ST. CLAIR COUNTY — Tommy Bowers knew the Birmingham Business Alliance was searching for someone. And he also knew who he would choose if he could.

"I would choose Ed Gardner Jr.," he said Wednesday.

The Business Alliance agreed with Bowers' assessment — on Wednesday afternoon, the regional body announced it would bring the chairman of the St. Clair County Economic Development Council aboard as vice president of economic and workforce development. According to a release from the BBA, Gardner's new role "will be responsible for economic development recruiting activities and the targeted marketing of the Birmingham region to the world."

"It's a really good opportunity to do what we've been doing for St. Clair at a regional level," Gardner said Wednesday. "The good thing is, I'll still be working in St. Clair County — they just won't have to pay me."

Gardner has worked for the St. Clair EDC for nearly five years as executive director. During his time in the county, the EDC has recruited projects resulting in the creation of more than 2,200 jobs, representing more than $300 million in new capital investment.

“Ed has in-depth knowledge and real-world experience in the economic development world,” Dalton Smith, CEO and president of BBA, said in a release. “He has developed a deep understanding of this region while working to recruit business to St. Clair County and he understands our mission of bringing in new business and creating jobs.”

Red Diamond, a Veterans Affairs Nursing Home and WKW are all projects to Gardner's credit. Most recently, he and the EDC have been involved in the development of a new technology park in Springville, a "multi-purpose event center" in Moody and broken ground in a Love's Travel Center in Steele.

Gardner credited the success of the county's development projects to collaborative effort.

"We've been really fortunate," he said. "It's blown me away the support we've gotten from our elected officials around the county.

"It's been an amazing experience, all we've been able to do in the county, and it's all because of the support we've received."

Bowers, the chairman of the county's EDC board, was equally complimentary of the staff Gardner has assembled during his tenure in the county — assistant director Don Smith and marketing specialist Candice Hill have been large parts of the county's success.

"As much as we hate to see him go, he has left us with a fantastic staff," Bowers said. "I know they'll continue to do a great job. We've got some projects we're working on currently, and I have no doubt those will continue to move forward like they're supposed to."

Gardner's first day with the BBA is Tuesday, Sept. 8. He said Wednesday that he accepted the challenges posed by Birmingham.

"I think those challenges also open great opportunities," he said. "I think we can take advantage of those opportunities."

In the meantime, the county's EDC board will meet to decide on its next step.

"The board will have to meet to decide how to move forward," said Bowers. "We haven't even all really talked yet.

"I just commend (Birmingham) on their choice. Ed's done such a fantastic job for us, and they couldn't have picked a better guy."