MONTGOMERY – The transformation of a landmark farm on I-65 in northern Jefferson County into an agricultural exhibition center has taken a major financial leap thanks to a federal grant.
The Alabama Department of Workforce’s Abandoned Mine Land Program announced the award of a $11 million grant through the federal Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization Program for fiscal year 2024.
According to a news release, the funding will support the reclamation of hazardous abandoned mine land features and facilitate the economic redevelopment of the site into the Alabama Farm Center at Hallmark Farms.
“This AMLER grant represents a significant investment in Alabama’s future, turning blighted lands from our mining past into vibrant hubs of opportunity,” said Workforce Secretary Greg Reed. “By partnering with the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation and local stakeholders, we’re not only addressing environmental hazards but also fostering agricultural innovation and community development at the Alabama Farm Center.”
The grant, administered by the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, targets communities impacted by legacy coal mining activities.
Alabama was one of six Appalachian states selected to receive $11 million in FY 2024 funding to address high-priority AML sites while promoting job creation and community revitalization.
According to the Workforce Department, the Hallmark Farms project exemplifies this mission, transforming a former coal mining-associated property into a state-of-the-art agricultural exhibition center that will boost education, tourism, and economic growth across the region.
Located on approximately 500 acres, the historic Hallmark Farms site — originally developed by coal mining entrepreneur Ted Hallmark in 1976 — contains legacy mine features that pose environmental and safety risks.
The grant will enable the AML Program to eliminate dangerous coke ovens, mine portals, subsidence areas, and polluted waterways, restoring the land for safe public use.
Once reclaimed, the site will host the Alabama Farm Center, featuring facilities for livestock shows, rodeos, educational programs, and an annual state fair, with an estimated $2.2 billion in direct economic impact over 20 years and the creation of up to 850 jobs.
The project aligns with broader state efforts to revitalize north Jefferson County, following the site’s $13.5 million purchase by the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation last March. Reclamation work is expected to begin in late 2025, with full development of the Farm Center phased over the coming years.
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