The Port of Huntsville is receiving a $650,000 Alabama economic development grant designed to boost site development for big industrial projects across the state.

The Site Evaluation and Economic Development Strategy (SEEDS) program will provide north Alabama’s inland port with funding to grade greenfield land and hook up to city utilities.

“We appreciate the investment that the state of Alabama is making in north Alabama at the Port of Huntsville,” said Butch Roberts, CEO of the Huntsville International Airport. “This grant will help create critical infrastructure to support the growing aviation and industrial needs at the Port of Huntsville.”

The Port of Huntsville will use the SEEDS grant to improve a 75-acre site on the northwest corner of the airport property along County Line Road.

Port leaders hope the improved site will attract maintenance, repair and overhaul aviation companies that will benefit from locating at Huntsville International Airport.

“This investment demonstrates Alabama’s commitment to ensuring every community has the tools needed to compete in today’s global economy,” said Ellen McNair, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The SEEDS program is helping Huntsville and other Alabama communities create the infrastructure and opportunities needed to attract transformative projects.”

The SEEDS program, part of Gov. Kay Ivey’s “Game Plan” initiative, is designed to meet the growing demand for top-tier industrial sites in Alabama. This program positions the state to remain competitive in attracting major investments as other states intensify their economic development efforts.

The SEEDS program has been transformative for Alabama’s industrial landscape. To date, the state has allocated $30.1 million in grants across 29 industrial sites, leveraging $38.4 million in matching local funds to speed development at sites encompassing nearly 8,400 acres.

A second round of SEEDS funding is in the works, with an announcement expected early next year.

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.

At long last, Alabama basketball got Chris Youngblood onto the court Saturday. After missing the beginning of the season due to an ankle injury, the South Florida transfer guard made his Crimson Tide debut against Creighton, playing 16 minutes in the 83-75 win.

Youngblood finished with five points, which included one three-pointer.

“Kind of knocking the rust off,” Alabama head coach Nate Oats said after the game. “It’s good to see him hit the one three. I think he’ll shoot it a little bit better than he did tonight once he kind of gets in flow and rhythm a little bit more. But good to see him out there contributing to the win tonight.”

Youngblood went 2-for-6 from the field during the win, 1-for-5 from three-point range. He also chipped in with a defensive rebound, an assist and a steal for the Crimson Tide.

His fellow Alabama guard, Labaron Philon said it was nice to have Youngblood back on the court.

“It was really special,” Philon said. “He’s like a big brother to me and Derrion (Reid) because we’re young guys, but just another older guy we can look up to and pour our game into and just listen to, so that’s a great thing. To get him back and see him get his first bucket was an amazing feeling.”

Youngblood was named the American Athletic Conference’s co-player of the year last season with South Florida. He spent the first three seasons of his college career at Kennesaw State.

While with the Owls, he faced off with Creighton and its head coach, Greg McDermott, who mentioned him after the Blue Jays loss on Saturday.

“I coached against him when he was at Kennesaw as a freshman and sophomore and knew that he was going to be a special player then,” McDermott said. “Once he gets in the flow here, he’s gonna add to this team a weapon that’s going to make them even better.”

Alabama moved to 8-2 on the season with Saturday’s win. The Crimson Tide will be back in action on Wednesday, facing North Dakota on the road.