Ivey Announces More Than $52 Million in GoMESA Grants for 21 Coastal Alabama Projects

Gov. Kay Ivey announced Thursday that more than $52 million in Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GoMESA) grants will fund 21 projects across coastal Alabama, touching nearly every corner of Mobile and Baldwin counties with new spending on boating access, water quality, environmental education and outdoor recreation.

"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 in announcing the awards. "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."

Largest awards go to Mobile-area projects

The single largest grant in this round is $9 million for the next phase of the City of Mobile's Brookley by the Bay project, described in state funding documents as the "Southern Activation Zone, Phase 1b." Three additional projects each received $5 million: the Alabama Port Authority's Upper Mobile Bay Wetlands Creation construction project, Mobile County's Byrnewood Boat Ramp and Public Access project, and construction of the Jubilee Recreation and Fishing Pier at Daphne's Bayfront Park.

Other major awards include $3 million for an outdoor classroom for habitat conservation and stormwater management at the University of South Alabama, $2.95 million for renovations to the ADCNR's Boggy Point Boat Launch, and $2.5 million apiece for three separate projects: Phase 3 of Fairhope's Flying Creek Nature Preserve, a second phase of public access improvements at the Weeks Bay Reserve, and the first phase of improvements to Walter Cofield Park and Boat Launch in Saraland.

Smaller communities share in the funding

Beyond the headline-grabbing awards, the latest round of GoMESA funding reaches deep into smaller coastal Alabama communities. In Bay Minette, a $900,000 state grant will help transform Kids Park on McMillan Avenue, a popular playground for local families. The renovation includes a new restroom building, upgraded walkways, modern playground equipment, an outdoor classroom and additional lighting, along with other improvements meant to highlight the park's natural surroundings.

Bay Minette Mayor Joshua Brown called the grant a meaningful investment in a place where local families have made memories for years, saying the goal is a safer, more accessible and more inviting space for people of all ages and abilities. City officials say the project is part of a broader push to revitalize public spaces and expand recreation options for residents.

In Saraland, the city was awarded $2.5 million to improve Walter Cofield Park and Boat Launch. The funding will improve access to the waterfront, enhance public safety and strengthen an important piece of the city's onshore recreational infrastructure.

Other communities receiving GoMESA awards in this round include Dauphin Island, Magnolia Springs, Semmes, Elberta, Orange Beach, Perdido Beach, Chickasaw and Bayou La Batre, along with water quality monitoring and wastewater infrastructure initiatives that serve the broader coastal region.

Full list of 2026 GoMESA-funded projects

• City of Mobile — Brookley by the Bay: Southern Activation Zone, Phase 1b — $9,000,000
• Alabama Port Authority — Upper Mobile Bay Wetlands Creation Construction Project — $5,000,000
• Mobile County Commission — Byrnewood Boat Ramp and Public Access — $5,000,000
• City of Daphne — Jubilee Recreation and Fishing Pier Construction at Bayfront Park — $5,000,000
• University of South Alabama — Outdoor Classroom for Habitat Conservation and Stormwater Management — $3,000,000
• ADCNR — Boggy Point Boat Launch Renovations — $2,950,000
• City of Fairhope — Flying Creek Nature Preserve, Phase 3 — $2,500,000
• ADCNR — Weeks Bay Reserve Public Access Improvements, Phase 2 — $2,500,000
• City of Saraland — Walter Cofield Park and Boat Launch Improvements, Phase 1 — $2,500,000
• Town of Dauphin Island — East End Exploration and Visitor Center at Dauphin Island Campground — $2,200,000
• ADEM — Collection of Ambient Water Quality Data in Coastal Alabama Watersheds — $2,000,000
• Town of Magnolia Springs — Town Center — $2,000,000
• City of Semmes — Amphitheater and Nature Park — $1,600,000
• Town of Elberta — Public Park Improvements — $1,600,000
• City of Orange Beach — Shooting Complex Clubhouse — $1,500,000
• City of Bay Minette — Kids Park Improvements — $900,000
• Riviera Utilities — Coastal Wastewater Resiliency Improvement Project — $800,000
• Perdido Bay Water, Sewer and Fire Protection District — Elberta Youth Sportsplex and Hurricane Protection Project — $660,000
• Town of Perdido Beach — Comprehensive Drainage Improvements for Hurricane/Coastal Storm Protection — $400,000
• City of Chickasaw — Brooks Park Boat Launch — $400,000
• City of Bayou La Batre — Rolston Pier Extension Project — $310,000
• GoMESA Administration — $519,529

What is GoMESA?

The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, known as GoMESA, directs a share of federal offshore oil and gas lease revenue back to Alabama and the other Gulf-producing states — Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Alabama's Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) administers the state's share of the funding, with project approval from the Governor's Office. Mobile and Baldwin counties also receive separate, direct federal GoMESA distributions outside of the state-administered program.

Conservation Commissioner Chris Blankenship said the latest round continues a long-running effort to improve life along the coast. "The GoMESA projects announced today continue a long list of important environmental and quality of life improvements in Coastal Alabama," Blankenship said. "I am grateful for Governor Ivey's leadership and her support for our coastal restoration projects throughout her Administration. 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."

Ivey's office says her administration has now awarded more than $310 million through the GoMESA program since taking office. The latest announcement comes about a week after an August 12 federal Gulf of Mexico lease sale generated nearly $83 million in bids on 59 blocks of federal waters — revenue that helps replenish the pool of funding available for future rounds of coastal grants.

How the revenue share works

The latest round totals $52.3 million across the 21 projects. Under the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, the four Gulf-producing states — Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas — and their eligible coastal political subdivisions share 37.5% of qualified revenues from Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas leases issued after Dec. 20, 2006. That formula is what converts offshore lease activity into boat ramps, wetlands restoration and park improvements onshore.

The Aug. 12 lease sale that preceded this announcement was the third required under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act, also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Because the revenue-share formula applies to qualified lease revenues, sales of that kind directly shape the size of future GoMESA rounds available to coastal Alabama.