FOLEY, Alabama – A new 121-acre industrial park is planned in Baldwin County, thanks in part to a more than $3.3 million state grant.
The new development is a collaboration between the City of Foley, the Baldwin Alliance and the state. Local officials were presented with a check for the funding on Monday.
The funding will help purchase the property at the southwest corner of the Foley Beach Express and Baldwin Beach Express intersection. It comes from the state’s Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program.
“Foley and Baldwin County are some of the fastest-growing areas of not just Alabama, but the nation, and this targeted investment in development guarantees sustainable future economic growth and quality jobs for the region,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “Helping communities acquire and make ready industrial spaces was the goal of the SEEDS program, and my administration is pleased to see the results here in Foley and across the state.”
Created in 2023 as part of Governor Ivey’s priority “Game Plan” economic development legislation package, the SEEDS Act offers grants to local industrial development agencies to create and improve their sites to better recruit businesses.
Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair said the investment reflects the state’s commitment to preparing communities for future industrial recruitment opportunities.
“We know that U.S. and global manufacturers are seeking spaces where they’ll find the prepared infrastructure, trained workforce and proximity to transportation thoroughfares they need to be successful,” McNair said. “Foley and Baldwin County leadership should be commended for creating a space that checks all those boxes.”
Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the acquisition marks another important step in the city’s long-term growth strategy.
“This investment positions Foley to capitalize on the tremendous growth we are experiencing and ensures we are prepared for future industrial opportunities,” Hellmich said. “By securing this property and preparing it for development, we are creating new opportunities for quality jobs, economic diversification and continued prosperity for our residents and the entire region.”
Lee Lawson, Baldwin Alliance president and chief executive officer, called the project a major win for Foley and Baldwin County.
“Having development-ready sites is critical to competing for today’s economic development projects,” Lawson said. “This SEEDS grant represents a strategic investment in our future, ensuring we have the product in place to attract large-scale, high-impact industries that bring quality, high-paying jobs to our community.”
Other recent SEEDS funding announcements include sites in Covington County and Colbert County.
