Cool Community Task Force

Did you know that in 2006, two workers will exit the workforce for every one entering and by 2008, there will be a shortage of 10 million workers across all employment categories nationwide? (U.S. Census Bureau). The Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce assembled a task force of young professionals in January 2005 to deal with the issue of bringing young, college-educated people to the Magic City.

In January 2005, the Chamber convened the Cool Community Task Force to begin an initial analysis on what trends are emerging in the Birmingham workforce that may impact the Magic City's ability to attract and retain young, talented workers in the future. Several southeastern cities have capitalized on similar research to market their communities as "talent magnets" for the young American worker. Charlotte, for example, has attracted more than 40,000 young workers during the last 10 years -- the same time frame that Birmingham saw a net in-migration of just under 2,000 young workers.

The task force is made up of working professionals who live and reside in the Birmingham metropolitan area. This diverse cross-section of young workers come from a variety of professions including restaurant and entertainment industry, human resources, the legal profession as well as education. The group is chaired by former TV anchorwoman Malena Cunningham, Ann Huckstep of Adams & Reese/Lange Simpson LLC and the Alabama School of Fine Arts' John Northrop.

The task force commissioned economist Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting to conduct a months-long study of the Birmingham region. Ryan, who was named a 2004 "Woman of Influence" by the Business Journal and Entrepreneur of the Year by the US Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship, evaluates a community's profile among YPs in seven unique indexes she has found to be common amenities among the highly-sought after young worker. More than 80 Birmingham area YP's participated in 75 minute focus groups. The results of her study were unveiled in what she calls a "handprint" at the Chamber's Annual Meeting on December 15, 2005.

To read the handprint, click here.

The information could help city, civic and business leaders determine how Birmingham will fare in the battle for the highly sought-after Generation Xer and beyond.

The Chamber and the task force's efforts were mentioned in a January 15, 2006 article in The Boston Globe. To read the story, click on the icon. 

Visit the Cool Community Task Force's Wiki page. Task force members login to the Cool Community Task Force website.

For more information about the Cool Community Task Force or the Birmingham Handprint, please contact Alison Howell at (205) 241-8115.