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Community & Economic Development (CED) | SEARP&DC

Community & Economic Development (CED) | SEARP&DC

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Our Mission

The SEARP&DC Community & Economic Development (CED) department provides a wide range of professional administrative services to the seven southeastern Alabama counties: Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry, and Houston. The CED staff is specifically trained and experienced in grant writing, grant administration, planning, and economic development.

The CED department works toward the total utilization and diversification of the region’s development and manufacturing potentials. This is accomplished through accurate assessment of present industrial capabilities and future population projections, and planning to obtain and access various Federal and State programs. Programs such as EDA, CDBG, USDA/Rural Development and others have provided local access to economic development grants and loans assisting start-up and expansions of businesses as well as the development of infrastructure and industrial parks throughout the region. The CED department also provides technical assistance to regional member governments and businesses on a continuous basis.

SEARP&DC offers a range of services to Southeast Alabama’s business and industrial community. The services include Business Development Financing assistance and Industrial Infrastructure Development. The CED department provides vital development assistance through various grant and loan programs, which assist businesses and industries and create permanent jobs for the region.

Services provided by our staff include:

Planning
Services

Comprehensive Planning
This activity involves extensive study and evaluation of a community’s past, current and projected situation with the goal of establishing progressive yet obtainable objectives over an extended period of time, usually twenty years. SEARP&DC provides complete comprehensive planning services including but not limited to application and document preparation, support mapping preparation, hearing administration, funding administration, technical assistance, and citizen participation surveys. SEARP&DC may be able to utilize CDBG Planning Fund grants or other grant sources to assist in the funding of planning projects, depending on program requirements and jurisdictional resource
Zoning Ordinance Creation
and Revision
Zoning ordinances are tools to promote orderly development and growth and reduce hazards to life and property in accordance to the Code of Alabama for the general benefit of residents of municipalities. Zoning ordinances establish districts or zones within which permitted and special uses are established as are regulations governing lot size, building bulk, placement, and other development standards in accordance with the community’s master or comprehensive plan.
Land Use Planning
This activity involves the extensive study and evaluation of a community’s present land usage and seeks to provide a specific mechanism for future land use that will enhance and develop the community.
Transportation Planning
SEARP&DC administers the Southeast Alabama Rural Planning Organization (RPO), which provides transportation consultation services and basic transportation planning to the non-Metropolitan Planning Organization portion of the Region.
Subdivision Regulations
Regulations governing the development of residential or commercial subdivisions are an important part of an overall community development plan.
CDBG Planning Fund Grant Preparation and Administration
All projects, whether large or small must be planned properly in order to prevent poor performance. The preparation of planning grant applications provides the means by which these planning efforts may be funded.
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Grant
Services

SEARP&DC assist communities in the region with grant writing and grant administration. Listed below are links to some of the grant programs the Community and Economic Development Departments can assist communities to obtain:

  • Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
  • Economic Development Infrastructure Grants (ED)
  • Planning Fund Grants
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency Grants (FEMA)
  • Recreation Grants
  • Delta Regional Authority
Learn More

Alabama State Data
Center Affiliate

SEARP&DC is an Alabama State Data Center Affiliate that provides convenient access to census and other socioeconomic data. For more information please contact:

For Data Requests, Contact:

Rachel Armstrong
Phone:
(334) 794-4093 ext. 1411

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Mapping
Services

Mapping services are available for communities in the SEARP&DC region. These services include:

  • Infrastructure mapping of sewer, water, gas, electric, and drainage facilities.
  • County, state, and federal transportation maps.
  • Redistricting maps depicting district boundaries and associated demographics
  • Zoning maps.
  • Census Geography maps showing tract and block data.
  • Other customized maps depend on a community’s needs.
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Technical Assistance
& Local Support

SEARP&DC assist communities in the region with grant writing and grant administration. Listed below are links to some of the grant programs the Community and Economic Development Departments can assist communities to obtain:

  • Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
  • Economic Development Infrastructure Grants (ED)
  • Planning Fund Grants
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency Grants (FEMA)
  • Recreation Grants
  • Delta Regional Authority
Request more info

Business Financing

Direct loans made by SEARP&DC to promote, stimulate, develop and advance business prosperity, economic welfare and to create and retain permanent jobs in rural areas of Southeast Alabama. Our Revolving Loan Fund (RLF), Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) and Microloan programs can provide needed capital to for-profit new or expanding industries and businesses. Land, buildings, equipment, and permanent working capital are among the activities eligible for financial assistance from SEARP&DC. We want to be your partners in creating and retaining permanent jobs, while strengthening Southeast Alabama’s economy. All projects must meet program guidelines and be creditworthy.

Revolving Loan
Fund

Revolving Loan Funds (RLF) are locally controlled sources of capital which may be used to finance start-up and existing businesses whose projects will create permanent jobs. The Revolving Loan Funds are not established to compete with the lending community but to complement it by providing gap financing between what the bank can reasonably lend on a project and what the business can provide in equity. By taking a subordinate position, SEARP&DC can spread the risk of your project among several capital sources, making it more attractive for private sector financing.

  • Fixed asset financing (land, building construction/renovation, purchase of land and buildings, machinery and equipment).
  • Below-market and fixed-rate long-term financing.
  • Loans must be adequately collateralized.
  • Loan terms available up to 15 years.
  • Businesses must provide at a minimum 10% of the project cost in cash equity.
  • Borrower pays all closing costs and fees associated with program.
  • Must create or retain jobs.
  • Maximum loan amount is $250,000.

Intermediary Relending Program

The SEARP&DC Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) is a business financing program providing below market fixed rate loans for development projects in rural areas of Barbour, Coffee, Covington, Dale, Geneva, Henry and Houston Counties. Development projects within the city limits of the City of Dothan are not eligible. Program funding originated through USDA/Rural Development, and their loan guidelines and environmental regulations apply.

  • Fixed asset financing (land, building construction/renovation, purchase of land and buildings).
  • Below-market and fixed-rate long-term financing.
  • Loans must be adequately collateralized.
  • Loan terms available up to 15 years.
  • Businesses must provide at a minimum 10% of the project cost in cash equity.
  • Borrower pays all closing costs and fees associated with program.
  • Must create or retain jobs.
  • Maximum loan amount is $150,000.

Microloan
Programs

The Microloan programs are locally controlled sources of capital used to finance startup, expanding businesses and entrepreneurial projects. The Microloan programs are available depending on project needs. SEARP&DC operates two Microloan programs.

The Dothan-Houston County Microloan Fund was developed through a joint effort of the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce, SEARP&DC, area lending institutions and the Wiregrass Foundation.

The USDA/Rural Development Microloan Fund is funded through the United States Department of Agriculture/Rural Development.

  • Fixed asset financing (land, building construction/renovation, purchase of land and buildings, machinery and equipment).
  • Working capital.
    Interest ranges from New York Prime plus 2% to 4%.
  • Loan terms available up to 5 years.
  • Businesses must provide at a minimum 10% of the project cost in cash equity.
  • Borrower pays all closing costs and fees associated with program.
  • Must create or retain jobs.
  • Loans are available from $4,000 to $20,000

For Further Information
please contact

Emily VanScyoc
Deputy Director / CED Director
Contact