Boosting Birmingham: Small Businesses Week

0:00Coriata Houser runs Birmingham's Department of Innovation and Economic Opportunity, a spot he's held since November 2025. He oversees workforce training, real estate deals, economic data, and more, but his real passion is boosting local small businesses to fuel the cities. Growth. Right now, him and his team are ramping up for Birmingham Small Business Week, happening May 3rd through 9th. The theme is, build big, elevate your vision, empower your journey, aim that hooking up entrepreneurs with resources, connections, and tools to level. Up targeting 500 to 600 businesses, Houser's journey to this role started rough. Lost his dad at 15 and mom at 17, forcing him to solve problems solo early on. Born in Silicoga, he grabbed a biology degree from Tuskegee University in 2009, then studied information engineering at UAB, blending. Science and business smart. Throughout his career, from tech startups and McWayne Science Center to city gigs during

1:02COVID, he's been the go-to solutions architect, fixing client, issues, and community gaps. Working courts and youth programs in public housing showed him change needs real, hands-on approaches, not just quick fixes. Small businesses don't just create jobs. They sponsor local teams, support PTAs and clubs, filling community voids. Through events like this week, the city is pouring back in, saying we value you, with the full schedule up at EO.Burminghammel.gov. Slash. Bage Mup. I'm Corey with the story, and you've been listening to Birmingham News today. AI-powered local news.