Monday, September 30, 2024, Jasper AL
At a reception hosted by the Jasper Industrial Development Board on Monday, President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate, Greg Reed, presented JIDB Executive Director, Green Suttles with a 1 million dollar check from the State Industrial Development Authority. These grant funds will be used to assist in the further development of the Whitehouse Road Prepared Site in the Jasper Industrial Park, making the site pad ready.
The funds were made possible by the Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy Act (SEEDS) legislation passed in 2023. In this case, state funding is paired with an investment from the Jasper Industrial Development Board of $978,869. “This is a tremendous day for our city and our industrial board,” said Jasper Mayor David O’Mary. “We are pleased to be able to make the matching money investment that allows the JIDB to acquire this much-needed funding. Senator Reed and Representative Woods play substantial roles in helping our city grow and prosper. I am certainly appreciative of their efforts. This grant and project will make Jasper a viable opportunity for many industrial prospects, giving them a pad-ready site to build on."
“Alabama has invested significant resources to ensure we are prepared to meet the workforce and economic development needs of our state. We are poised to capitalize on these efforts, so Alabamians continue to have high-quality jobs and meaningful careers. Our work to continue making Alabama the best place in America to do business will continue to be a top priority, and this investment today will help those efforts across the state and in Walker County. “State Senate Pro Tem, Greg Reed (R-Jasper) told those gathered for the major economic development event.
According to state leaders, Alabama, like many other states, is encountering a symptom of economic development success: Running low on available sites for industrial development. One component of The Game Plan legislative package authorized by Alabama lawmakers in 2023 enables funding to fulfill its mission of securing multibillion-dollar projects to Alabama: The Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) Act.
“The 94-acre Whitehouse Road Prepared Site will be Ready-to Build with no delays,” State Rep. Matt Woods (R-Jasper) commented via phone call.
