Leadership Exchange is the rebrand of the Birmingham Business Alliance’s (BBA) former “Big Trip,” where local civic, governmental and private sector leaders visited thriving cities to gather ideas to bring back to Birmingham. This event is making its awaited return after a 15-year hiatus and will take place Sept. 29 through Oct. 1 in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. We look forward to speaking and learning from key leaders who helped create Research Triangle Park, Spark, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences and Bridge Club.
WHY RALEIGH?
Raleigh has innovated economic development and talent attraction, with Research Triangle Park creating a robust tech and bio ecosystem and filling jobs through North Carolina State University, Duke University and the University of North Carolina of Chapel Hill graduates.
Raleigh and Birmingham both share several similarities: both are major Southern cities experiencing growth and revitalization, with a focus on attracting new businesses and industries. However, Raleigh has recently emerged as a leading technology and innovation hub.
Economic developers with the BBA are excited to see how Raleigh has transformed itself into a thriving tech and biosciences ecosystem and see how similar strategies can be implemented in Birmingham. With Birmingham institutions like Southern Research, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and Innovation Depot, we see great potential to collaborate and continue to make our region a better place to work and live.
The demographics and statistics of Raleigh are also very comparable to those of Birmingham, which makes this location for Leadership Exchange attractive.
View Comparison Data for Raleigh-Cary MSA and Birmingham-Hoover MSA.
WHERE ARE WE VISITING?
RTP is a massive research and development center situated in the geographic triangle formed by North Carolina State University, Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It is known for being a hub of innovation and technology. It’s home to hundreds of companies that include Fortune 500 corporations, startups, government agencies and academic institutions. These organizations collaborate on biotechnology, information technology, pharmaceuticals and engineering. RTP has played an instrumental part in North Carolina’s economy by creating countless high-paying jobs and attracting large investment opportunities.
Spark North Carolina (SparkNC)
SparkNC is a program that prepares North Carolina Students for high-tech and high-demand careers like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning, Software Development, Computer Systems Engineering and Cybersecurity. SparkNC aids in increasing workforce participation by expanding the labor pool and improving the quality of life.
North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is the cornerstone of cultural and scientific engagement in the state dedicated to exploring the natural world. It’s more than a space to explore, it is a huge economic driver for the state. It benefits the economy through tourism, job creation, education and research, conventions and conferences and image enhancement.
Bridge Club is a social gathering space and event venue located on the 2nd and 3rd floors of a historic bank building in downtown Raleigh. This space attracts tourists to the downtown area, provides jobs for local residents and partners with local farms and businesses to source ingredients.
WHY IS LEADERSHIP EXCHANGE IMPORTANT?
In the past, these trips have contributed to a number of great projects for Birmingham. These include landmark projects like Railroad Park and Regions Field, both ideas with origins from Denver, Co. and Pittsburgh, Pa.
Regions Field and Railroad Park have been catalysts for regional economic development.
Regions Field attracts tourists and traffic, which has created new business opportunities. It has also assisted in the revitalization of downtown Birmingham because it is not only a source for economic development but also a community gathering space. Railroad Park has attracted residents and businesses, boosted property values, created jobs, improved quality of life and has become a popular tourist destination. Both of these developments continue to provide new life to our city and create gathering spaces that will continue to pay dividends for many generations.
The Leadership Exchange trip is another step in the right direction for the continuation of the revitalization and economic development of the Greater Birmingham Region! The BBA is pleased to be a part of that process and connect our government and elected officials throughout the region and surrounding cities to discuss additional avenues of economic success.
We’d like to thank Brasfield & Gorrie for helping us bring the “Big Trip” back to life through Leadership Exchange. Their successes as builders have allowed them to begin building smarter through innovation and new technologies, and we are pleased to be able to grow with them.
Read more about Leadership Exchange 2024 from BBA President & CEO Steve Ammons point of view here. Please contact BBA Vice President of Investor Relations Meredith Drennen at mdrennen@birminghambusinessalliance.com to inquire about sponsorship opportunities and further details.
