"Advance Greater Birmingham: CEDS 2023-2028" Published

The RPCGB’s Economic Development Department recently completed and published the five-year update of the region’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, or CEDS. The CEDS, named “Advance Greater Birmingham” is a a strategy-driven plan for regional economic growth and is designed to prioritize regional economic needs, support capacity building for local communities, and guide the economic prosperity and resiliency of the Greater Birmingham region. This document is constructed to be used as a roadmap for advancing and diversifying the regional economy. and member governments and organizations can utilize the content of the CEDS as a guide for the development of grant applications and other projects to enhance economic opportunities for their residents and communities.

The Advance Greater Birmingham CEDS plan can be found here. For more information about the CEDS or the CEDS planning process, please visit the CEDS webpage or contact Jesslan Wilson, Director of Economic Development, at jwilson@rpcgb.org.

RPCGB Awarded USDA Rural Development Grant

In Fall 2022, The RPCGB was awarded a $250,000 cooperative agreement award through the USDA’s “Rural Placemaking Innovation Challenge” program. This project will be used to conduct Economic Development Strategic Plans (EDSPs) for three communities - Dora, Nauvoo, and Parrish - in Walker County. These plans will evaluate current market conditions, assets, and gaps, conduct community engagement, and develop a specialized action plan for each municipality reflective other their unique strengths and opportunities. 

These plans will also tie in with the county’s outdoor recreation initiative, and a specific focus for these plans will be evaluating methods to leverage existing assets to establish an outdoor recreation industry and improve broadband connectivity within these areas. To learn more, visit the USDA’s website or contact Jesslan Wilson, Director of Economic Development, at jwilson@rpcgb.org.

RPCGB Awarded EPA Brownfield Assessment Grant

In May 2022, the RPCGB was awarded a $500,000 EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant, which will allow RPCGB and its partners, Jefferson County, Walker County, and the City of Cordova, to develop a regional brownfield inventory, complete environmental assessments, and develop site specific cleanup plans. The agency is working with PM Environmental group to conduct the project. To lean more, click here.

For questions or additional information, please contact Jesslan Wilson, Director of Economic Development, at jwilson@rpcgb.org, or visit the RPCGB’s Brownfields Redevelopment page.