The Birmingham Business Alliance was created by the merger of Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Metropolitan Development Board, a process that began in August 2008, and culminated in the creation of the BBA on July 10, 2009. The BBA will focus on the economic growth of the entire seven-county Birmingham region. Bringing the Chamber and MDB together allows business leaders to create a much stronger and well-rounded entity to promote dynamic growth and improve the quality of life in the region.