$35 million in GoMESA funding headed to dozens of Coastal Alabama projects

Approximately $35 million in funding for over two dozen projects in Coastal Alabama has been made available by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006. The legislation provides significant revenue sharing amongst the four Gulf-producing states (Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas) as well as their coastal subdivisions.

The new funding will specifically go towards environmental education and outreach, sewer and stormwater infrastructure, water quality improvements, and recreational access improvements.

“I am thrilled to be joined today by many of our local leaders to announce 25 GoMESA-funded projects. Working closely with Commissioner Blankenship and his team at the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, we have secured more than $30 million dollars to fund the projects that improve and beautify this region we all love,” Ivey told the crowd. “With this announcement, more than $210 million dollars in GoMESA projects have been awarded during the Ivey Administration.”

“One of the main themes for this year’s projects is Environmental and Nature Education and Outreach. Teaching future generations about the importance of protecting Alabama the Beautiful and all her natural habitats, wildlife and fish is critical. Several of these projects will make improvements at museums, education facilities, aquariums and along the waterfront – all to educate Alabamians and our visitors from far and wide.”

Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship spoke about what the new funding will mean for the region and praised those involved with allocating it.

“The GoMESA projects announced today will go a long way to continuing to improve the environment and quality of life in Coastal Alabama,” Blankenship said. “I appreciate the work of the staff at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and our project partners as they work to leverage GoMESA-funded projects with the good work happening with Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill projects and other funding sources.”

“The nature-based education, water quality improvements, and public access expansion projects announced today will have a long-term positive impact.”

2024 State of Alabama Funded GoMESA Projects include:

City of Creola Park, Conservation and Education Project $1,000,000
Exploreum Traveling Exhibit Gallery Refurbishment $829,012
Dauphin Island Programmatic Dredge Permit $300,000
Loxley Municipal Park Wetlands Acquisition Project $650,000
Fairhope Flying Creek Nature Preserve Phase II $1,328,400
Summerdale Miracle League Ballfields $1,538,000
Dauphin Island Middle Beach Access Improvements $1,500,000
Orange Beach Schools Sea, Sand, and Stars Education Project $979,864
Meaher State Park Headquarters Camp Store Project $1,100,000
Mobile County Cedar Point Boat Ramp Phase II $2,753,440
Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Manatee Sighting Network $182,461
Town of Perdido Beach Comprehensive Drainage Improvements $307,670
National Maritime Museum Improvements (Mobile) $2,250,000
Saraland Water and Sewer System Upgrades $1,523,700
Blakeley Park Waterfront Access Improvement Project $1,970,500
Mobile Riverfront Park Enhancements – Phase II $3,023,667
Dauphin Island Sewer Collection System Improvements 2024 $2,965,981
Daphne Sewer Lift Station Permanent Bypass Pumps – Priority 1 $499,500
Daphne Sewer Lift Station Permanent Bypass Pumps – Priority 2 $445,500
Mobile County/TNC Coden Bayou Land Acquisition Project $753,575
City of Prichard Sweeney Lane Bridge $650,000
Honor Park – A City of Spanish Fort Project $3,000,000
Alabama Aquarium Improvements (DISL) $200,000
USA Lower Alabama Beach Education Facility $250,000
GoMESA Administration $398,641
$30,399,911

GoMESA provides funding for the four Gulf Producing States and their eligible coastal political subdivisions (CPS) to share 37.5 percent of the qualified revenues from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas leases issued since December 20, 2006.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten