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Summerdale, Ala. – Maximus Meats, a processor of quality meat products, has announced plans to establish its first production facility in Summerdale, Ala. With an investment of more than $11 million and the creation of over 60 jobs, the new facility will support wholesale meat production while also offering a retail experience for individual customers.

“We are excited to welcome Maximus Meats to Summerdale,” said Mayor David Wilson. “This project not only enhances our local economy but also provides valuable opportunities for our farmers and residents. Having a high-quality processing facility right here in town will reduce costs and improve access to fresh, locally sourced meats.”

Scheduled for completion in 2025, the 29,000-square-foot facility will process beef and pork products for both local and regional businesses. Additionally, the retail component will provide fresh, high-quality meats directly to customers, offering a farm-to-table experience for locals and visitors alike.

“Maximus Meats’ investment in Baldwin County represents a significant boost to our region’s economy,” said Lee Lawson, President and CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. “This project will generate quality jobs, competitive wages, and substantial capital investment, further strengthening our local food production industry. The company’s commitment to sourcing and processing locally will provide long-term benefits for our agricultural community and workforce.”

About BCEDA
BCEDA is a coalition of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Baldwin County. The organization is committed to promoting Baldwin County as a premier location in the U.S. for investment and continuing to raise the quality of life in the community. For more information, visit www.baldwineda.com.

Loxley, Ala. – The Baldwin County Public Schools, in partnership with the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, received the 2025 Projects with a Purpose award from the Site Selectors Guild, the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants, for Baldwin Preparatory Academy.

The award, presented during the Guild’s 2025 Annual Conference in Orlando, FL, USA, honors individuals or organizations that have successfully implemented location selection projects that go beyond job creation to address social and/or environmental issues within a community. Recipients are helping to tackle the most challenging problems by reducing inequality or promoting a healthier environment.

Baldwin Preparatory Academy, Alabama’s first career-tech high school, opened in 2024 for approximately 800 students in grades 10-12. Developed by Baldwin County Public Schools in partnership with the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA), this $100 million facility offers 12 career pathways and simulates a real-world work environment. The academy’s innovative approach includes active industry involvement, providing funding and curriculum support. With strong community and business partnerships, the academy aims to address workforce challenges, foster economic growth, and prepare students for future careers.

“Congratulations to the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance for their exceptional leadership in tackling workforce challenges by developing an advanced training environment for future talent,” said Seth Martindale, Site Selectors Guild board chair and senior managing director at CBRE, Inc.

“Receiving this prestigious award for Baldwin Preparatory Academy is a tremendous honor for both the Baldwin County Public Schools and our organization as a partner,” said BCEDA President and CEO Lee Lawson. “We applaud Baldwin County Public School’s investment and commitment to workforce development through Baldwin Preparatory Academy. This innovative collaboration is not only equipping students for college and career success but also building sustainable talent pipelines that will meet industry needs for generations.”

“This one-of-a-kind school started from a call from our industry leaders, and we answered that call,” said Baldwin County Public Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler. “Our communities needed it, our workforce needed it, and most of all, our students needed it. Having a facility like this brings in heavy hitters like Novelis, who decided to make Baldwin County home in part due to the development of Baldwin Preparatory Academy. Having thriving companies like Novelis truly affects the way of life for those in our county. We are humbled to receive this recognition, and we hope that Baldwin Preparatory Academy continues to be considered a leader for providing committed and talented individuals to the companies that choose to be a part of it.”

To learn more about the Site Selectors Guild Awards program, visit https://siteselectorsguild.com/guild-awards.

About BCEDA
BCEDA is a coalition of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Baldwin County. The organization is committed to promoting Baldwin County as a premier location in the U.S. for investment and continuing to raise the quality of life in the community. For more information, visit www.baldwineda.com.

About the Site Selectors Guild
Site Selectors Guild is the only association of the world’s foremost professional site selection consultants. Guild members provide location strategy to corporations across the globe and for every industry, sector, and function. Founded in 2010, the Site Selectors Guild is dedicated to advancing the profession of international corporate site selection by promoting integrity, objectivity, and professional development. Members are peer-nominated, vetted, and must demonstrate significant professional location advisory experience. In 2023, Guild members facilitated the committed or announced creation of approximately 107,000 jobs and $101 billion in capital investment by corporate clients, which required location analysis across 74 countries. Guild membership is the highest standard in the site selection industry. For more information, visit siteselectorsguild.com or follow @siteselectguild on Twitter.

 Foley, Ala. – Baldwin Cold Logistics, the newest cold storage facility in Baldwin County, is developing its $27 million building in Foley, Alabama. This facility will offer approximately 91,650 square feet of Class A warehousing and office space to support the growing demand for industrial product in the region.   

Baldwin Cold Logistics is strategically located on Industrial Parkway adjacent to Foley Beach Express, in the Foley Beach Express Industrial Park. With Phase 1 construction set to begin in Q2 of 2026, the building will accommodate one large user, or it can be demisable to serve multiple users. Baldwin Cold Logistics will include freezer storage, cold storage, machine handling equipment storage, and office space.

“The addition of Baldwin Cold Logistics provides much-needed cold storage capacity for businesses in our growing area,” said City of Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich. “This facility will increase investment and jobs in Foley and encourage existing business growth. Its strategic location along the Foley Beach Express makes it an asset not only for Foley but for the entire Gulf Coast. We appreciate the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA)’s work bringing this investment to our area.”

The demand for industrial space along the Gulf Coast has grown in recent years, and Baldwin Cold Logistics is helping to meet this critical market need. Baldwin County has approximately 200,000 square feet of cold storage space, much of which is dedicated to a single user or needs significant upgrades.

“We have a significant need for space in our region, from office to industrial, and certainly cold storage space,” said Lee Lawson, President and CEO of BCEDA. “For us to remain competitive on economic development projects and serve the greater community, we need these facilities constructed in Baldwin County, and we applaud the Baldwin Cold Logistics team for taking a step to develop this speculative space.” 

Leasing is underway in Foley, as Jake Parker of CBRE Birmingham currently lists and facilitates real estate transactions for Baldwin Cold Storage. Learn more about the project and leasing opportunities at CBRE.com.

About BCEDA
BCEDA is a coalition of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Baldwin County. The organization is committed to promoting Baldwin County as a premier location in the U.S. for investment and continuing to raise the quality of life in the community. For more information, visit www.baldwineda.com.

Bay Minette, Ala. – Cobblestone Hotels and Big Mike’s Steakhouse are bringing their recognizable names to Bay Minette, marking an exciting milestone in the city’s downtown revitalization efforts. These locations represent the success of ongoing collaboration between the City of Bay Minette, North Baldwin Utilities, the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, Alabama Power Company, and other local partners, fueled by the momentum of Novelis’s transformative investment in the area.   

“The City of Bay Minette is very excited about the decision of Big Mike’s Restaurant and Cobblestone Hotels to locate in our downtown area,” said City of Bay Minette Mayor Bob Wills. “We have been working very hard over the past several years to bring new restaurants and hotels, not only for our city but in particular for our downtown. We believe that the addition of Big Mike’s and Cobblestone will act as a catalyst to bring more people to our downtown area, making it more attractive for other restaurants and retailers to locate here.”

Cobblestone Hotels, a rising star in modern hospitality with locations across the United States, will bring one of its Mainstreet by Cobblestone concepts to the corner of McMillian Avenue and D’Olive Street in downtown Bay Minette. The 40,000-square-foot hotel will have 54 rooms, including six extended stay suites, and offer amenities such as an indoor pool, fitness center, a complimentary hot breakfast, and free Wi-Fi. Guests will immerse themselves in Bay Minette’s rich heritage, with each room featuring historical artwork that highlights the community’s unique charm. Cobblestone will create 10 new jobs, with construction estimated to begin in March 2025 and be open for Summer 2026.

“There has long been a significant need for hotel rooms here,” continued Wills. “Not only will Cobblestone fulfill this need, but they will have the greater effect of bringing more groups to Bay Minette for various meetings, seminars, court-related events, and the like.”

Complimenting this development is Big Mike’s Steakhouse — an Alabama favorite with six locations, including one in Orange Beach — which will soon open on North Hoyle Avenue in downtown Bay Minette. Known for its premium steaks and welcoming atmosphere, the restaurant will offer afternoon and dinner service, creating an estimated 40 new jobs for the community. Construction will begin in the coming weeks, and the restaurant is estimated to be open in July 2025.

“Big Mike’s has a great track record in other cities similar to ours in bringing patrons to the downtown area,” said Wills. “We anticipate that they will be equally as successful in Bay Minette.

Wills sees these projects as just the beginning of a new era of growth for Bay Minette. “The vibrancy of its downtown area is the key to the health and progress of any city. With the addition of Big Mike’s and Cobblestone Hotel, we are very optimistic and excited about the future of Bay Minette,” said Wills.

These announcements come as Novelis, a global leader in aluminum recycling, makes progress on its $4.1 billion investment in an aluminum manufacturing facility set to create 1,000 jobs in North Baldwin. Novelis’s indirect impact is already benefitting the community as it is attracting more commercial activity. Bay Minette is experiencing steady growth, with more retail and accommodations expected to benefit residents for years to come. 

“The economic impact of Novelis in North Baldwin County is already evident, and we’re only beginning to see the ripple effects of this generational economic development project,” said Lee Lawson, President and CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. “The arrival of Cobblestone Hotels and Big Mike’s Steakhouse reflects the growth and opportunity in Bay Minette, benefitting businesses and residents for years to come by bringing sales and lodging tax revenue and helping to revitalize downtown. I applaud the dedication of Mayor Bob Wills and Bay Minette leaders in driving these projects and meaningful progress for the community.”

About BCEDA
BCEDA is a coalition of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Baldwin County. The organization is committed to promoting Baldwin County as a premier location in the U.S. for investment and continuing to raise the quality of life in the community. For more information, visit www.baldwineda.com.

Foley, Ala. – Green Heath Laboratories has announced a new, state-of-the-art testing facility in Foley, Alabama. This facility will create up to 50 high-paying jobs over the next three years and represent approximately $3.4 million in capital investment for the City of Foley.

Green Health Laboratories is a fully licensed and ISO/IEC accredited laboratory that specializes in advanced testing for the cannabis and hemp industries. The company focuses on manufacturing compliance tests that ensure product quality and safety for cultivators, processors, and manufacturers. This facility will be one of the exclusive testing facilities in the State of Alabama for the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.

“This project is a collaboration between the City of Foley and the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) and is a direct result of the creation of the health and wellness zone in north Foley,” said Mayor Ralph Hellmich. “Our efforts are focused on bringing medical services and technologies to our citizens and our area. Green Health Laboratories is a perfect example of the high-tech industries we want to see in Foley. I welcome them and any others to our City,” said Hellmich.

The facility, to be located in an existing building on Section Avenue in Foley, will begin operations in the first quarter of 2025. Green Health Laboratories is committed to recruiting top talent from across the southeast by offering starting salaries above the average wage in Baldwin County, with an estimated payroll of over $5 million.

“We are proud to have the opportunity to serve the consumer community and the state of Alabama in their journey towards sophistication and public safety within the realm of cannabis,” said Brandon Biles, President, and Natalie Siracusa, Lab Director, Green Health Laboratories. “We are committed to helping build a safe and reliable industry that consumers and producers alike are proud of and can sincerely trust.”

“We started this journey over 18 months ago, working with the City of Foley on a medical zoning overlay district concept that is now called the Foley Health and Wellness Village to encourage more medical services and related projects in the area,” said Lee Johnson, Executive Vice President of BCEDA. “This strategy has helped us recruit economic development project opportunities like Green Health Laboratories in other parts of the city, and we expect more momentum in this target industry sector in 2025 and beyond.”

About Green Health Laboratories
Green Health Laboratories is a leader in cannabis and hemp testing, dedicated to advancing the safety, compliance, and quality of cannabis and hemp products across Alabama and beyond. Their mission is to be a trusted partner in the cannabis and hemp industries by providing reliable, accurate testing and analysis to meet regulatory requirements and support consumer health. Learn more at www.GreenHealthLaboratories.com.

About BCEDA
BCEDA is a coalition of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Baldwin County. The organization is committed to promoting Baldwin County as a premier location in the U.S. for investment and continuing to raise the quality of life in the community. For more information, visit www.baldwineda.com.

Fairhope, Ala. – The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) and the community have received multiple honors in 2024, highlighting the success the community has seen in the past year in economic development and overall growth.

BCEDA received two Excellence Awards for The Business Concept’s Logistics, Warehouse, and Supply Chain Awards: the Regional Economic Development Innovators Award and the Local Aerospace Industry Development Services Award for the Southeast for the second consecutive year.

BCEDA was also named an Excellence in Economic Development Award recipient by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for their talent attraction and development initiative, Belong in Baldwin. Belong in Baldwin’s Future of Workforce report received the Bronze Award in the Print Brochure category for leveraging the brand to present workforce data in an engaging and accessible format. 

BCEDA staff and stakeholders have worked hard to fulfill their mission of enriching the community and generating capital investment. These efforts and the region’s exponential population growth have earned Baldwin County multiple rankings, including #10 Fastest Growing Metro in the U.S. on Business Facilities’ 2024 Annual Metro Rankings Report. The Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL MSA was also awarded the #6 Leading Metro in the South and #6 Prime Workforce in the South by Area Development.

Baldwin County also ranks #1 for highest incoming investment in Alabama, according to SmartAsset’s annual study. The company assessed new building permits, gross domestic product growth, and business establishment growth across the nation to award national rankings by county, of which Baldwin County ranks in the top 3% in the U.S. for incoming investments.

BCEDA has garnered $1.8 billion in capital investment for the Baldwin County community in 2024. Companies continue to invest in Baldwin County by making location or expansion decisions, adding over 150 jobs last year. The new jobs pay an average annual wage of over $73,000, which is 50% higher than the current average in Baldwin County.

“These achievements are a testament to the dynamic community that Baldwin County is,” said Lee Lawson, President and CEO of BCEDA. “We are proud to be recognized as a leader for incoming business investment, and we will continue focusing on attracting investment and development that enriches our community.”

BCEDA is a coalition of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to fostering economic growth and prosperity in Baldwin County. The organization is committed to positioning its community as a premier destination for businesses and professionals, where innovation thrives, opportunities abound, and quality of life is exceptional.

Fairhope, Ala. – Hatch Fairhope, Baldwin County’s innovation hub for entrepreneurship and technology, announces key leadership transitions to drive its next phase of growth. Rick Miller, Director since 2018, will assume the role of Senior Advisor while Keith Glines steps in to lead Hatch Fairhope operations and bring a fresh perspective to advance the organization’s mission of empowering startups and fostering innovation. Glines joined the Hatch Fairhope team in 2024 to oversee strategic partnerships for the accelerator.

Since its inception, Hatch Fairhope has evolved from a bold concept into a cornerstone of innovation in the region under Miller’s leadership. The organization has established itself as a vital catalyst for entrepreneurial growth, providing essential resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities to emerging businesses.

Lee Lawson, President and CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, praised Miller’s leadership at Hatch Fairhope. “Rick Miller’s passion for entrepreneurship and dedication to our community made him the ideal leader for building and guiding Hatch Fairhope,” said Lawson. “His seven-year tenure has seen numerous tech entrepreneurs successfully launch and scale their companies through Hatch Fairhope’s counseling and mentorship programs. While stepping back from day-to-day leadership, Rick’s continued advisory role ensures his valuable expertise remains accessible to Hatch Fairhope and its entrepreneurs. His vision has been instrumental in establishing Hatch Fairhope as a crucial driver of innovation and economic development in Baldwin County. I am confident that Keith will continue to build on this foundation with the same dedication and innovation.”

As President and CEO of Pro 356 Consulting, Miller has more than 30 years of experience specializing in strategic planning and organizational development across various industries in both the public and private sectors. His career highlights include serving as CFO in various industries, COO of a fast-food chain, and CEO of a fitness technology company, where he secured financing and a national distribution deal. Miller, who holds an MBA from Harvard University, also serves as facilitator of the SBA Emerging Leaders program in Mobile, Alabama.

The leadership transition marks a strategic step forward in expanding Hatch Fairhope’s mission to foster creativity, nurture talent, and accelerate startup growth, further strengthening its impact on the local and regional economy.

Looking ahead in 2025, Lawson is excited about what’s on the horizon for Hatch Fairhope. “Our upcoming facility in Downtown Fairhope represents an exciting new chapter for Hatch Fairhope,” said Lawson. “We’re also expanding our partnerships with statewide initiatives and strengthening Fairhope and Baldwin County’s technology ecosystem through innovative programming. I am excited at the opportunities ahead for Hatch Fairhope.”

About Hatch Fairhope
Hatch Fairhope is a business incubator, startup accelerator, and coworking space in Fairhope, Alabama. Founded with the goal of fostering innovation and economic growth, Hatch Fairhope is supported by the City of Fairhope, Coastal Alabama Community College, and the Baldwin Community and Economic Development Foundation (BCEDF). The BCEDF is a member of the Innovate Alabama Network, which positions Hatch Fairhope as one of the state’s leaders in nurturing Alabama’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. For more information, visit HatchFairhope.com.