FOLEY, Ala. — According to Foley Mayor John Koniar, progress on construction of the Blue Collar Country entertainment destination is proceeding slowly.

Koniar gave that update Wednesday during his State of the City Address at the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce Leadership Lunch Series in Foley Civic Center.

“Blue Collar has been a work in progress,” he told luncheon attendees, “and somewhat frustrating.”

Koniar said developers are working to fund the portion of the project that would enable the creation of the lake portion of the facility.

However, the mayor did say some plans are proceeding, as Hilton Garden Inn has committed to locate in the park.

“And Marriott Courtyard is the other,” Koniar said.

Blue Collar Country is the planed entertainment destination that will sit on more than 500 acres of land at the intersection of County Road 20 and Foley Beach Expressway. Although developers still haven’t made a formal announcement, partner and entertainer Tony Orlando confirmed the endeavor and projecting a 2015 opening of the site.

Developers say the facility will include hotels, restaurants, an indoor water park and veterans’ plaza.

Adjacent to Blue Collar will be a Foley City Sports Complex. The city’s sports complex will include 12 multi-use outdoor fields, as well as a 100,000-square-foot sports and events center Eight of the fields will include lighting to provide for extended play and larger tournaments. All fields will include electronic video boards to provide scores and information and a state-of-the-art cooling system to keep players cool. The complex will include a championship field that will include seating for 2,000, plus a press box and lighting to accommodate television broadcasts.

The 100,000-square-foot multi-purpose Foley Events Center will be situated adjacent to the outdoor fields and can be configured to provide enough room for 12 volleyball courts or 6 basketball courts. The center will include office space, a referee lounge and locker rooms. For the entertainment portion, an indoor/outdoor stage will be located on the east end of the events center that can accommodate indoor concerts for up to 7,000 or host outdoor events, playing to an audience in an outdoor plaza.

The complex will also include field houses, onsite food and beverage pavilions with full service capabilities, playgrounds and parking for up to 800 vehicles and 20 buses.

In his address Wednesday, Koniar said commitment of the two hotels will facilitate the city’s construction of the sports complex.

The mayor also said several businesses are anticipated to open in the Forward City soon, including Shoe Station. He added that city officials are also talking with Panera Bread, Rouse’s and Publix about locating in Foley.

But Koniar also sought to dispel a rumor about a national eatery.

“Olive Garden is not coming to Foley, as far as I know,” he said. “But we’d love to have them.”