Cottondale Auto Parts Plant to Close, Cutting 83 Jobs Six Years After $34M Buildup

An auto parts plant in Cottondale is expected to close by Dec. 31, eliminating 83 jobs at a facility that received a multimillion-dollar expansion commitment just six years ago. The closure of the International Automotive Components Group North America plant marks a sharp reversal from the growth plans the company touted in 2020.

Tuscaloosa Foreclosure Auction Open to Interested Buyers

The City of Tuscaloosa will auction foreclosed and surplus properties November 18. Here's what potential buyers should know before bidding.

Alabama: Propelling Growth

From aerospace and advanced manufacturing to automotive and technology, companies continue to expand their operations across Alabama, bringing new investment and jobs throughout the region. In 2025, Alabama recorded a record $14.6 billion in capital investment from 234 new and expanding projects, highlighting the state’s continued momentum in attracting businesses and strengthening its workforce.

Parker Towing renames 1974-built towboat to honor longtime captain

Parker Towing Company has renamed a 3,800-hp towboat built in 1974 in honor of Capt. Bill Archie, a longtime company captain who spent much of his career navigating Alabama’s Black Warrior River. The 130-foot Capt. Bill Archie, built by Fredeman Shipyard in Carlyss, La., was christened Oct. 27 during...

Bernard’s Honored as Alabama’s 2026 Gold Retailer of the Year

When Rusty Richardson accepted the Alabama Retail Association’s 2026 Gold Retailer of the Year award on November 5, he could have spent his time reflecting on decades of business success. Instead, he talked about the people. He thanked his wife, Elizabeth, who had nominated him for the award without...

Photos: Candy manufacturer plans $3.8M expansion, 60 new jobs in Irondale

IRONDALE, Ala. (WBMA) — A candy manufacturer in Irondale is planning a multimillion-dollar expansion that could bring dozens of new jobs to Jefferson County, with city leaders considering tax incentives to help make the project happen. Sandblast by Creative Concepts Inc., an existing candy manufacturer located at 1500 Georgia...

Atlanta Firm Acquires Tuscaloosa’s Century-Old JamisonMoneyFarmer Accountants

JamisonMoneyFarmer PC, the Tuscaloosa accounting firm that has operated here since 1920, has been acquired by Atlanta-based Frazier & Deeter, though customers should not expect to feel the change.

Husband-and-wife team opens Hwy 31 Wine & Spirits in Pelham

PELHAM – Pelham’s newest business is bringing an expanded selection of spirits, beer, wine and tobacco products to a busy stretch of Pelham Parkway. Hwy 31 Wine & Spirits, located at 2169 Pelham Parkway, Suite B, officially opened on Thursday, Oct. 8. The store is owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Vijayakumar “VJ” Arunachalam and Nadiya Arunachalam.

After nearly 70 years, Birmingham's Fountain Heights is getting a grocery store of its own

For generations, getting groceries in Birmingham’s Fountain Heights neighborhood has meant traveling outside the community to find fresh food. Fountain Heights Farms Cooperative will open the We All Eat Market on Saturday, Nov. 7, bringing a neighborhood grocery store to Fountain Heights for the first time in nearly 70 years.

Charnita and Jason Horton bet big on Black wealth in Alabama

Charnita and Jason Horton have spent years building businesses together. Now they own the building, too. The entrepreneurial couple and television personalities have acquired a nearly 15,000-square-foot commercial property in Birmingham, Alabama, that will serve as headquarters for Just Tax Pros, a new tax preparation, training, recruiting and entrepreneurial development company founded by Charnita Horton. The 14,990-square-foot property at 8315 1st Avenue North officially changed hands in September.

Birmingham Inventory Climbs as List Prices Sit Well Below the National Median

Birmingham buyers found more listings, more time to decide, and prices well below the national median.

Husky Barbershop: A Trussville icon returns

The Husky Barbershop has reopened at its longtime location under new ownership, with the original chairs still in place after the shop sat empty for an extended period.

You Could Hunt For Treasures For Hours Inside This 120,000-Square-Foot Alabama Antique Mall

Most buildings in Alabama don’t make your heart beat a little faster when you walk through the door, but Irondale Pickers in Irondale, Alabama is not most buildings. It’s a 120,000-square-foot antique mall and indoor market with around 500 vendors, and it earns that elevated heart rate completely.

Techstars EnergyTech Accelerator brings new innovators to Alabama

Birmingham, Alabama — Since launching in 2019, Techstars Alabama EnergyTech has quietly built a bridge between early-stage founders and the industrial backbone of the Southeast. . Now entering its seventh year, the 13-week program is run in partnership with Alabama Power, Innovate Alabama and the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama....

How Clotheshorse has thrived in Vestavia Hills for 34 years

Before Clotheshorse upscale consignment was a Vestavia Hills staple, it was a habit passed down in Becky Sager’s family. Her grandmother took her everywhere to thrift, sparking a bargain-hunter instinct that would reshape life with her husband, Tim. “It was in my blood,” Becky said. “I knew I loved...

This Massive Alabama Antique Store Is Where Bargain Hunters Score Amazing Treasures Under $30

If you’ve ever stood in a big box store holding something beige and forgettable and thought “there has to be a better way,” Irondale Pickers in Irondale, Alabama is your answer. It’s an antique mall and indoor market where the inventory is interesting, the prices are reasonable,...

Providers General Store opens near Birmingham’s Ruffner Mountain

Providers General Store, the much-anticipated retail store with a community cafe, opened October 31, 2026. A “gateway to Ruffner Mountain,” Providers is located a couple of blocks from the popular nature preserve, at the former Ruffner Relics spot on 8039 Rugby Avenue, Birmingham, AL in the South East Lake Neighborhood.

Construction Underway at New Saban Smart Home

Alabama Power plan to demolish structure next to Powell Avenue substation stalls over wall design

Your support helps us grow and sustain a newsroom for the City Built to Change the South. Donate today to help Birmingham stay informed. Publisher’s note: The story has been updated on Nov. 2, 2026, to properly identify the project and the property in question. Alabama Power Co. is...