2019s economic transformation   The Fannie Mae project and regional impact   Workforce development and talent retention   Industry diversification and quality of life   Regional collaboration and infrastructure   Sound Bites   \u201cStrong economies are regional economies\u201d   \u201cCoffee shops and breweries are overhyped\u201d   \u201cBirmingham is a true life sciences hub\u201d   &amp;nbsp; ","author_name":"Develop This: Economic and Community Development","author_url":"http:\/\/www.developthispodcast.com","html":"<iframe title=\"Libsyn Player\" style=\"border: none\" src=\"\/\/html5-player.libsyn.com\/embed\/episode\/id\/41192275\/height\/90\/theme\/custom\/thumbnail\/yes\/direction\/forward\/render-playlist\/no\/custom-color\/88AA3C\/\" height=\"90\" width=\"600\" scrolling=\"no\"  allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen><\/iframe>","thumbnail_url":"https:\/\/assets.libsyn.com\/secure\/content\/201641920"}