Last week, state lawmakers representing the Wiregrass region presented a check for $3.94 million from the state Industrial Development Agency to the Dothan, Alabama, Industrial Development Board to support the acquisition of the 446-acre Westgate Supersite.

The funding was made possible by legislation passed in 2023 under the Site Assessment and Economic Development Strategies (SEEDS) Act. The state funding, combined with $3.14 million in funding from the Dothan City Commission and Houston County Commission, will also help with the acquisition of the Westgate Supersite.

“The state understands that large, quality industrial sites are critical, and the Westgate Supersite has the potential to have a generational impact on the Wiregrass region,” state Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva) told those gathered at the major economic development event.

State leaders say Alabama, like many other states, is facing a shortage of a sign of successful economic development: available land for industrial development.

One element of the Game Plan legislative package approved by the Alabama Legislature for 2023 will provide funding to help fulfill the mission of securing billion-dollar projects for Alabama: the Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategies (SEEDS) Act.

RELATED: $40 million SEEDS will soon take root in Alabama, potentially expanding state's economic development prospects

“The Westgate Supersite has the potential to create hundreds of good-paying jobs for hard-working Alabamians and we are fortunate to have such a high-quality industrial site,” State Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan) said last week at the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce.

Lee added that before the SEEDS Act, the state lacked the ability to recruit and retain private partners with the capacity to drive regional economic development. Now, locations like the Westgate Supersite are attractive to companies because of their operational viability, transportation access and ready-to-work capabilities in the Wiregrass.

“It includes Dothan Utilities, Alabama Power, Southeast Alabama Gas and the railroad company, CSX Railroad. We've had consultants tell us this may be the best location in the state, certainly south of Huntsville,” Lee said.

Local leaders Dothan Mayor Mark Saliba and Houston County Commission Chairman Brandon Shoup also shared their excitement about the milestone.

“The City of Dothan has not been able to compete for large scale economic development projects in the past, but the Westgate Supersite will position our community to be considered for industrial projects that have the potential to drive significant economic investment in our community,” Mayor Saliba said.

“We are fortunate to have a strong state delegation that works collaboratively with city and county officials to advance our communities,” Shoup added.

Grayson Everett is the state and politics editor for Yellow Hammer News. You can follow him on Twitter. Grayson