Phoenix South Point is Brett/Robinson’s newest development in Orange Beach. Photo by Marc D. Anderson/City of Orange Beach.
Baldwin’s economic drivers are as vast and diverse as the county itself. Opportunities range from nationally acclaimed tourism to mega manufacturing sites and much more.
Tourism
Baldwin County is Alabama’s number one tourist destination. In 2024, travel-related expenditures in Alabama accounted for nearly $24 billion. Of that number, Baldwin County accounted for almost $10 billion.
“Summer is our strong season, to be sure,” says Beth Gendler, president and CEO of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Tourism. “But I will tell you, February is one of our most-occupied months as well. Our short-term rentals, condominiums and houses run about 70% occupied in the month of February.”
In addition, USA Today has placed Orange Beach and Gulf Shores in its Top 10 vote for Best Golf Destination (Gulf Shores and Orange Beach), Best Coastal Small Town (Gulf Shores), Best Small Town Food Scene (Orange Beach), Best Small Town in the South (Orange Beach) and Best Recreational Trail (Hugh S. Branyon Backcountry Trail).
One of area’s newest beachfront developments is the Embassy Suites in Gulf Shores. The $141 million, 257-suite hotel by Hilton opened in the summer of 2025.
Other tourism-based construction includes the Margaritaville Resort, underway across from The Wharf on the Intracoastal Waterway. Developers are projecting more than $350 million in private investment on the site, covering 80 acres, that will include 300 condo units, resort cottages, waterfront villas, restaurants, pools and a lazy river.
In Orange Beach, the seven-story Springhill Suites hotel opened in early 2026 with 120 rooms. Two condo projects also are under construction, including the 22-story Phoenix South Point with 66 units and 25-story Phoenix Key with 56 units.
In addition, Orange Beach strives to have a safe place for visitors to enjoy. “People know that we are a sanctuary city for families,” notes Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon. “When you come here you know that you’re going to have a family experience in a clean, protected and safe area.”
Aviation and Aerospace
Gulf Shores International Airport announced in July 2025 that it now offers non-stop service to 12 cities: Huntsville; Nashville, Tennessee; Des Moines, Iowa; Springfield, Missouri; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Omaha, Nebraska; Louisville. Kentucky; Appleton, Wisconsin; Belleville, Illinois; Kansas City, Missouri; Fayetteville, Arkansas; and Cincinnati, Ohio.
Announced in July 2025, the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) awarded the Foley Municipal Airport and H.L. “Sonny” Callahan Airport (Fairhope) more than $27,000 for hanger construction, taxiway lighting and other improvements.
In the north, a refurbished 55,000-square-foot runway, charters, additional T-hangars, and new services make Bay Minette Municipal Airport more valuable. All 30 hangars are full, and there is a waiting list.
The refurbishing and other upgrades project also received government funding.
Foley’s Collins Aerospace is reshaping flight with end‑to‑end solutions that push the boundaries of aviation. As Collins proclaims on its website, “We are making the most powerful concepts in aerospace a reality every day,” turning bold ideas into operational systems that power modern aircraft.
In nearby Fairhope, Segers Aero operates an FAA‑approved engine and propeller overhaul facility with a global reach. Partnered with OEMs including Rolls‑Royce, Lockheed Martin and Honeywell, Segers delivers expert propulsion support and engineering services for platforms such as the C‑130 and P‑3, as well as critical aircraft accessories and components for military customers worldwide.
Manufacturing
In South Alabama, Foley is a city of manufacturing from cutting edge new companies to the seasoned and reliable.
Foley’s 58-year-old Vulcan Signs manufactures outdoor utility, traffic and other signs and markers. The company’s services include metal stamping and a laser cutting facility. Vulcan’s primary service and products are for the traffic industry.
In July 2025, global stainless‑steel pipe manufacturer Butting selected Loxley for its North American headquarters and its first U.S. production facility. The $61 million project will be rolled out in two phases. The investment is expected to create up to 100 skilled jobs.
“Our decision to locate in Baldwin County was driven by the area’s overall attractiveness to live and work, a skilled labor force, proximity to key transportation routes and a welcoming business environment,” said Adrian Rochofski, CEO and managing director of Butting USA. In a statement released by the Alabama Department of Commerce, he added, “We’re excited to grow our footprint in the United States and call Loxley our home in North America.”
Warehousing
Also in Loxley, a groundbreaking ceremony in August 2024 launched construction of the Port Alabama Industrial Center. With more than 900 acres, the center is slated to deliver about 12 million square feet of industrial, light‑manufacturing, data and distribution space.
North Baldwin County
“Economic development in North Baldwin has long been powered by a strong and diverse industrial base,” says Kristina Pittman, executive director of the North Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. “Major employers such as Quincy Compressor, DentalEZ,International Paper and Plasmine Technology have served as steady economic engines for our community, providing quality jobs and long-term investment in the region.”
Coming soon to North Baldwin’s Bay Minette is a gamechanger. Aluminum recycler and product maker Novelis is investing more than $5 billion in its new 2.8 million-square-foot plant that’s set to open late this year.
Innovations
Described as the place “where innovation takes flight,” Hatch is a business/incubator providing facilities, resources and tools for technology-based entrepreneurs. In May 2025, a $6.1 million grant was given to refurbish and restore the historic K-1 Center in Fairhope for Hatch’s new home.
The funds were made possible by Coastal Alabama Community College, the city of Fairhope and the Baldwin Community and Economic Development Foundation.
Business Briefs:
FEBRUARY 2026: Baldwin County experiences continued economic growth indicated by new GDP numbers. New data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis shows GDP reached $13.4 billion, growing 20% over the last two years.
OCTOBER 2025: Loxley Logistics Center broke ground on a 200-acre Class A industrial park. The first 200,000-square-foot building is projected to be delivered in Q4 2026.
FEBRUARY 2026: The city of Foley received a $3.3 million SEEDs grant to acquire a 120-acre site on the north side of the city. The city plans to develop an industrial park to further economic development efforts.
JANUARY 2026: Baldwin County plans to enhance the Baldwin Beach Express II with a 25-mile extension that will improve emergency routes and support long-term growth. The new plan aims to keep traffic flowing smoothly while giving nearby property owners reasonable access.
JANUARY 2026: The city of Daphne has started construction on a 2,500-seat amphitheater at Bayfront Park, the biggest upgrade yet to the 15-acre waterfront park. The project will cost approximately $13.5 million and is set to open in spring 2027.
SEPTEMBER 2025: Gulf Shores International Airport saw more than 40,000 passengers in the 2025 summer season.
AUGUST 2025: The city of Bay Minette announced a major redevelopment project to transform a city-owned, 4-acre parcel and existing building into a mixed-use development featuring a Hilton-brand hotel and two new restaurants.
JULY 2025: The 257-room Embassy Suites Gulf Beach Resort officially opened in Gulf Shores, representing an estimated $141 million investment. The beachfront resort features all-suite accommodations with gulf views, along with dining, entertainment venues, meeting space and on-site retail.
JULY 2025: Portside on Main, The Wharf’s newest expansion, officially opened with a ribbon-cutting on July 16, adding 26,000 square feet of green space and 13 new tenants. Highlights include Tee Off at The Wharf with Top Golf Swing Suites, new boutiques for men, women and children, and dining led by chef Jonathan Kastner.
JULY 2025: Plans to develop a $7 million baseball complex within the Eastern Shore Center’s Cooperative Improvement District have been unveiled. The 56-acre site will feature 10 fields, including two 300-foot fields for youth teams, a miracle field, concessions and parking for 845 vehicles. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
JULY 2025: Butting, a global stainless steel pipe manufacturer, announced plans to establish its North American headquarters and first United States production facility in Loxley, adding $61 million capital investment and up to 100 jobs.
JUNE 2025: Baldwin Alliance and the city of Fairhope started construction on technology-business incubator Hatch Fairhope in downtown Fairhope at the historic K-1 Center.
MARCH 2025: Baldwin County’s Daphne-Fairhope-Foley metro area ranks 6th in the nation for fastest-growing metro areas.
MARCH 2025: Meat processor Maximus Meats announced plans to establish its first production facility in Summerdale, investing $11million and adding 60 jobs.
JANUARY 2025: Cobblestone Hotels announced plans to open a new, 40,000-square-foot, 54-room hotel in Bay Minette, adding 10 jobs. Big Mike’s Steakhouse also announced plans to open a restaurant and add 40 jobs.
JANUARY 2025 The Gulf Shores City Council approved a $24.4 million pedestrian bridge project to enhance safety and connectivity for pedestrians while improving traffic flow.
JANUARY 2025: Green Health Laboratories announced a new testing facility in Foley, with plans to invest $3.4 million and hire
50 workers.
APRIL 2024: The city of Fairhope received $3 million in federal funding from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the H.L. Sonny Callahan Airport to improve street, water and sewer infrastructure on light industrial land adjacent to the airport.
MAY 2024: Blessed Kettle Brewing Co. announced plans to open a $2 million facility in Foley.
AUGUST 2024: Baldwin County Public School System opened the $100 million Baldwin Preparatory Academy, Alabama’s first standalone career-tech high school, with 770 students.
AUGUST 2024: A $300 million Margaritaville Resort has been announced at The Wharf in Orange Beach. The resort will include 200 on-site employees and more than 400 units, accommodating more than 2,000 guests at full build-out.
AUGUST 2024: Port Alabama Industrial Center broke ground on Phase 1 of its industrial development in Loxley.
APRIL 2024: Kaishan Compressor USA broke ground on its $11 million expansion in Loxley, with plans to add 50 jobs.
This article appears in the May 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
