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The Alabama Farm Center received an $11 million grant from the federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program last month — moving the project one step closer to groundbreaking.
Abandoned mine land features at Hallmark Farms in Warrior in Jefferson County will be reclaimed and restored, helping transform the property into a state-of-the-art agricultural exhibition center that will boost education, tourism and economic growth across the region.
The Alabama Farm Center will feature facilities for livestock shows, rodeos, educational programs and an annual state fair. It will also generate an estimated $2.2 billion in direct economic impact over 20 years and create up to 850 jobs.
Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed said the grant is a shining example of cooperation and strategic partnerships between business and state and federal government.
“By leveraging and utilizing existing connections, federal funding and the state’s aggressive approach toward economic development, especially in rural areas, I think this award is one of our gold-star achievements,” Reed said. “Not only are we helping bring much-needed jobs to the area, but we are also making use of previously unusable land that will now yield dividends, not only economically, but in providing safe entertainment and educational opportunities for Alabamians.”
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