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Fairhope, Ala. – Innovate Alabama has admitted the Baldwin Community + Economic Development Foundation (BCEDF) into their Innovate Alabama Network and granted it $250,000 in support of Hatch. Hatch is Baldwin County’s technology village and entrepreneurial support hub, based in Fairhope, Alabama, and developed to support and grow the technology-based entrepreneurial ecosystem in the region.

The BCEDF, a nonprofit under the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA), has partnered with the City of Fairhope, Coastal Alabama Community College, and other entities to develop Hatch, currently located in the PNC Bank building in downtown Fairhope. Hatch will relocate to the historical Fairhope K-1 Center building in downtown Fairhope after renovations are completed in the 2025 timeframe. Hatch provides office space, co-working space, access to funding, programming, consulting, networking, and other resources for technology-based entrepreneurs to start and scale their businesses.

The $250,000 awarded for Hatch will help fund two 8- to 10-week biotech programs to bolster biotechnology growth in Alabama and pave the way for innovation internships. Participating firms will receive $20,000 in funding (half upfront and half upon completion) for a 5% equity stake, culminating in a demo day where they will pitch to investors. This initiative, which includes partnering with a national researcher at Hatch, aims to boost Alabama’s innovation economy, benefiting the state’s tech advancements and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The Innovate Alabama Network selected the BCEDF among 51 applicants pursuing technology-related projects in Alabama. Lee Lawson, the President & CEO of the BCEDA, said he was proud that Hatch was noted for its innovation. “The Baldwin Community + Economic Development Foundation being added to the Innovate Alabama Network shows that Hatch, along with the Innovation Portal in Mobile, Alabama, are the two go-to entities in South Alabama for innovation,” said Lawson.

The Innovate Alabama Network is a comprehensive resource connecting communities, nonprofits, and higher education institutions across the state that foster innovation in their backyard. Through this designation program, Innovate Alabama recognizes those shaping the state’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, investing in these organizations to drive innovation-related activities, and encouraging collaboration and growth amongst the network’s members. “The Innovate Alabama Network is a major step forward to growing the entrepreneurial and innovation environment in Alabama,” said Innovate Alabama CEO Cynthia Crutchfield. “By providing funding and resources to our local communities, nonprofits, and higher education institutions, we are developing a statewide network for innovation programming and catalyzing entrepreneurship in all of our communities, both rural and urban.”

The BCEDF is housed under the BCEDA and contributes to initiatives that strive to develop the economy in Baldwin County. The BCEDA is a partnership of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to providing opportunities for businesses in Baldwin County and ensuring exceptional quality of life for Baldwin County’s residents and employees. The organization focuses on growing a diverse industry base through efforts to create jobs, generate capital investment, and increase the quality of life in its community. The Alliance’s strategic efforts include marketing, business recruitment, workforce development, talent attraction and development, state and local government affairs, data-driven research, existing industry support, and entrepreneurial assistance.

Bay Minette, Ala. – The Alabama Industrial Access Road and Bridge Corporation, under ALDOT’s administration, recently awarded $5 million to improve access roads leading to the Novelis aluminum rolling and recycling facility in Bay Minette, Alabama.

The grant will allow for improvements to be made to Highway 287 leading to the facility, including resurfacing, widening, and drainage enhancements, and will also help fund the construction of an industrial access road on site that will be necessary to accommodate the expected traffic flow increase.

Baldwin County Commissioner James E. (Jeb) Ball said he was proud of the county’s efforts to procure the grant. “This grant award from the Industrial Access Road and Bridge Corporation will aid the Baldwin County Commission in delivering critical transportation infrastructure for Novelis’ generational investment,” Ball said. “I am appreciative of all of the help and effort made by State Senator Greg Albritton, ALDOT Director John Cooper, State Treasurer Young Boozer, Finance Director Bill Poole, and the Baldwin County Legislative Delegation for their partnership and commitment that will bring 1,000 new high-paying jobs in Baldwin County.”

The $5 million grant awarded for this project makes up 45% of the total grant funds awarded this fiscal year by the Alabama Industrial Access and Road and Bridge Corporation. The selections are chosen based on the economic viability of projects regarding new or expanding industries committed to new investment and the creation of jobs.

State Senator Greg Albritton said he was proud to have guided this grant through Montgomery to completion. “The economic viability was a given with the Novelis site in Bay Minette,” said Albritton. “My congratulations to Baldwin County Commissioners, Mr. Cooper with the DOT, all the engineers, and Novelis for achieving success on what could have been a difficult problem. Working together, we will bring generational economic strength to North Baldwin County.”

Novelis is expected to create approximately $6.5 billion in total economic output and 900 indirect jobs in addition to the 1,000 direct jobs at the 3,000-acre, former South Alabama MegaSite in Bay Minette. Novelis currently has approximately 100 employees in Baldwin County. The plant will be the first fully integrated aluminum mill built in the United States in 40 years and will be primarily powered by renewable energy, use recycled water, and be a zero-waste facility.  

Fairhope, Ala. – The Business Concept has given the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) an Excellence Award for Local Aerospace Industry Development Services for this year’s Logistics, Warehouse, and Supply Chain Awards.

The BCEDA received this award for their support of the growing aerospace industry in Baldwin County and Mobile, Alabama. The BCEDA, through its relationships with key stakeholders of existing businesses, assists in recruiting aerospace businesses and ensuring the existing companies see sustainable growth in the community.

The Business Concept honors businesses related to distribution, e-commerce, and transportation that adapt to the changing world. To determine this year’s selection of winners, The Business Concept’s judging panel and research team considered the commitment, expertise, and innovation shown by nominees.

The Business Concept’s Awards Coordinator, Jack Ford, commented on the success of this year’s winners: “Working with our valued winners has been an eye-opening experience as they continue to influence the corporate landscape as a whole. Congratulations, and I wish you all the best for the rest of 2023 – and beyond!”

The Business Concept is designed to deliver the latest insights and features of businesses that have favored the digital space and have thrived in the cut-throat industry. The Business Concept covers all aspects of the business world and breaks down each part to analyze what businesses of all different sizes from each part of the world need to encompass to reach new heights of success.

The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance is a partnership of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to growing and improving the county’s economy. Our organization focuses on developing a diverse industry base through economic and business development endeavors that will ultimately create jobs, generate capital investment, and increase the quality of life for Baldwin County’s residents and employees. The Alliance’s strategic efforts include marketing, business recruitment, talent and workforce development, state and local government affairs, data-driven research, existing industry support, and entrepreneurial assistance.

Fairhope, Ala. – The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) has named the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA) an Excellence in Economic Development Award recipient among three categories in the 200,000-500,000 population size range. BCEDA received an IEDC Excellence Award for Best Special Event, Best Use of Federal Economic Development Resources, and EDO of the Year.

BCEDA received the Gold Award in the Special Event category for the Novelis Procurement Event they hosted earlier this year. This event supported economic development in Baldwin County, Alabama, by facilitating networking and collaboration opportunities between local industry leaders and Novelis, a company making a substantial capital investment of $2.5 billion and creating over 1,000 new jobs. This event ensured that local partners and service providers had the opportunity to work with Novelis and keep the project efforts local to continue enhancing the community’s economy.

IEDC also awarded the Bronze Award for Best Use of Federal Economic Development Resources regarding the $2.5 million grant the Economic Development Administration awarded the City of Fairhope to establish a business resource hub for technology entrepreneurs at Hatch Fairhope through the renovations of the former Fairhope K-1 Center.

Lastly, BCEDA received the Bronze Award for EDO of the Year for its efforts in economic development in Baldwin County, recent accomplishments, and other initiatives and programming to support the community. “The Alliance represents the best of the best due to our long-term strategic planning, organizational development efforts, significant community impact, innovation and creativity, and collaboration and support from stakeholders,” says Lee Lawson, President & CEO of BCEDA. “Our commitment to strategic planning ensures that economic development efforts align with the community’s vision and needs.”

In addition to these awards, the Alliance has received three other awards this year. The Business Concept designated Baldwin County an Excellence Award for Local Aerospace Industry Development Services. Area Development awarded Alabama a Silver Shovel for setting a state record of $10.1 billion in new capital investment, of which Baldwin County garnered $2.5 billion. Area Development also awarded Novelis a Manufacturing Project of the Year for their investment in Baldwin County and for creating over 1,000 jobs. This represents one of the largest economic development projects in the State of Alabama’s history.

The Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance is a partnership of local public and private professionals, leaders, and officials dedicated to providing opportunities for businesses in Baldwin County, growing and improving the county’s economy, and ensuring exceptional quality of life for Baldwin County’s residents and employees. Our organization focuses on developing a diverse industry base through economic and business development endeavors that will ultimately create jobs, generate capital investment, and increase the quality of life in our area. The Alliance’s strategic efforts include marketing, business recruitment, talent and workforce development, state and local government affairs, data-driven research, existing industry support, and entrepreneurial assistance.

The International Economic Development Council is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization serving economic developers. With more than 4,300 members, IEDC is the largest organization of its kind. From public to private, rural to urban, and local to international, IEDC’s members are engaged in the full range of economic development experiences. IEDC’s members create high-quality jobs, develop vibrant communities, and improve the quality of life in their regions. As the largest membership organization for economic developers, IEDC is the top resource for economic development organizations and provides services that position our members for success in the United States and worldwide.

Bay Minette, Ala. – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $2.5 million grant to North Baldwin Utilities in Bay Minette, Alabama, for water infrastructure upgrades to support the construction of the Novelis facility that will greatly benefit the local community.

This EDA grant will enable a 2.5 million-gallon elevated water storage tank to be placed in Bay Minette to serve the Novelis site and the north Baldwin County community. The total construction process for the water storage tank will cost over $6 million, with a total of $6.4 million being invested into these infrastructure improvements, as $3.9 million in local funding is being contributed to match the $2.5 million grant from the EDA.

“Part of the original commitment to Novelis was providing a 2-million-gallon water tank for their water processes and fire protection, but the community was also in need of more water storage, especially for dry times like we have experienced this summer,” says Jason Padgett, CEO for North Baldwin Utilities. “The water tank will be placed on property adjacent to the Novelis site that North Baldwin Utilities owns. Constructing a water tower that will help our community and a large industrial customer such as Novelis, which is also bringing more jobs to the community, is a win-win. This is a joint effort where everyone worked together, and everyone benefits, and we are so excited to support this job growth and future development for the community.”

The Novelis aluminum plant is expected to bring tremendous economic growth to the community, with Novelis investing approximately $3 billion and creating 1,000 direct jobs.

“Novelis is setting high standards through their operations,” said Lee Lawson, President & CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. “We are proud to partner with North Baldwin Utilities and the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission to support Novelis and the generational impact their investment will have on Baldwin County’s economy.”

Novelis is the leading sustainable aluminum solutions provider and world leader in rolling and recycling. Novelis is expected to create approximately $6.5 billion in total economic output and 900 indirect jobs in addition to the 1,000 direct jobs at the 3,000-acre, former South Alabama MegaSite in Bay Minette. The plant will be primarily powered by renewable energy, use recycled water, and be a zero-waste facility.  

This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission (SARPC). EDA funds SARPC to unite the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.