REV Strategic Plan | 2020-2022

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.

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.

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.
Speed business growth and open doors to more resources through The Big Pitch, an annual competition in which businesses compete for prizes including cash and service packages.

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.
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

Birmingham’s momentum isn’t happening by chance. REV Birmingham’s team is working every day to push the city to new levels of awesome.

As a nonprofit, we need your help to keep this momentum going. Yaysayers like you can help build a more vibrant Birmingham by supporting REV’s potential-proving and place-making work. Give for the good of Birmingham.

GIVE YAYS

Positive words go a long way. Share what you love about Birmingham with #YayBham on social media!

GIVE MONEY

Your donations help REV create vibrancy in Birmingham. From $5 to $5,000, your dollars make a difference.

Donate via Paypal

GIVE TIME

We love working with volunteers with a heart for Birmingham. Sign up for our newsletter below and look for the volunteer section in our twice-monthly email.

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Discover More News

REV's 3-year vision

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

Downtown Birmingham is the Heart & Soul of the region.

Woodlawn is the hub for equitable entrepreneurship.

SUPPORT OUR WORK

GIVE YAYS

GIVE MONEY

GIVE TIME

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

News