MONTGOMERY, AL — Gov. Kay Ivey announced more than $52 million in funding for 21 projects across coastal Alabama through the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, known as GoMESA.
The projects include investments in boating and recreational access, water quality, environmental education, coastal restoration, storm protection and other infrastructure in Mobile and Baldwin counties.
“Alabama’s coast is one of our state’s greatest treasures, and we have a responsibility to protect it while ensuring Alabamians and our visitors can enjoy all it has to offer,” Ivey said. “These investments will strengthen our coastal communities, improve access to our waterways and preserve the natural resources that support jobs, tourism and our way of life.”
Ivey said her administration has awarded more than $310 million in GoMESA-funded projects in coastal Alabama.
GoMESA allows the four Gulf-producing states and eligible coastal political subdivisions to share 37.5% of qualified revenues generated from certain Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leases. In Alabama, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources administers the state’s portion of the funding with approval from the governor’s office. Mobile and Baldwin counties also receive separate GoMESA distributions directly from the federal government.
“The GoMESA projects announced today continue a long list of important environmental and quality of life improvements in Coastal Alabama,” ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship said. “I’m also thankful for our staff at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and our project partners as we’ve worked to enhance environmental education, improve water quality and expand access to outdoor recreation along our coast for generations to come.”
The largest allocation in the 2026 funding round is $9 million for Phase 1b of the Southern Activation Zone at Brookley by the Bay in Mobile.
Four projects will receive $5 million each: the Alabama Port Authority Upper Mobile Bay Wetlands Creation Construction Project, the Mobile County Commission Byrnewood Boat Ramp and Public Access project, the City of Daphne Jubilee Recreation and Fishing Pier at Bayfront Park and an outdoor classroom for habitat conservation and stormwater management at the University of South Alabama.
Other allocations include $3 million for renovations to the ADCNR Boggy Point Boat Launch; $2.5 million each for Phase 3 of the Flying Creek Nature Preserve in Fairhope, Phase 2 of public access improvements at Weeks Bay Reserve and Phase 1 improvements to Walter Cofield Park and Boat Launch in Saraland; and $2.2 million for the East End Exploration and Visitor Center at the Dauphin Island Campground.
Projects receiving $2 million include coastal water-quality data collection by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management and the Magnolia Springs Town Center.
Additional funding includes $1.6 million each for the Semmes Amphitheater and Nature Park and Elberta public park improvements; $1.5 million for the Orange Beach Shooting Complex clubhouse; $900,000 for Bay Minette Kids Park improvements; $800,000 for Riviera Utilities’ Coastal Wastewater Resiliency Improvement Project; and $660,000 for the Elberta Youth Sportsplex and Hurricane Protection Project.
The Town of Perdido Beach and City of Chickasaw will each receive $400,000 for drainage and boat-launch projects, respectively. Bayou La Batre will receive $310,000 for the Rolston Pier Extension Project. An additional $519,529 is designated for GoMESA administration.
The announcement follows an Aug. 12 Gulf lease sale conducted by the U.S. Department of the Interior. According to the governor’s office, the sale generated nearly $83 million in bids for 59 blocks of federal waters in the Gulf.
