2025 Legislative Summary for April

How well do you know Baldwin County?

No, really. If you are new to our beautiful state, you have probably hit the highlights: the beaches of Gulf Shores, lunch in downtown Fairhope, shopping in Foley and Mardi Gras parades in Daphne. Sound about, right?

Have you sampled oysters fresh out of Mobile Bay at the Fort Morgan Oyster Festival? Have you stepped aboard the USS Alabama where 2,500 courageous Americans led the American Fleet into Tokyo Bay in 1945? Have you sipped cool, sweet tea on a warm, autumn day and listened to some of the top Bluegrass bands in the nation under the canopy of oak trees behind Stapleton School? Do you spend part of Easter weekend celebrating spring and all its blessings at the annual Strawberry Festival?

If you haven’t, you should. Alabama is full of destinations and events and Baldwin County is no exception. We are home to beautiful beaches, mysterious swamps, historical landmarks, sports destinations and shopping galore. Our annual festivals are so numerous it feels impossible to visit them all.

But, as a state official, I hope you will at least make the effort.

Every year the Alabama Tourism Department works with the legislature to disperse millions of dollars in grants allocated from the state’s budget to tourist events around Alabama.

Our goal is to help bring to life the geographical and cultural diversity that thrives throughout our great state.

As a legislator, one of the most fulfilling duties I have is to help pick local organizations and events to receive an annual tourism grant.

In Baldwin County, our Legislative Delegation is proud to award more than 20 such grants to organizations in our districts.

The grants, amounting to $2,600 for monies awarded by members of the House of Representatives, are used to help grow these events each year in a number of ways. The hope is that with these extra funds, will not only help the event to grow each year, but as they do, so will the number of folks who get to enjoy these special events.

For 205, I am pleased to present Legislative Grants to the following events and organizations: the Delta Woods and Waters Expo and the Jubilee Festival of Arts.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit these events, put aside some time this year to do so. We have some of the most creative and inspiring individuals right in our neighborhoods. A weekend with them is a weekend spent appreciating what makes Baldwin County an amazing place to live.