Governor Kay Ivey announced more than $52 million in projects across coastal Alabama on Thursday.
The projects, supported by funding from the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006, or GoMESA, will focus on environmental education and outreach, boating access, water quality improvements, recreational access improvements and other coastal priorities.
“Alabama’s coast is one of our state’s greatest treasures, and we have a responsibility to protect it while ensuring Alabamians and our visitors can enjoy all it has to offer,” Ivey said. “These investments will strengthen our coastal communities, improve access to our waterways and preserve the natural resources that support jobs, tourism and our way of life. I am especially proud that, working alongside Commissioner Blankenship and his team at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, we have now awarded more than $310 million in GoMESA projects during my Administration—investments that will benefit Coastal Alabama for generations to come.”
Through GoMESA, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas, along with their coastal political subdivisions, receive a share of offshore oil and gas leasing revenue that can be used for coastal conservation, restoration and hurricane protection.
In Alabama, the funding is administered through the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, or ADCNR. Mobile and Baldwin counties receive separate disbursements directly from the federal government.
ADCNR Commissioner Chris Blankenship joined Ivey in announcing the projects Thursday.
“The GoMESA projects announced today continue a long list of important environmental and quality of life improvements in Coastal Alabama,” Blankenship said. “I am grateful for Governor Ivey’s leadership and her support for our coastal restoration projects throughout her Administration. I’m also thankful for our staff at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and our project partners as we’ve worked to enhance environmental education, improve water quality and expand access to outdoor recreation along our coast for generations to come.”
The funding will support 21 projects, including an expansion of Mobile’s Brookley by the Bay waterfront park, construction of an outdoor classroom for the University of South Alabama and public park improvements in Elberta.
A full list of the 2026 GoMESA projects is available on the official ADCNR website.
