Baldwin County officials are breaking ground this morning on the Port Alabama Industrial Center in Loxley. Phase 1 will have 2 million square feet of space available for potential industrial development.
The 900-acre site is just south of I-10 along Highways 59 and 90. The site will be developed in three phases with plans for it to contain approximately 12 million square feet of Class A industrial space, close to the Port of Mobile.
“The master plan for Port Alabama Industrial Center, which will initially offer abundant space to support significant new industry, is bringing the much-needed industrial product to market,” said Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance President and CEO Lee Lawson. “There has been increasing demand for Class A industrial space in our area for many years as Baldwin County continues to grow and as the Port of Mobile continues to expand. Having readily available sites like our site here is essential as we continue attracting businesses and economic projects to Baldwin County.”
Gulf Corp., a Dallas-based real estate development and investment firm, acquired the property, which had not changed hands since the mid-1800s, according to Austin Ames, Gulf Corp. CEO.
“We believe our planned development activities will be the tip of the iceberg in the logistics and industrial capabilities of the entire Gulf Coast,” said Ames. “With the migration shift to the southern region due to positive economic tailwinds as well as post Covid ‘on-shoring,’ we are on the precipice of a major shift in how the nation and world view this region. With the growth of the port in conjunction with the substantial growth of the area, Port Alabama Industrial Center is primed to become one of the nation’s major industrial centers.”
Baldwin County officials agree with Ames. “The close proximity to I-10 and the centralized location in Baldwin County between Mobile and Pensacola will attract quality tenants that will provide good, high-paying jobs for the citizens of not only Baldwin County, but the entire Southwest region of Alabama,” said Baldwin County Commission Chair Billie Jo Underwood.
