Deconstructing REV, Birmingham’s Economic Development Organization
What does REV Birmingham, the city’s economic development organization, do? They describe themselves as a group “that stimulates business growth and improves quality of life in Birmingham.” But WELD says that mission isn’t clearly visible to Birmingham residents. Reporters from WELD took to Facebook to ask what their readers thought.
“They’re the expensive outsourced economic development department of the mayor,” wrote Joseph Casper Baker III in a Facebook comment. “They’re great at organizing block parties.”
Shirley Hicks, meanwhile, wrote that she had “experienced and observed” REV “helping the different neighborhood business associations get setup [sic] with basic tools they need to enhance communications and coordination…[and evaluating] roadblocks and [helping] smooth processes at City Hall so that people starting new businesses or making changes to existing ones don’t get stuck in paperwork because they couldn’t find the right form or get in touch with the right department.”
Others expressed the opposite perspective. “So far, I’ve only observed them helping just one business in East Lake,” Natalye S. Pond wrote. “I hope someone can show me that I’m wrong.”
Laura Frances Wise added, “I haven’t heard a peep out of REV in nearly 3 years. I didn’t know what was going on with it.”
Nick Patterson, editor of WELD, joined WBHM’s Rachel Osier Lindley to discuss the organization’s history, challenges and mission.
A proposed Bessemer data center faces new hurdles: a ‘road to nowhere’ and the Birmingham darter
With the City Council in Bessemer scheduled to vote Tuesday on a “hyperscale” data center, challenges from an environmental group and the Alabama Department of Transportation present potential obstacles for the wildly unpopular project.
Birmingham Museum of Art’s silver exhibit tells a dazzling global story
Silver and Ceremony is made up of more than 150 suites of silver, sourced from India, and some of their designs.
Mentally ill people are stuck in jail because they can’t get treatment. Here’s what’s to know
Hundreds of people across Alabama await a spot in the state’s increasingly limited facilities, despite a consent decree requiring the state to address delays in providing care for people who are charged with crimes but deemed too mentally ill to stand trial. But seven years since the federal agreement, the problem has only worsened.
Ivey appoints Will Parker to Alabama Supreme Court
Parker fills the court seat vacated by Bill Lewis who was tapped by President Donald Trump for a federal judgeship. The U.S. Senate last month confirmed Lewis as a U.S. district judge.
How Alabama Power kept bills up and opposition out to become one of the most powerful utilities in the country
In one of the poorest states in America, the local utility earns massive profits producing dirty energy with almost no pushback from state regulators.
No more Elmo? APT could cut ties with PBS
The board that oversees Alabama Public Television is considering disaffiliating from PBS, ending a 55-year relationship.
