Growing Alabama Awards Send $9.3 Million to Industrial Sites in Dothan, Walker County and 3 Others

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Five industrial sites across the state will be upgraded to better compete for new jobs under more than $9.3 million in Growing Alabama awards announced Friday by Gov. Kay Ivey.

The money will pay for site work and public infrastructure at industrial parks in Aliceville, Dothan, Guntersville, Pell City and Walker County. The largest single award, $3.5 million, will go to the Westgate Super Site in Dothan.

“Through the Growing Alabama program, we’re making strategic investments in industrial sites across our state so communities are better prepared to compete for new industries and future expansions,” Ivey said. “Alabama is continuing to build on its reputation as a place where businesses can grow, invest and create good-paying jobs.”

The five Growing Alabama awards

The latest round of awards includes:

• City of Aliceville Industrial Development Board: $2.2 million for site work and public infrastructure at Aliceville Industrial Park.
• Industrial Development Board of the City of Dothan: $3.5 million for site work and public infrastructure at the Westgate Super Site.
• Industrial Development Board of the City of Guntersville: $611,162 for site work and public infrastructure at Conners Island Business Park.
• Industrial Development Board of the City of Pell City: $1 million for site work and public infrastructure at Cogswell Industrial Park.
• Walker County Economic and Industrial Development Authority: $2.1 million for site work and public infrastructure at Heritage Industrial Park.

Aliceville is in Pickens County in west Alabama, Dothan is the largest city in the Wiregrass region of southeast Alabama, Guntersville sits on Lake Guntersville in Marshall County in north Alabama, Pell City is in St. Clair County east of Birmingham, and Walker County lies northwest of Birmingham.

How the program works

Growing Alabama uses private dollars to improve publicly owned sites for economic development. Businesses and individuals that contribute to approved economic development organizations receive a state tax credit equal to the value of their contributions.

Under current law, the credit is authorized by Act 2021-2 and administered by the Alabama Department of Commerce, according to the Alabama Department of Revenue. Taxpayers who contribute can use the credit against their state income tax liability, and unused credits may be carried forward for up to five years.

In effect, the program lets taxpayers direct part of what they would otherwise owe the state toward specific economic development projects in Alabama communities.

Eligible projects include:

• Site preparation and infrastructure improvements on public land intended for industrial use.
• Capital improvements at inland ports and intermodal facilities.
• Construction and maintenance of agricultural centers.

Why site readiness matters

Growing Alabama focuses on industrial site readiness, a key factor for companies deciding where to build a new facility or expand an existing one.

Companies looking for a location often work on tight timelines. A site that already has grading completed, roads built and water, sewer and other utilities in place can save a company months of work and reduce the risk of unexpected costs. Communities with ready sites can often move faster in competing for projects, while sites that still need major work may be passed over.

“These improvements will help position Aliceville, Dothan, Guntersville, Pell City and Walker County to attract new opportunities, strengthen local economies and create a brighter future for Alabama families,” Alabama Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair said. “When we invest in site readiness today, we’re laying the groundwork for tomorrow’s jobs and economic growth.”

Rural counties get a growing share

More than $29 million is available through the Growing Alabama program this calendar year. Ivey announced about $20 million in awards in May, and Friday’s announcement adds more than $9.3 million.

In 2026, more than 35% of the program’s funding has gone to Targeted Counties in rural Alabama. Targeted Counties are rural or economically distressed counties that state economic development programs designate for extra support, reflecting the greater challenges those areas often face in attracting new industry.

Alabama lawmakers have expanded and refined the state’s economic development incentives in recent years, including a 2023 package of laws known as “The Game Plan” that built on programs such as Growing Alabama.

What it means for South Alabama

None of the five sites in this round is in Mobile, Baldwin or Escambia counties, but the program is open statewide, and economic development organizations across the region compete for site-readiness money to prepare land for future industrial projects.

For communities in South Alabama, the program is one of several state tools that can help industrial parks and megasites become more competitive. The state’s emphasis on getting sites ready before a prospect arrives has become a central part of Alabama’s economic development strategy.

What happens next

With the awards approved, the local development boards and authorities will move ahead with the site work and infrastructure planned for each industrial park. The upgrades are intended to make the properties more attractive to manufacturers and other employers considering Alabama for new facilities or expansions.