The Alabama Farm Center moved one step closer to groundbreaking when the project received an $11 million grant from the federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization (AMLER) Program in late December.

The funding will reclaim and restore abandoned mine land features at Hallmark Farms in Warrior in Jefferson County, helping transform the property into a state-of-the-art agricultural exhibition center that will boost education, tourism and economic growth across the region.

“We are proud the Alabama Farm Center will play a role in the revitalization of Hallmark Farms,” said Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation Chairman Jimmy Parnell. “The resources on this land helped fuel Alabama’s steel industry. As home of the Alabama Farm Center, Hallmark Farms will continue to strengthen the state’s economy by supporting its two largest industries — agriculture and tourism.”

The Alabama Farm Center will feature facilities for livestock shows, rodeos, educational programs and an annual state fair. It will also generate an estimated $2.2 billion in direct economic impact over 20 years and create up to 850 jobs. That economic redevelopment along I-85 in north Jefferson County is critical.

“Hallmark Farms was chosen for the Alabama Farm Center due to its central location and the commitment to growth shown by Jefferson County and the town of Warrior,” said Parnell, also president of the Alabama Farmers Federation and Alfa Insurance. “Furthering the land’s legacy as an economic driver for the region affirms our vision for the Alabama Farm Center. We appreciate the support of Secretary Greg Reed, the Alabama Department of Workforce and the Trump Administration in helping make this dream a reality.”

Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed said the grant is a shining example of cooperation and strategic partnerships between business and state and federal government.

“By leveraging and utilizing existing connections, federal funding and the state’s aggressive approach toward economic development, especially in rural areas, I think this award is one of our gold-star achievements,” Reed said. “Not only are we helping bring much-needed jobs to the area, we are also making use of previously unusable land that will now yield dividends, not only economically, but in providing safe entertainment and educational opportunities for Alabamians.”

Reed said the project aligns with broader state efforts to revitalize north Jefferson County, following the site’s purchase by the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation in March 2025.

The AMLER grant is administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement and targets communities impacted by legacy coal mining activities.

Alabama was one of six Appalachian states selected to receive $11 million in Fiscal Year 2024 to address high-priority sites while promoting job creation and community revitalization.