I’m David Sher.

I started ComebackTown to give Birmingham and Alabama a voice.

Here’s the problem: Birmingham and Jefferson County are losing population. Our metro area is stagnant. We keep losing jobs and our kids to other cities.

Birmingham’s been called the “City of Perpetual Promise” for as long as I can remember. When I speak to groups, I ask everyone to raise a hand if they think Birmingham has reached its potential. Nobody ever raises a hand.

That’s the gap ComebackTown exists to close.

Why aren’t we winning?

We’re centrally located in the Sun Belt. We’re gorgeous. Easy to get around. Outstanding healthcare. Smart, generous people. So why aren’t we competitive?

That’s the question we try to answer. And to be clear—we’re not chasing Atlanta-style sprawl. We just want a Birmingham that’s sustainable and growing on its own terms.

How ComebackTown works

• No advertising, ever
• New column every week
• Also runs in al.com and the Birmingham News
• Business-focused columns often run in the Birmingham Business Journal
• Subscribe to the free e-newsletter — published every other week

Want to get involved?

Interested in writing a guest column? Click here.

I’ll speak to your group about Birmingham’s future for free — just email me at dsher@comebacktown.com.

About David Sher

David Sher is the publisher and founder of ComebackTown, which he’s published for more than 14 years to advocate for Birmingham’s economic and civic future. He’s past chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (formerly BBA), Operation New Birmingham (now REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP).