It appears the economic incentives game knows no boundaries.
Earlier this week, the Mobile County Commission voted 2-1 to approve $1.25 million incentives for Topgolf, a Texas-based company with its designs to build one of its facilities, similar to the locations in Birmingham and Huntsville, in Mobile near the intersection of Interstate 65 and U.S. Highway 90.
The Mobile City Council is not far behind. The council is expected to approve an additional $1.25 million for Topgolf next week.
Mobile County Commissioner Randall Dueitt, a "yes" vote on Topgolf incentives, told Mobile radio FM Talk 106.5's "Midday Mobile" that he saw it as something for the community and proclaimed Topgolf a "tourist destination."
"When I look at what we do in Mobile, we get tens of millions of dollars to people like Airbus, Austal, steel mills – which is great, and they bring a lot of jobs to our community," Dueitt said. "But what I look at also is a lot of those jobs the taxpayer in Mobile is paying for is going to other communities. At last check, 60-70% of the employees at Airbus and Austal live in Baldwin County.
"And so, you know, I guess when I talk about incentivizing something like a Topgolf, to have a destination for people to come to Mobile – when you talk about a destination, is it a destination? I don't know, Sean. I drive my kids to Birmingham and Baton Rouge to play Topgolf. So I'd say it is probably a tourist destination."
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email jeff.poor@1819News.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
