Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Foley will formally accept a check from the state to buy 121 acres in the northern part of the city to use as an industrial park. The grant will help buy the land at the southwest corner of the intersection of the Foley Beach Express and the Baldwin Beach Express.

The city council will meet in a joint regular work session on June 1 in the council chambers at City Hall at 4 p.m.

The check is from the Site Evaluation Economic Development Strategy grant program. According to a release from the Baldwin Alliance on March 19, the city received $3.3 million to purchase a 121-acre site.

“This announcement is a great step forward for Foley,” Mayor Ralph Hellmich said in the release. “I want to thank the Foley team and our partners Baldwin Alliance, Riviera Utilities, Baldwin EMC, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA), the Alabama Department of Commerce, and Gov. Kay Ivey.”

Foley’s other industrial site is 150 acres on both sides of the Foley Beach Express and south of U.S. 98 and is an Advantage Alabama Certified Site.

During the joint regular/work session, the council will also discuss:

• The appointment of a city planning director followed by the oath of office. The agenda didn’t say who was being appointed to the position.
• The presentation of a check from the Site Evaluation Economic Development Strategy grant from the state. According to a release from the Baldwin Alliance on March 19, the city received $3.3 million to purchase a 121-acre site near the southwest corner of the Foley Beach Express and the Baldwin Beach Express. spent for.
• Introduction of city interns for 2026. The agenda didn’t offer any more information on this item.
• A presentation on the show “Salute to America and her Veterans” by Joseph Dean to be performed on July 2-3 at 7 p.m. and on July 4 at 2:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the OWA Theater.
• An introduction and first reading to amend an ordinance to allow for a rezoning of property owned by Harold Motter from single-family residential to local business. The property is located in the northwest corner of Brinks Willis Road and James Road. The council will also set a public hearing date on the change. The planning commission gave a favorable recommendation for the change in its May 20 meeting.
• An introduction and first reading of ordinance amendment rezoning property at 339 E. Berry Ave., owned by Vulcan, from light industrial to local business. The council will also set a date for a public hearing on the change. The planning commission gave a favorable recommendation for the change in its May 20 meeting.
• An introduction and first reading of an amendment to the zoning ordinance on allowable residential signage. The council will also set a public hearing date on the change. The planning commission gave a favorable recommendation for the change in its May 20 meeting.
• Paying retirees a lump sum of $1 for each month of service or a total of $24,587 for any employees who retired before Oct. 1, 2025, and are entitled to receive monthly retirement payments from the Retirement Systems of Alabama as of September 2026. This will add 0.1 percent to the city’s payout for retirees.
• A request from the Foley Sister Cities Commission for a city sponsorship of an Oktoberfest Golf Jamboree, including a golf tournament and Oktoberfest celebration with authentic German music on Oct. 23 at GlenLakes Golf Club. Foley’s sister city is Hennef, Germany. Sponsorships range from $7,000 to $250.
• Increasing the budget by $30,000 for interpretive trail signage for the Graham Creek Nature Preserve.
• Applying for an Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs grant of $225,000 to build an elevated ADA accessible boardwalk and observation deck at Wolf Creek Park. The city’s 20 percent match is $45,000.
• Approving a construction engineering and inspection services for the Fern Avenue and Iberville Square turn lane projects on State Route 59 for $65,517 with Neel-Schaffer.
• Adding $68,000 for additional design services for the Schreiber Trail at Wolf Creek, “to acquire grant funding to offset some of the construction costs,” according to a memo from Leslie Gahagan of the Nature Park Departments.
• Accepting a grant award from the Bulletproof Vest Partnership for $8,295 for the police department.
• Setting a public hearing on an ordinance to add sections to allow for the sale of consumable hemp products in Foley and its police jurisdiction.
• Approving funding for thermal street markers for the downtown Foley arts and entertainment district for $2,000 for 20 signs. The request is from Foley Main Street.
• Setting a public hearing to declare junk and trash at 635 E. Gate Circle a public nuisance and ordering its cleanup.