Area businesses pledge to fight COVID-19 and help keep UAB open

UAB is partnering with local businesses to promote safety measures in fighting COVID-19 to keep Birmingham businesses and the university open.

Editor's Note: The information published in this story is accurate at the time of publication. Always refer to uab.edu/uabunited for UAB's current guidelines and recommendations relating to COVID-19.



Pledge3Local businesses are pledging to do their part in the fight against COVID-19. As students begin the fall semester at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, it is important that businesses do their part to encourage proper masking, social distancing and density control off campus.

“UAB is proud of the positive economic impact we have in our local community, including how our students, faculty and staff support local businesses,” said UAB President Ray L. Watts. “We are asking local businesses to take a pledge and support our students to help UAB have the best possible chance to remain open. If COVID-19 causes UAB to suspend in-person instruction and send students home, we all lose.”

UAB is asking businesses to promote mask wearing, social distancing, crowd control and other proven safety strategies to help keep students and other patrons safe from infection. 

“Our world-renowned faculty experts have worked around the clock over the last several months with our system colleagues to put in place one of the nation’s most comprehensive safety plans to minimize risk on campus,” said UAB Provost Pam Benoit. “Local businesses play a key role in extending that safety beyond our campus and keeping our students heathy.”

Click here to learn more about the UAB United Business pledge.

Businesses that wish to pledge to support the health and safety of UAB students and employees can email affirmation of the following statement to president@uab.edu. Businesses partnering with UAB will be listed at go.uab.edu/pledge. Businesses can download a certificate to display in their business to show support. For more information on UAB’s entry to campus, visit uab.edu/uabunited.  

UAB United Business Pledge 

<<BUSINESS NAME>> respects and supports the University of Alabama at Birmingham student community and what they are working to accomplish at UAB. As a local business that welcomes and is proud to support UAB students, we pledge that — in the interest of their health and safety — we will require masks, social distancing, crowd control and other proven safety strategies. As a partner with UAB in our shared community, we are proud to be #UABUnited.

A growing list of supportive businesses includes:

  • Blueprint on 3rd
  • Dave’s Pub
  • FILTER-Coffee Parlor
  • Grandview Financial Group
  • an optical shop
  • Jim ’N Nick’s Bar-B-Q
  • Makarios Kabobs & Grill
  • Reed Books
  • Surin West
  • The Red Barn
  • True40 Fitness Studio