Publication names Landing HQ recruitment its Startup ‘Deal of the Year’

Business Facilities, a national publication focusing on economic development, has selected Alabama’s recruitment of Landing’s headquarters relocation project as one of its “Deals of the Year” in a new ranking.

Landing, a company building a nationwide network of fully furnished apartments available in a membership model, announced plans in June 2021 to move its headquarters from San Francisco to Birmingham. The move means 816 new jobs for the city.

Landing’s move was made possible by a partnership forged with the State of Alabama, Jefferson County and the City of Birmingham, led by the Birmingham Business Alliance.

Business Facilities named the project its “Deal of the Year” in the Startup category. The announcement was made online and will be included in the magazine’s January/February issue, out next month.

“As a Birmingham native, relocating our headquarters and expanding our Alabama team was a natural transition,“ Landing founder and CEO Bill Smith said at the time of the announcement. “I’m excited by the opportunity to continue to scale Landing and bring new jobs and economic opportunities to my community.”

Smith previously started Shipt, an app-based delivery service that was acquired by Target Corp. in 2017.

When it was announced, the Alabama Department of Commerce estimated the financial impacts of Landing’s relocation and expansion project over 20 years, which included:

• Total new payroll: $1.3 billion
• Total new state revenue: $112 million
• Return on investment to the state: 356%

“Bill Smith is a rock star in Alabama’s innovation economy through his experience with Shipt, and Landing represents an interesting new chapter in a business career that has already produced massive success,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

Ron Kitchens, chief executive of the BBA, said the recruitment of Landing underscores the region’s ability to attract and grow technology-focused companies.

STATE RANKINGS

Last summer, Business Facilities also gave Alabama several high rankings in its 17th annual “State Rankings Report, including:

• Best Business Climate — No. 5
• Customized Training — No. 3
• Manufacturing Employment — No. 6
• Manufacturing Output — No. 8
• Automotive Manufacturing — No. 6

Business Facilities also singled out several Alabama metro areas in the report.

• Huntsville — No. 4 Millennial Magnet
• Mobile — No. 5 Best Business Climate (population below 200,000)
• Birmingham-Hoover — No. 5 Health Care Hubs
• Huntsville — No. 6 Tech Hubs (growth potential)
• Decatur — No. 7 Manufacturing Hubs