Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced Monday that seven Alabama communities will receive $15.5 million in Growing Alabama funding to accelerate development of industrial sites.

The Renewal of Alabama Commission has allocated the dollars to Auburn, Brundidge, Enterprise and Fort Payne, along with Coosa, Greene and Walker counties.

“We’ve been on a long winning streak when it comes to economic development, but we need to replenish our inventory of available industrial sites across the state to stay in the game,” Ivey said. “The Growing Alabama program is helping us do just that.”

The new Growing Alabama funding cycle includes:

• $4.71 million to the Walker County Economic & Industrial Development Authority for site work and public infrastructure at Heritage Industrial Park.
• $2.9 million to the Industrial Development Board of the city of Enterprise for site work and public infrastructure at Enterprise Commerce Park.
• $2.76 million to the Industrial Development Board of the city of Auburn for site work and public infrastructure at Auburn Technology Park.
• $2.5 million to the Lake Martin Area Industrial Development Authority for site improvements at Lake Martin Regional Industrial Park.
• $1.31 million to the Greene County Industrial Development Authority for site work and public infrastructure at Crossroads of America Industrial Park.
• $1.07 million to the city of Fort Payne for site improvements at the Jacoway Industrial Site.
• $473,275 to the city of Brundidge for site work and public infrastructure at North Industrial Park.

“The Growing Alabama program is a powerful tool to accelerate the development of shovel-ready sites, which are critically needed today as we compete for high-impact economic development projects that bring significant job creation,” Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said. “This round of Growing Alabama allocations will make a real difference for these communities.”

Renewal of Alabama Commission must approve all applications under the program, which is administered by the Alabama Department of Commerce. McNair chairs the commission.

Eligible projects include site preparation of public land for industrial use and infrastructure improvements at existing industrial properties. Work can include clearing land, upgrading infrastructure and other improvements to make sites ready for projects. Other qualifying activities may include capital improvements at inland ports or intermodal facilities and construction and maintenance for agricultural centers.

The announcement of the Growing Alabama funding came as economic developers are gathered for the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s (EDAA) summer conference in Point Clear.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey speaks to economic developers at the EDAA summer conference while Ted Clem (right) looks on. (Hal Yeager / Governor’s Office)

Ted Clem, senior project manager with the Alabama Department of Commerce, spoke at the EDAA conference. He told Alabama News Center that Growing Alabama “is another way of getting private sector involvement in helping to develop quality sites in the state.”

The Growing Alabama program provides a tax credit for eligible entities that make contributions to economic development organizations for approved qualifying projects. The tax credit is equal to the donation.

“We’re finding more and more companies wanting to be a part of it because we can help our own communities,” Clem said. “It’s a way that we can reinvest and invest in our communities to help create quality sites for economic growth for everybody.”

A total of $23 million is available under the Growing Alabama program this year.

Ivey delivered the luncheon address at the EDAA conference. In addition to hinting at the Growing Alabama announcement that came later in the day, she hit on themes ranging from infrastructure to workforce development.

Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey noted key economic development successes in Alabama when addressing economic developers at the EDAA summer conference. (Hal Yeager / Governor’s Office)

Ivey noted the recent CNBC rankings that showed Alabama was the nation’s most improved state for business in its latest America’s Top States for Business list.

Alabama jumped from 42nd to 20th in the ranking, boosted by improvements such as:

• Leaping from 44^th to 24^th in Workforce, and that was before the establishment of the Alabama Department of Workforce earlier this year and the new Working for Alabama bills passed by the Legislature and signed by Ivey this year.
• Focusing on the innovation economy moved the state from 32nd to 21st in Technology and Innovation.
• Alabama’s pro-business policies helped it improve from 42nd to 13th in Business Friendliness.
• The state moved from 42 to 13 in being a good place to do business because of pro-business policies.
• Infrastructure improvements like those in the Rebuild Alabama plan helped elevate the state from 13th to 8th in Infrastructure.
• Alabama increased from 34th to 12th in Education.

“The fact of the matter is our communities are where we plant the seeds for economic growth and development,” Ivey told economic developers.

She noted that work is progressing on a new economic development strategic plan for the state.

“We’ve got the momentum now, so let’s look ahead and prepare for the economy of tomorrow,” Ivey said. “So now, let’s look ahead and keep making great strides for the people who call Alabama home. I’m proud of Alabama, I’m proud of our citizens and I am proud to continue leading our state forward. The people of Alabama deserve our very best.”