Comeback Town: Leaving Birmingham wasn’t rejection — it was survival
He left because the regional economy couldn’t support him. When he finally had the chance to return, he took it immediately.
Mason Reed 
Comeback Town is an opinion column exploring all things Birmingham. It is coordinated by David Sher.
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There is a specific kind of clarity that hits you when you realize exactly why you get out of bed every morning. I had that realization recently during a chance encounter with a reader who has followed ComebackTown for years. Meeting him was a highlight because his journey perfectly encapsulates the mission this column has championed since 2012.
Survival, Not Rejection
The reader’s story began in the shadow of the 2008 financial crisis. After growing up in rural Alabama, he and his wife relocated to Birmingham to build a life. Everything was on track until the recession struck and he lost his position. As he scoured the region for new opportunities, he reached a difficult crossroads: stay and suffer, or leave and prosper.
He chose the latter. The couple moved to Dallas, where he landed a job in the financial industry. What was intended to be a short-term relocation to ride out the storm stretched into a twelve-year absence. It was a move that caused friction with family back home, who struggled to understand his decision. He spent years explaining that his departure wasn't a rejection of his roots; it was a matter of survival in a regional economy that simply couldn't support his career at the time.
The Column as a Bridge
That is when ComebackTown became an unexpected tool for his family life. He used the column to share facts about the economic realities and structural challenges facing Birmingham, helping his parents and in-laws understand that his move was a response to economic necessity rather than a personal slight. The writing transformed emotional family conflicts into conversations rooted in regional economics.
Eventually, the desire to return home grew too strong to ignore. After a decade of patience, he successfully transitioned into a new financial role in Birmingham and moved back. Today, his family is ecstatic to have them home, and he is genuinely, deeply happy.
The Need for Job Creation
His path highlights the central tenet of our work: regional strength is built on job creation. When the work isn't here, people leave, and that isn't a failure of the individual—it is a failure of regional economic policy.
The scale of the disparity remains clear. The Dallas-Fort Worth area is now home to 24 Fortune 500 companies, including major players like Southwest Airlines and Toyota. Conversely, Birmingham has two: Regions Financial and Vulcan Materials.
As my friend put it: In Dallas, you find the job. In Birmingham, the job has to find you. We need to shift that reality. We must focus relentlessly on creating an environment where talented people don't have to choose between their career trajectory and their home. Our future depends on ensuring that those who love this place have the opportunity to stay here and build their lives.
