REV Strategic Plan | 2020-2022 - REV Birmingham

REV's 3-year vision

REV Birmingham is a place-based revitalization and economic development nonprofit on a mission to create vibrant commercial districts.

From 2020 to 2022, we are executing a strategic plan to support entrepreneurs who dream of filling vacant spaces across the city, implement the City Center Master Plan in several downtown districts identified as strategic opportunity areas, and work with the Woodlawn community to strengthen their commercial district.

Now, in the face of COVD-19, REV’s vibrancy-driving work is more important than ever to help the city recover from the pandemic’s economic impact.

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Here’s a look at our 3-year strategic plan:

VISION

Vibrancy-creating businesses—supported by REV—create jobs and build Individual & Family wealth.

STRATEGIES

Expand the strategies below to see more details about how REV’s team will be working in that area from 2020 to 2022.

Drive the creation and growth of restaurant, retail and service businesses through tailored technical assistance.

Small businesses grow best when they have a solid foundation.

Support resiliency within Birmingham’s entrepreneurial community by working with business owners to address their needs to sustain and evolve their business in response to COVID-19.
Lower the barrier to entry for entrepreneurs by providing low-cost workshops and free one-on-one consulting. REV’s team has expertise in business planning and proforma creation, brand story development, financial modeling, and real estate process navigation.

Connect business owners with market-testing opportunities like Woodlawn Street Market, where they can test their concept and experience real customer feedback.

Work with developers to develop Birmingham—ensuring projects are designed to respect historical context and meet community needs.

Developments should connect with community, honor historical context and create great places.

Bolster REV’s position as an authority on market data research and site identification for catalytic development.
Smooth and speed the development process by consulting with developers on permitting, regulations, financing and incentives, as well as connections to professional services.
Ensure new developments and redevelopment projects are inclusive and authentic to Birmingham by assisting developers with community engagement efforts.
Advocate at the local and state level for expanding developers’ toolbox with incentives like the Historic Tax Credit and New Market Tax Credit.

VISION

Downtown Birmingham is the Heart & Soul of the region.

STRATEGIES

Expand the strategies below to see more details about how REV’s team will be working in that area from 2020 to 2022.

Transform 20th Street and Linn Park into vibrant downtown anchors and create retail districts along 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North

All of Birmingham needs the City Center to stay strong and grow.

Increase affordable spaces for businesses through consulting with business owners, building owners and developers on master planning, property visioning, redevelopment support and recruitment support.
Maintain and strengthen the image of downtown as clean, safe and welcoming for all through management of the CAP program.
Connect people experiencing homelessness downtown with services and resources.
Refresh 20th Street streetscape with improved landscaping and programming.
Rejuvenate Linn Park, the endpoint of 20th Street, as a connection between the Central Business District and Citywalk/Uptown.
Employ tactical urbanism techniques to demonstrate new and creative uses of public spaces.
Brand and market the City Center.
Implement wayfinding signage to make navigating downtown easier for visitors.
Recommend solutions for parking system management.

Drive the implementation of a full and robust plan for Birmingham's innovation district, The Switch.

Birmingham’s innovators need an epicenter—for critical mass, resources and community.

Lead district stakeholders in a common vision for district growth.
Brand the district—The Switch—and incorporate it into the larger City Center district branding efforts.
Collect and maintain tenant and property data to drive development and recruitment to The Switch
Set a vision and implement a plan for The Switch Trail to bring distinct character and connectivity to the district.
Galvanize property owners and stakeholders to form a Business Improvement District (BID) to provide resources for the place-based work that will strengthen The Switch as an innovation destination.

Expand Business Improvement District (BID) boundaries and services to more districts beyond the City Center.

Together, property owners can better deploy resources to support place-changing work in their districts.

Parkside, The Switch, Five Points South and the Loft District are areas that we believe could greatly benefit from creating Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). In a BID, local stakeholders oversee and fund the maintenance, improvement and promotion of their commercial district.
REV manages Birmingham’s only current BID, comprised of the City Center roughly from 16th to 22nd Street and 5th Avenue South to the BJCC (see the map). In the City Center, BID resources fund CAP’s clean and safe services as well as more place-improving and place-making projects such as Upswing.

VISION

Woodlawn is the hub for equitable entrepreneurship.

STRATEGIES

Expand the strategies below to see more details about how REV’s team will be working in that area from 2020 to 2022.

Develop properties in line with this vision and in support of equitable & inclusive entrepreneurship.

Woodlawn has strong historic fabric that new developments must respect.

Fully lease SocialVenture and REV’s 55th Place properties with a strong and diverse tenant mix.
Target additional properties for commercial redevelopment and consult with other developers and property owners on Woodlawn developments.
Lead transit-oriented development at the Birmingham Rapid Transit (BRT) center in Woodlawn to include retail opportunities for local entrepreneurs.

Support the growth & recruitment of more equitable & inclusive businesses in Woodlawn.

Woodlawn is about finding your fit—whether you’ve been around for a minute or are new to the block.

Foster a Woodlawn-based entrepreneurial community through Open in Woodlawn programming to include socials, district orientation, start-up business coaching, and strategic collaboration with Woodlawn Business Association.
Connect entrepreneurs with business planning resources, and encourage market-testing through Woodlawn Street Market, pop-ups and restaurant takeovers.
Support entrepreneurs in navigating the real estate process to open brick & mortar locations in Woodlawn.
Provide ongoing technical assistance to help businesses scale and grow, achieve and retain ownership of their business and property.

Position diverse legacy businesses for future growth.

Even as Woodlawn grows, we’re focused on keeping its distinct character intact.

Partner with legacy businesses and property owners to plan and implement volunteer-supported facade refreshes.
Consult with new business owners to encourage prioritizing local hiring and pursuing inclusive business models that include attainable pricing and product mixes.
Design sustainable security solutions in partnership with business and property owners.
Develop ownership strategies and other technical assistance for legacy businesses.

Brand Woodlawn as a home for equitable entrepreneurship.

Woodlawn is a vibrant community full of talented, creative people.

Grow and build Woodlawn Street Market as a venue for promoting the district to new audiences.
Promote Woodlawn’s equitable entrepreneurship brand through social media, digital and traditional media.
Further support Woodlawn’s equitable entrepreneurship brand with public art campaigns.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

The challenges of 2020 are pushing Birmingham to emerge an even stronger city. As Birmingham once again raises its collective voice against racism and continues to adjust to the impacts of COVID-19, REV Birmingham’s team is working hard to find ways to build community and resources in support of an ever-increasingly vibrant city.

And we need your help! Yaysayers like you can help build a more vibrant Birmingham by supporting REV’s business-supporting and place-making work. Give for the good of Birmingham.

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News

The Big Pitch contestants: where are they now?

September 22, 2022

Filed Under: Big Pitch, Front Page, Small Business, Uncategorized

If you’ve been following REV for a while, you probably remember The Big Pitch Competitions we used to hold back in the day. The Big Pitch presented by PNC was essentially our own little version of Shark Tank. And a lot of your favorite local businesses that participated in this competition now have active retail storefronts that you can go check out. Let’s start with some of our finalists that are based in the City of Birmingham and see what they’ve been up to!

Read More
Downtown Birmingham's latest development is proof that small buildings can have big impacts too!

September 15, 2022

Filed Under: Developer, Downtown Birmingham, Filling Vacant Spaces, Front Page, Potential-Proving, Uncategorized

Have you been to Downtown Birmingham’s newest development located on 25th Street? If not, you need to head down there ASAP and check it out! This new single story development is a product of a collaboration between David Baker Architects (DBA) and Locke General Contractors, led by DBA’s very own Amanda Loper. It is intended to be a “collaborative commercial space in a catalyst development area of Birmingham.” Both DBA and Locke General Contractors will be tenants of the space, along with June Coffee Roasters, Zephyr Barber, and Last Call Baking Cooperative!

Read More
The music scene in downtown Birmingham is booming!

September 9, 2022

Filed Under: Downtown Birmingham, Events, Front Page, Uncategorized

One of Birmingham’s many hidden treasures is the music scene downtown. The sheer volume of concert venues we have in downtown Birmingham is something most people aren’t even aware of – but it really is remarkable! There is truly something for everyone, whether you’re into the smaller, more intimate venues or the large-scale venues for those big name artists. Keep reading to check out some of the cool venues downtown Birmingham has to offer.

Read More

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Questions about our strategic plan?

Set up time with our team to learn more about REV’s vision for 2020-2022 and how we intend to get there!

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REV Birmingham

REV's 3-year vision

Vibrancy-creating businesses—supported by REV—create jobs and build Individual & Family wealth.

Drive the creation and growth of restaurant, retail and service businesses through tailored technical assistance.

Work with developers to develop Birmingham—ensuring projects are designed to respect historical context and meet community needs.

Downtown Birmingham is the Heart & Soul of the region.

Transform 20th Street and Linn Park into vibrant downtown anchors and create retail districts along 2nd Avenue North and 3rd Avenue North

Drive the implementation of a full and robust plan for Birmingham's innovation district, The Switch.

Expand Business Improvement District (BID) boundaries and services to more districts beyond the City Center.

Woodlawn is the hub for equitable entrepreneurship.

Develop properties in line with this vision and in support of equitable & inclusive entrepreneurship.

Support the growth & recruitment of more equitable & inclusive businesses in Woodlawn.

Position diverse legacy businesses for future growth.

Brand Woodlawn as a home for equitable entrepreneurship.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

GIVE YAYS

GIVE MONEY

GIVE TIME

News

The Big Pitch contestants: where are they now?

Downtown Birmingham's latest development is proof that small buildings can have big impacts too!

The music scene in downtown Birmingham is booming!

Questions about our strategic plan?

Contact Us