TCEDA Nets $2.3M To Prepare Major Industrial Development Site

TUSCALOOSA, AL — A long-underutilized industrial property near the Tuscaloosa National Airport is set for a major transformation after the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority (TCEDA) received more than $2.3 million in state funding to prepare the site for future economic development projects.

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The funding, awarded through the Alabama Department of Commerce's Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program, will help complete critical site development work at the former S.D. Allen facility within the Tuscaloosa County Airport Industrial Park.

Combined with local matching funds, TCEDA said the project will total more than $4.6 million, with construction expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

State officials presented the award during Thursday's TCEDA Board of Directors meeting.

TCEDA said once complete, the project will create a contiguous, 230-acre shovel-ready industrial site designed to attract advanced manufacturing, aerospace, automotive suppliers and other high-wage industries.

"This SEEDS grant will turn a long-underused property into a shovel-ready asset that positions Tuscaloosa County to compete for the advanced manufacturing and aerospace projects of tomorrow," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said.

Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair also said companies looking to expand increasingly seek locations that are ready for immediate construction.

"This funding addresses the site-readiness challenges that have held back one of the county's best industrial properties," McNair said. "Tuscaloosa County has both the workforce and the location, and this investment will help them compete at the highest level."

TCEDA said the former S.D. Allen property has long been viewed as one of the airport industrial park's most promising development sites because of its size, location and existing infrastructure. However, existing site conditions have limited its marketability for years.

Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Rob Robertson said improving the site will make the community more competitive for future investment opportunities.

"Today's competitive marketplace requires quality, ready-to-build sites," Robertson said. "By receiving this grant and making these improvements, our community will be better prepared to attract future investment."

Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox called the airport and surrounding industrial park among West Alabama's most important economic assets, saying the project positions the region for long-term growth.

"By continuing to prepare this site for future industry, we are positioning our region to attract transformative investment, create high-quality jobs and ensure lasting economic opportunity for generations to come," Maddox said.

TCEDA says it previously received SEEDS assessment funding to study the airport industrial park and surrounding properties.

Officials said those studies identified the former S.D. Allen site as a strong candidate for industries including advanced materials manufacturing, aerospace and defense production, automotive component manufacturing, and food and beverage processing.

TCEDA Chairman Tim Parker said the project represents an investment in the county's future competitiveness.

"Preparing for tomorrow's opportunities requires investing today," Parker said. "This grant, combined with the commitment of our local governments, will transform an underutilized property into one of Tuscaloosa County's most competitive industrial sites."

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