SEEDS grant positions Alabama’s Montgomery region for economic growth

The Alabama Department of Commerce last week formally presented the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce and the Montgomery Industrial Development Board (IDB) with a $1.27 million SEEDS grant, marking a significant investment in the capital region’s industrial growth, future site development and logistics readiness.

The grant, awarded through the State Industrial Development Authority’s Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program, will support the acquisition of the 111-acre Del Sol property.

The site, along U.S. Highway 31 with direct access to I-65, I-85, the Montgomery Regional Airport and the Intermodal Container Transfer Facility, is a key asset in the region’s logistics and industrial expansion strategy.

“The SEEDS grant program is about planting the groundwork for long-term growth in communities across Alabama, and today’s announcement reflects that vision in action,” said Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“This investment in Montgomery will help foster innovation, expand opportunities and support local efforts to build a stronger, more inclusive economy,” she said. “We’re proud to partner with communities that are taking bold steps to shape their future.”

The Del Sol property is ready for development.

“This investment is a strong vote of confidence in Montgomery’s regional growth strategy,” said Anna Buckalew, president and CEO of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce.

“With support from the Department of Commerce and continued alignment with the IDB and other public-private partners, we’re advancing competitive sites and creating the conditions for long-term business growth and opportunity across the region.”

This SEEDS award strengthens the capital region’s ability to compete for high-impact projects and reflects the progress the area is making to ensure it is opportunity-ready and positioned to attract new industries, grow its workforce and deliver long-term economic benefit across the region, according to the Chamber.

The SEEDS program, a cornerstone of Gov. Kay Ivey’s 2023 “Game Plan” for economic development, addresses the urgent need for quality industrial sites at a time when other states are investing heavily in similar initiatives.

The first round of SEEDS allocations, totaling $30.1 million, was matched with $38.4 million in local contributions across 29 industrial sites.

Grants in the second SEEDS round, including this one for Montgomery, totaled $23.5 million, generating matching local contributions topping $17 million.

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.