The Perry County Airport and Industrial Authority has been approved for Site Evaluation for Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) grant funding and is moving forward with a $400,000 federal appropriation secured through U.S. Senator Katie Britt’s office, according to board chairman Donald Bennett.
Bennett said the authority was notified of the SEEDS approval on February 5. The grant will fund site assessments at Vaiden Field Airport aimed at improving safety, compliance, and investment readiness at the facility.
The Airport Board is also working with the Alabama Department of Transportation’s Aeronautics division to maximize the use of the Britt appropriation.
A SEEDS evaluation team visited Perry County on November 13, touring Vaiden Field and attending a presentation at the Harris Technology Hub.
The visit included representatives from Global Location Strategies, the Alabama Department of Commerce, Alabama Power, the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, and PowerSouth, along with local officials and consultants.
The SEEDS program is designed to help communities complete the assessments needed to market industrial and commercial sites to prospective employers.
If funded improvements move forward, the authority has said the airport could support new business recruitment, workforce training partnerships with nearby institutions, and expanded emergency response capabilities.
Bennett said Vaiden Field is being positioned as a catalyst for broader economic development in Perry County, with goals including business attraction, job creation, and improved regional connectivity.
