$3.8 million Growing Alabama grant to help launch new St. Clair County commerce park
January 28, 2026 - SPRINGVILLE, Alabama – A $3.8 million grant awarded through the Growing Alabama program will spur development of a new commerce park in Springville that will be a hub for regional economic growth.
The St. Clair County Economic Development Council announced the grant. The City of Springville in partnership with the St. Clair County Commission, the Industrial Development Board of St. Clair County, the State of Alabama and donors including Norfolk Southern provided the funds to clear and prepare sites for a rail-served commerce park off Interstate 59.
“Springville’s new commerce park will provide jobs and opportunity for hundreds of Alabamians, and its impact will surely be felt across St. Clair County and in surrounding communities,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “Alabama is open for business, and one of the key ways we show that support is by helping local governments prepare industrial sites to welcome world-class companies.”
“The Growing Alabama program has been a vital tool in that mission.”
Growing Alabama is a public-private partnership that supports local industrial development efforts by providing resources for site development, infrastructure improvements and community readiness. Companies and individuals receive state income tax credits for donations made to approved economic development projects through the program.
Collaboration is the key ingredient behind the program’s success, said Ellen McNair, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“The most successful economic development projects happen when everyone works together toward a common goal,” she said. “Growing Alabama is an example of that kind of teamwork, and great things happen when we all share a vision and strategy for building prosperous communities.”
The latest grant will provide site readiness at the Springville Commerce Park, strengthening the county’s ability to attract new industries, create jobs and support long-term economic growth.
The new park has the potential to provide more than 1,000 new jobs across multiple employers.
“This is not just a Springville commerce park but an I-59 commerce park,” said Springville Mayor Austin Phillips. “It will help employ citizens from all the surrounding counties.”
Economic development is about partnerships, said St. Clair County Commission Chairman Stan Batemon.
“We couldn’t have better partners than the state of Alabama, the donors like Norfolk Southern and the City of Springville,” Batemon said. “We work closely to support all our communities in the county.”
Tyler Preast, Senior Manager of Industrial Development for Norfolk Southern, said the company’s support for the project reflects its commitment to fostering growth by attracting forward-thinking companies to create high-quality jobs.
“We’re proud to champion St. Clair County’s vision for building an industrial hub on Norfolk Southern’s rail network,” he said.
Growing Alabama is fueling similar projects across the state. For example, last summer, Gov. Ivey announced more than $25.9 million in 2025 program funding for communities stretching from the northwest corner of the state to the Wiregrass.
The new commerce park in Springville is a powerful example of how collaboration drives economic vitality and long-term impact, said Birmingham Business Alliance President & Chief Executive Officer Steve Ammons.
“The Growing Alabama program investment demonstrates that state funding is most effective when projects reflect strong local, county and regional alignment,” he said.