Legacy Business
Legacy Business Program
The Office of Business Diversity and Opportunity (OBDO) strategic plan in “Finding Purpose in Place” has an objective to support, protect, and promote legacy businesses who have contributed significantly to the fabric of our city, but may be in jeopardy of not being able to thrive in the midst of the city’s growth. Small businesses are the lifeblood of our community and OBDO is committed to strategically supporting small businesses with a diverse portfolio of resources and partners.
To be considered for the Legacy Business Program, businesses must minimally meet the following:
Legacy Business is a business that has been in operation for a minimum of 25 continuous years within the city of Birmingham and typically has less than 20 employees. Legacy businesses have contributed to the historic and cultural fabric of Birmingham and are committed to maintaining culinary, art, and/or craft heritages that braid the history and progression of Birmingham.
Why a Legacy Business Program?
High-dollar redevelopment projects and rapid economic growth often jeopardize the survival of legacy businesses. This program provides a formalized platform to ensure these businesses remain vital contributors to Birmingham’s economy and culture.
Program Benefits
Registered legacy businesses will gain access to the following:
- Inclusion in a dedicated Legacy Business Registry.
- Decals for public recognition at their place of business.
- Recognition by Birmingham’s elected officials.
- A social media marketing toolkit.
- The opportunity to feature a 1-2 minute promotional video on the City of Birmingham’s IEO/OBDO website and social media.
- Specialized training opportunities tailored to their unique needs.
As the program grows, additional grants and resources will be introduced to further support businesses on the registry.
Cultural and Historical Impact
Legacy businesses are more than just economic contributors; they tell the story of Birmingham’s neighborhoods and its evolution. Providing details about the cultural and historical significance of each business helps the city foster partnerships and expand the Legacy Business resource toolkit.
Eligibility and Applications
Businesses that meet the basic criteria are encouraged to apply. Special considerations are made for businesses that:
- Have undergone rebranding or ownership changes.
- Lack historical documents but can otherwise demonstrate long-standing community impact.
- Employ more than 20 individuals, as applications are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Join the City of Birmingham in celebrating and supporting the businesses that have helped shape our community. Apply or Nominate a Legacy Business today!
Frequently Asked Questions
High dollar capital projects often displace or disrupt legacy businesses and as metro economy continues to grow, we want to ensure there’s a formalized platform for these legacy businesses continue to thrive.
The inaugural program will offer a dedicated legacy business registry and each legacy business will receive decals to display at their business. As the program continues to develop, grant funding and other resources will be specifically dedicated to registry.
- Public recognition by elected officials.
- Social media marketing toolkit
- Ability to display 1-2 minute promotional video on the City’s website.
- Access to specialized training opportunities
The City of Birmingham is committed to revitalizing neighborhoods and providing the cultural and historical impact of each business allows us to continue to tell the story and forge partnership to expand the legacy business resource toolkit.
We encourage you to still apply as each application will be reviewed individually. On average, small businesses with less than 25 employees are at a higher risk of disruption due to the lack of access to resources.
We encourage you to still apply as each application will be reviewed individually. Please submit as many historical documents as possible to help tell the story of your neighborhood impact.
At this time, the Legacy Business Program does require 25 continuous years of business in the city of Birmingham.
When the current ownership is not the original owner and has owned the business for less than 25 years, the applicant will need to provide documentation of the existence of the business prior to current ownership to verify it has been in operations for 25+ years.
