BAY MINETTE, Alabama — Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey returned Wednesday from a European jaunt to press flesh and publicize the county’s advantages as a prime industrial site involving the recent announcement of a $600 million Airbus assembly plant in Mobile, and peripheral spin-off parts and manufacturing facilities in Baldwin County.

South Alabama is abuzz about the 2012 Farnborough International Airshow about Airbus’ decision to create a U.S. final assembly line for its best-selling A320 Family jetliners just across the bay.

Following Dorsey’s denied request to increase his travel budget from $5,000 a year to $25,000, he said he spent a portion of his yearly allotment and personal funds to attend the airshow and meet with local and international dignitaries.

 “I was also able to spend a good deal of time with Gov. Bentley and the Department of Commerce folks,” Dorsey said in an email from Europe. “They all worked extremely hard this week.” Dorsey said he has been promoting the county, the dependable work force, quality of life and cost of living.

 “I decided to come when the state told me it would be good for Baldwin County to attend in May,” Dorsey said in an email. “I met the Airbus executives, some from Pratt & Whitney, Moog (engineer and manufacture actuators for wing assemblies,) EADS, Goodrich (Foley expecting additional work from Airbus), Honeywell, Space Florida, Aero-Mark (Fairhope looking to expand with Airbus related work,) Carpenter Technologies, Greene Tweed, as well as Economic Developers and site selectors looking to learn more about South Alabama and the forthcoming opportunities.”

 Dorsey said he planned a Thurday meeting with John Cooper, ALDOT director, about the Foley Beach Express, involving increased transportation access as part of an allurement package for international investors.