A multimillion-dollar hemp and cannabis testing facility is coming to Foley, Baldwin County economic development officials have announced.

According to a statement issued Monday morning by the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance (BCEDA), Green Health Laboratories plans to build what will be “one of the exclusive testing facilities in the State of Alabama for the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.” The Alabama Legislature approved medical marijuana several years ago and created the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee licensing; that process has been fraught with dispute.

The BCEDA statement says that the facility will create “up to 50 high-paying jobs over the next three years” and represents a $3.4 million investment. BCEDA President and CEO Lee Lawson said that the Foley Industrial Development Board had approved tax abatements totaling $130,000. These include an abatement on sales and use taxes during construction and non-educational ad valorem taxes.

BCEDA described Green Health Laboratories as a fully licensed and accredited lab that specializes in advanced testing for the cannabis and hemp industries. Its tests “ensure product quality and safety for cultivators, processors, and manufacturers.” The new lab will occupy an existing building on Section Avenue and will begin operations in early 2025.

“This project is a collaboration between the City of Foley and the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance and is a direct result of the creation of the health and wellness zone in north Foley,” said Mayor Ralph Hellmich said in the announcement. “Our efforts are focused on bringing medical services and technologies to our citizens and our area. Green Health Laboratories is a perfect example of the high-tech industries we want to see in Foley. I welcome them and any others to our City.”

According to BCEDA, “Green Health Laboratories is committed to recruiting top talent from across the southeast by offering starting salaries above the average wage in Baldwin County, with an estimated payroll of over $5 million.”

Monday’s release quoted Green Health President Brandon Biles and Lab Director Natalie Siracusa as saying, “We are proud to have the opportunity to serve the consumer community and the state of Alabama in their journey towards sophistication and public safety within the realm of cannabis. We are committed to helping build a safe and reliable industry that consumers and producers alike are proud of and can sincerely trust.”