DeKalb County Secures two SEEDS Grants for Fyffe and Collinsville Industrial Parks

DeKalb County, Ala. — The DeKalb County Economic Development Authority (DeKalb County EDA) announced today that DeKalb County has secured two Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) grant awards in the latest round of funding announced by Governor Kay Ivey.

The awards were part of a $15.7 million statewide SEEDS investment supporting 21 industrial sites across Alabama.

DeKalb County EDA successfully applied for the SEEDS grants on behalf of the Town of Fyffe Industrial Development Board and the City of Collinsville, securing nearly $100,000 for critical site assessment work. These projects will fund due diligence studies required to compete for national industrial site selection projects.

Funded site assessments include geotechnical reports, Phase I and Phase II environmental studies, wetlands delineation reports, ecological studies, and cultural and historical resource surveys. These evaluations are commonly required by professional site selection consultants for sites to be considered in competitive requests for information (RFIs) and requests for proposals (RFPs).

The Collinsville Industrial Park is a 75-acre site on County Road 51 with frontage on Interstate 59, less than one mile from Exit 205.

The Fyffe Industrial Park consists of two lots totaling 56 acres on Lingerfelt Drive with frontage on Alabama Highway 75. Both sites offer access roads and strategic logistical and transportation advantages in a low-cost operating environment.

Completion of the site assessments is expected later this year, allowing the sites to be immediately marketed to more industrial prospects. These assessments are typically required to be completed before sites are eligible for additional site development grants that fund infrastructure improvements such as pad-ready grading, utility construction and related improvements.

“DeKalb County is once again proving the power of partnerships and planning can make growing rural communities like Collinsville and Fyffe more competitive for new job creation prospects,” said Brett Johnson, executive director of the DeKalb County Economic Development Authority. “With these critical due diligence reports in hand, DeKalb County EDA will be able to elevate these sites to the top of the list of eligible properties for the dozens of RFIs and RFPs we receive annually.”

Johnson noted that SEEDS funding often makes the difference between communities being able to invest in industrial site readiness or focusing on basic municipal services.

“By matching local dollars with state resources, pursuing these site assessments is now feasible,” Johnson said. “Without SEEDS funding, prioritizing these studies above critical city and town needs like public safety and sanitation is a challenge for rural communities with limited financial resources.”

Johnson also thanked DeKalb County’s state legislative delegation for their support of the projects, noting their continued backing of SEEDS funding for industrial sites in their districts.

Local leaders said the grants represent an important opportunity for future job creation.

“We appreciate the State of Alabama and DeKalb County EDA for recognizing our industrial park as a worthwhile investment,” said Fyffe Mayor Paul Cagle. “The Fyffe Industrial Development Board is eager to see new jobs created here, and we are thankful for their leadership in helping us remain competitive. It truly is a team effort.”

“I can’t say enough about what this grant means to us,” said Collinsville Mayor Jeff Chandler. “This property has been in a prime location for many years, and we hope to see good-paying jobs created here for our community. This state funding is a blessing for our city, and we’re ready to put it to good use.”

Site readiness is a key factor considered by professional site selection consultants, particularly as modern site selection trends increasingly prioritize speed to market.

In 2024, the City of Henagar was awarded one of the state’s first SEEDS site development grants to help fund pad-ready site grading work at the Henagar Industrial Park. That project is currently under construction and expected to be completed in the coming months.

For more information about the SEEDS grant program and the Governor’s announcement, visit:
https://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2026/02/governor-ivey-announces-15-7-million-in-seeds-grants-accelerating-alabamas-historic-economic-momentum/

https://weisradio.com/2025/12/15/12-15-2025-collinsville-city-council-meeting/