Butler County
Over the past few years, manufacturing and logistics employers in Butler County have maintained and grown capacity, reinforcing the county’s position in the regional supply chain, says Tracy Salter, executive director of the Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce.
“Community planning efforts in Greenville include infrastructure readiness for future industrial growth and housing development to support workforce needs,” Salter says. “These developments reflect both private investment and collaborative growth planning with local economic development partners.”
As economic developers work to boost infrastructure and workforce development, improvements continue to enhance the quality of life in the area.
For example, drivers heading south on Interstate 65 now have a bigger, better place to stop and stretch their legs. The new I-65 rest stop near Greenville reopened in November 2025, six months ahead of schedule. The previous, outdated facility was demolished in 2024 and has been replaced with an ADA-compliant rest area, which includes increased parking for trucks, buses and passenger vehicles.
Additional road, water system and infrastructure improvements have been announced, including a $1.2 million plan for county road improvements passed in 2025. Currently, a highway resurfacing project is underway on I-65 near Georgiana.
In Greenville, a new Chick-fil-A is under construction right off Exit 130 on I-65. And after The Edge movie theater closed, the city of Greenville undertook a $640,000 acquisition of the facility and reopened it in late 2024. The city-owned entertainment venue offers hit movies as well as event space for private parties and gatherings.
Covington County
In July 2025, the new Twin Hangar complex opened at the South Alabama Regional Airport in Andalusia. The 70,000-square-foot facility supports fixed and rotary aircraft original equipment manufacturers, maintenance, modification, repair and overhaul. The hangar complex includes a five-ton DeShazo Crane in each hangar and a foam fire suppression system. In addition to two hangars, the center includes shop space and a separate engineering and administrative building. The complex is available for rent and can accommodate Lockheed C-30 or Boeing 737 fixed wing aircraft and also is suitable for smaller fixed or rotary wing configurations.
With a recent announcement that Aquatic Leisure Technologies Group will open its first U.S. manufacturing facility in Opp, Covington County is preparing to welcome the new employer with open arms. The 56,000-square-foot facility on 22 acres is expected to bring 15 to 20 new jobs initially, with more to come in the future.
The Opp City Schools Board of Education is overhauling the HVAC systems at Opp Middle School and Opp High School. The $6.6 million project, which has been in the planning stages since 2023, will replace the schools’ original, aging HVAC systems and allow for comfortable temperatures for student learning.
A new and improved playground is under construction at Andalusia’s Robinson Park, scheduled to open in spring 2026. With a price tag of almost $600,000, the new Robinson Park playground is mostly funded by a Community Development Block Grant.
Crenshaw County
The Crenshaw County Sports Complex in Luverne is on track to be completed by Fall 2026. Located on Highway 331, the sprawling, $15 million complex will include baseball fields, softball fields, soccer fields, a running track, an RV park and a lake. The complex is expected to boost local tourism and community recreation and will allow the community to host large tournaments and local events.
To accommodate an influx in visitors, several roadway projects are in the works in Crenshaw County. A $2 million resurfacing project on State Route 106 began in early 2026, covering 7.7 miles near Brantley. Completion is expected in summer 2026.
In addition, construction of a new, wider four-lane bridge over Patsaliga Creek is underway on U.S. Highway 331. The bridge project will replace the existing structure to reduce traffic issues, using a phased approach.
Lowndes County
In February 2026, Fort Deposit in Lowndes County was awarded a $102,000 Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) grant through the Alabama Department of Commerce and the State Industrial Development Authority. The city will use the grant and additional matching funds of $25,500 provided by local business LLB Inc. to undertake an assessment of the town’s 52-acre industrial park.
The site assessment will include a boundary survey and report, title search, topographical survey and report, wetland assessment, water and sewage system design, and environmental risk assessment. When complete in late 2026, the site assessment will provide necessary information for companies interested in locating at Fort Deposit Industrial Park.
“We were one of 12 locations in the state that were awarded this type of grant, and hundreds applied,” says Mayor Madelene Means of Fort Deposit. “An updated assessment will allow any potential investors to know that our industrial park is up to code and ready to go. Our park is unique because it already has ready water, gas and sewer all the way to the interstate.”
The industrial park and the site assessment work demonstrate the value of the public-private partnership between LLB Inc. and the town of Fort Deposit.
A $4.3 million highway resurfacing project along U.S. Highway 31 in Lowndes County helps ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place for future industrial investment. Two Alabama Power solar farms, producing a combined 350 megawatts of electricity, became fully operational in Lowndes County in 2024. Not only does the Letohatchee Solar Project provide innovative energy solutions for local business and industry, but it is expected to contribute more than $9 million in tax revenue to Lowndes County.
This article appears in the April 2026 issue of Business Alabama.
