Latest news with #SEEDS
Business Journals
22-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
JCEIDA industrial sites awarded national site selection recognition
By submitting your information you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy and User Agreement . Join the Birmingham Business Journal to unlock even more insights! The properties will now be included in a national database of project-ready sites. Two metro area rail sites have garnered national attention. Earlier this month, the Jefferson County Economic & Industrial Development Authority (JCEIDA) received national recognition for two of its Norfolk Southern rail-served industrial development projects. The JCEIDA's Red Rock South Site and Cowley Site were both awarded special designation as part of the Site Selectors Guild's REDI Sites program. GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY Find Local Events Near You Connect with a community of local professionals. Explore All Events The REDI program was launched last year and provides a standardized process for site readiness to ensure consistency across states and municipalities. It considers a site's development readiness, ownership, entitlements and infrastructure capacity and rates them accordingly. The Red Rock South Site, which spans just over 102 acres, received a REDI Sites Bronze designation, and the Cowley Site, which is currently 140 acres but expandable to 190, received a REDI Sites Emerging designation. Both sites are located at Jefferson Metropolitan Industrial Park (JeffMet) in McCalla. As a result of these designations, both sites will now be included in a national database of project-ready locations for site selection consultants across the country to consider for future projects. 'We are thrilled to be part of the REDI Sites program and receive two prestigious designations,' said Othell Phillips, executive director of JCEIDA. 'This recognition highlights Jefferson County's readiness to attract major investments while also providing valuable feedback to further enhance our sites ... (and) is a major advantage in our economic development efforts.' It isn't just Jefferson County pushing site development and recruitment. The state of Alabama is putting a heavy focus on getting sites ready for companies to call Alabama home. The State Industrial Development Authority (SIDA) is approving millions of dollars to cities, counties and projects under the Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program. 'SEEDS was launched to be an important tool that supports our strategic efforts to secure high-impact economic growth projects that make a real difference in the lives of our citizens and in the future of communities around the state,' Gov. Kay Ivey said. 'Though it was launched just last year, SEEDS is already delivering major benefits by ensuring we remain competitive for these projects, and I'm confident this second round of allocations will deliver even more big wins for Alabama.'
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tuscaloosa will use $296K SEEDS grant to attract more businesses
Every investment requires seed money, and the Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority can continue laying groundwork with a recently-announced $296,000 grant, through Alabama's SEEDS (Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy) program. The funds will be used for environmental studies, geotechnical analysis and infrastructure planning near the Tuscaloosa National Airport, and its nearby industrial park. This grant is the largest such awarded through the State Industrial Development Authority, TCEDA said. Businesses seeking to move here want to know the footing is solid, so SEEDS money will help provide specifications, to lay foundations for long-term success, said Steven Rumsey, TCEDA board chair. 'By conducting thorough site assessments, we can provide prospective industries with the confidence they need to invest here," Rumsey said in a written release. More: Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox looks to the future as he begins sixth term TCEDA will begin SEEDS work with engineers, environmental specialists, and site consultants at the 1,000-acre Tuscaloosa County Airport Industrial Park, and a more recently defined 390 acres along the Black Warrior River, adjacent to Tuscaloosa National Airport. The industrial park, begun in the 1980s, is currently home to 17 domestic and international investments, employing more than 1,600 people. The other 390 acres should be extra attractive to development, TCEDA said, thanks to local and state-funded efforts to improve the airport's runway, construct a cargo terminal, and renovate and expand the existing terminal. Tuscaloosa area leaders echoed the importance of site preparation. 'Economic development starts with having the right sites ready for investment. This grant will allow us to proactively prepare for the future and make Tuscaloosa an even more attractive destination for industry and job creation," said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. 'The ability to provide ready‐to‐develop sites is a key factor in attracting new businesses andexpanding existing ones," said Rob Robertson, Tuscaloosa County probate judge, and commission chairman. "This investment will strengthen our ability to recruit high‐quality industries, benefiting Northport and the entire Tuscaloosa County region," said John Hinton, Northport mayor. Incorporated in 1975 as the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority ― the board adopted the new name in 2021 ― it was among the major players in Project Rosewood, created to lure Mercedes-Benz to Alabama. The 1993 selection of Vance in Tuscaloosa County was a come-from-behind victory that's created billions in local and regional investment. That coup also jump-started the auto industry in Alabama, which since Mercedes-Benz has landed Honda, Hyundai, Mazda-Toyota plants. The Mercedes-Benz U.S. Internationa plant has also drawn numerous satellite supply industries and become the second-largest employer in the county after the University of Alabama, at 4,500 and 6,839 jobs, respectively. TCEDA provides potential investors with site location data, including available places and buildings, and can also assist with information on financing, incentives, employee training, and quality of life. For more about TCEDA and the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Park, see Reach Mark Hughes Cobb at This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: How a $296K grant will help lure industries to Tuscaloosa County
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
H&M Foundation Funds Disaster Management Project for India Communities
The H&M Foundation announced a partnership with the Sustainable Environment & Ecological Development Society (SEEDS) to reinforce resilience in a few vulnerable and disaster-prone Indian communities impacted by climate change. The three-year project (running 2024-2027) is backed with a 'financial commitment' of 7.5 million krona (about $681,000) from the Swedish retailer's nonprofit arm, which the Stefan Persson family privately funds. This funding is expected to benefit a quarter of a million people, emphasizing communities in Assam and Uttar Pradesh. More from Sourcing Journal Bangalore Garment Workers Score 'Landmark' Win With Covid-19 Settlement A Peek Inside India's $9 Billion Vadhvan Port Project New Partnership Brings Guess Jeans to India These regions are hot spots for climate-related calamity, leading to both short-term (death, forced relocation) and long-term (financial strains, emotional distress) disruptions. Thus, the project is taking a multi-phase strategy, triaging emergency response and relief before rehabilitation and reconstruction. Holistically, the project's overall objective is to 'go beyond' the actual disaster to create sustainable and 'equitable disaster-affected' communities. The systems change approach will address policies, practices, resource flows and behavioral change. 'This partnership marks a significant step towards building resilient and sustainable communities in Assam and Uttar Pradesh,' said Kristina Svartling, project manager at the H&M Foundation. 'By addressing both immediate relief and long-term recovery, we aim to empower the most vulnerable populations to withstand future disasters and climate challenges. This collaboration is not just about rebuilding what was lost, but about creating a foundation for a brighter, more inclusive future.' One portion of the budget is for immediate relief efforts— covering water, food, shelter and medical supplies. Most of the financing, though, is funding the long-term recovery efforts. That includes ensuring access to clean water and secure shelters, ultimately equipping these regions with the tools needed to be ready (as ready as one can be, I guess?) for the next climate disaster. 'Further, environmental sustainability is integrated in the project with the aim of providing long-term health of eco-systems and communities,' the H&M Foundation said in a statement. 'By implementing sustainable infrastructure such as waste management, renewable energy, and biodiversity conservation, environmental well-being and community resilience are recognized as interconnected systems.' SEEDS is a not-for-profit organization that has been around for three decades, working to build resilience among marginalized communities that are vulnerable to disasters and the impacts of climate change.
