Leah Ingram Eagle
Melody Whitten, 58 Inc.
At Thursday’s Shelby Chamber Connections Luncheon, hosted by the Existing Business and Industry Work Group, 58 Inc. Development Director Melody Whitten shared an economic update on Shelby County.
Although 58 Inc. has only been in existence for a year and a half, it is already making great strides. Whitten said they’ve been able to get out in the communities and establish relationships with businesses in the cities, along with their mayors.
Their main focus has been working with new and expanding business. In 2018 they had four expansions and created 98 jobs that brought in $8 million in capital investment. There are 10 expansions in progress that will create 335 jobs and bring $120 million in capital investment. There are two new industries that will create 850 jobs and bring in $12.5 million in capital investment. Eleven recruits are in progress that will create four jobs and bring in $4 million in capital investment.
“There is lots of growth with existing businesses and industry,” Whitten said. “This is a very active program. Last year alone, we made over 90 business retention and expansion visits in which we had conversations with them on the challenges preventing them from growing and how we can help them grow.”
58 Inc. works with partners including the Alabama Department of Commerce, Alabama Power and the Birmingham Business Alliance to keep existing businesses in Shelby County. Whitten said they also chase retail every day and attend trade shows to keep up to date on the newest projects.
Whitten said workforce development is their number one priority at moment. When 58 Inc. formed, they didn’t envision it would be the number one thing they do, she added. They have also helped to create apprenticeship programs that allow people to go to school during the day and work at night.
“We started with three companies and seven individuals,” she said. “We have partnered with Jefferson State and Lawson State with welding and maintenance programs.”
With only 20% of jobs requiring a college degree, and 60% to 80% of high school graduates going to college, the trade program has become unbalanced. 58 Inc. works with companies to provide leadership training at no cost. They also conduct industry tours with students throughout the year to expose kids to careers in manufacturing and also work with career coaches at high schools to identify which students might be a match.
“It’s just as big of a win when you expose them to something, so they can figure out what they don’t want to do and what they do want to do,” Whitten said.
58 Inc. will host a Cast the Vision employer meeting on Monday, June 10, at the Pelham Civic Complex at 11:30 a.m. For more information, visit 58inc.org.
The next chamber luncheon will be June 26 at 11:30 a.m. at the Birmingham Marriott and will be hosted by the Tourism & Recreation Work Group. The Bruno Event team will share the impact that tourism has on Shelby County.
