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SEEDS

SEEDS: Site Evaluation Economic Development Strategy) is a matching grant program and governed by the State Industrial Development Authority.

What are the population requirements and how do they apply to the match?

Assessment Application – 50+ acres

  • Population < 12,000 = 25 cents on the dollar
  • Population 12,001 – 59,999 = 50 cents on the dollar
  • Population 60,000 – 150,000 = 75 cents on the dollar
  • Population > 150,000 = dollar for dollar

Development Application – 75+ acres

  • Population < 12,000 = 25 cents on the dollar
  • Population 12,001 – 59,999 = 50 cents on the dollar
  • Population 60,000 – 150,000 = 75 cents on the dollar
  • Population > 150,000 = dollar for dollar

Important Dates

July 1, 2024: Applications Open

September 30, 2024: Applications Close

For more information, please contact Greg Blalock at gblalock@edpa.org.

FAQ

If the project is located within city limits, do you use the city or county population to calculate the funding match?

The funding match is determined using the population of the county in which the site is located.

Can an organization receive awards for both the Assessment & Development grants in the same cycle?

Yes. Each organization may submit only one application for an Assessment grant and one application for a Development grant. The Assessment and Development grant applications must be for different sites.

Who is eligible to apply for SEEDS funding?

To apply for SEEDS funding, an organization must be considered a Local Economic Development Organization (LEDO). The definition of LEDO is outlined in the legislation as:

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION. Any organization that is determined by the authority to meet both of the following criteria:

  1. The organization is an Alabama entity not operating for profit, including, but not limited to, a municipality, county, industrial development board, industrial development authority, chamber of commerce, or some other foundation or nonprofit organization charged with improving a community or region of the state.
  2. The organization has a record of supporting or otherwise participating in economic development in some part of the state.

If you have a site that lies in 2 counties, how do you determine which county population to use for the funding match?

The funding match will be determined using the county population of the county in which a majority of the site lies.

Will there be spring/summer funding round if all the grant funds are not awarded?

There may be another funding round for SEEDS depending on the amount of funds awarded in the initial round.

Are there stipulations on where the funding match comes from?

Other state funds may not be used for the funding match.

When does the funding match have to be committed? 

The match must be in-hand or committed at the time the application is submitted.

How many bids/cost estimates for services must be submitted with the application?

For engineering services, only one cost estimate is required. For construction services, at least 2 bids/cost estimates are required.