July 2024 Group Watch: Second Round of SEEDS Grants Available
Thanks to the new Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) Act, communities across Alabama can soon apply for state grants that could help them develop industrial sites capable of competing for high-impact economic development projects and the jobs that come with them. SEEDS has already been a success, with the first-round of grants steering $30 million into critically needed site development activities across the state and being matched by $38.4 million in local funds at 29 different Alabama industrial sites encompassing nearly 8,400 acres. The second round of SEEDS funding, also potentially totaling $30 million, is available for communities that meet the program’s criteria and are selected to receive grants from the State Industrial Development Authority (SIDA). The application portal for SEEDS site assessment and site development grants opened on July 1 and closes on September 30. SIDA will evaluate the applications and announce results early next year.
