Montgomery, AL – In a move to bolster economic development and maintain competitiveness on a national scale, Governor Kay Ivey announced today that the State Industrial Development Authority (SIDA) has greenlit over $30 million in grants under the new Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act (SEEDS). This groundbreaking grant program is a pivotal component of the governor’s “Game Plan” economic development bills, ratified by the Legislature last year.
The SEEDS program directly addresses the pressing need for quality industrial sites in Alabama, particularly at a time when other states are investing heavily in expanding their site programs. A total of $30.1 million in SEEDS funding is set to be matched with $38.4 million in local funds across 29 industrial sites, covering nearly 8,400 acres.
Governor Ivey expressed the significance of SEEDS, stating, “SEEDS represents an important tool that will allow us to keep winning those economic development projects that trigger lasting impacts for Alabama citizens. The awarding of the first grants under the program represents a milestone in our efforts to make sure Alabama remains competitive for game-changing growth projects.”
During the SIDA meeting, 14 site assessment grants valued at $1.1 million were approved for environmental and geo-tech surveys of early-stage industrial sites in various communities, including Ashland, Sulligent, Hamilton, Prattville, and Montgomery. Additionally, 15 development grants valued at $29 million were approved for infrastructure improvements, land purchases, and site grading, with communities such as Jasper, Atmore, Opelika, and Mobile providing matching funds totaling $37.8 million.
Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce, highlighted the success of economic development in Governor Ivey’s tenure but acknowledged the need for fully developed sites, stating, “The SEEDS Act is allowing us to identify and develop sites as a critical function of our ability to recruit new industry and jobs. We must have the product to sell.”
To administer the SEEDS grant programs, SIDA has contracted with the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), with assistance from Global Location Services (GLS), based in Greenville, South Carolina, in the evaluation process.
Since the SEEDS application process opened in October 2023, organizations across the state requested a combined total of $42 million in funding. Those not chosen for funding can apply for future rounds, with some benefiting from free feedback from GLS during the evaluation process.
Cedric Colbert, senior consultant at GLS, emphasized the importance of the SEEDS Act grants in improving Alabama’s ability to compete for economic development projects on a national scale, stating, “By enabling proactive site improvements that will minimize risk to future investment projects, these SEEDS Act grants will directly improve Alabama’s ability to compete for economic development projects on a national scale.”
The SEEDs grants aim to facilitate the development of industrial sites in both large Alabama cities and small rural communities, supporting both large-scale sites and smaller industrial parks.
Pro Tem Greg Reed praised the SEEDS Act, stating, “The SEEDS Act does just that by allowing local economic development organizations the opportunity to help cultivate economic sites across our great state. I look forward to seeing how this exciting and groundbreaking legislation helps better Alabama so we can continue to be the best state to call sweet home.”
Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the transformative impact of the SEEDS Act on Alabama’s economy, saying, “This legislation is already proving to be transformative for Alabama’s economy, and I look forward to continuing to watch it work for our state.”
