On Wednesday, officials gathered to celebrate the opening of a new warehouse, covering 25,000 square feet, at Port Birmingham Terminal. This development is a significant step forward for enhancing Alabama’s storage and logistics capabilities on its inland waterways.
The facility is specifically designed for handling cold rolled steel coils, which will bolster its importance as a logistics and manufacturing center for Central Alabama, improving efficiency and capacity at Port Birmingham along the Warrior River.
“This initiative is an important milestone in our efforts to boost economic growth in Birmingham and Jefferson County,” noted David Russell Jr. from the Jefferson County Port Bureau (BJCPA). “With our strategic partnerships and investments in infrastructure, we’re ready to create new avenues for growth and prosperity in our communities.”
BJCPA, in collaboration with private partner Watko, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony that welcomed local leaders and state officials, including Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Greg Reid and ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell.
Director Reid remarked that this project shows the strength of collaboration aimed at achieving positive economic outcomes for families and the community in this part of Alabama.
Angela Miss, a senior project manager at the Alabama Department of Commerce, highlighted that the facility aligns with the state’s recent Catalyst Economic Development Strategic Plan.
“This will cater to sectors crucial for our economic growth strategy,” she stated. “It’s about driving investment, creating jobs, and enhancing long-term competitiveness.
“More than just a warehouse, it’s a commercial gateway and an essential element of Alabama’s logistics and manufacturing environment,” she added.
Funded by Alabama’s first inland port infrastructure grant managed by ADECA, the project facilitates necessary upgrades to inland waterway facilities statewide.
The warehouse marks phase one of a broader vision to elevate Port Birmingham as a high-performance commercial hub, both nationally and internationally. Future plans include acquiring a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) designation to further attract global companies in the southeast.
Ultimately, the new facility sets the groundwork for a planned intermodal terminal, which will help enhance Alabama’s supply chain, lower freight costs, and bring new investments to the area.
“This is our first major project, and we’re officially open for business,” stated BJCPA Chairman Mahari McTier.
