STARK-VILLE — The Golden Triangle Development LINK is experiencing delays in construction work at the Northstar Industrial Park.
Joe Max Higgins is blaming the bats.
Higgins, chief executive officer for the LINK, said a $3.4 million project to build a road, a pad for a second spec building and clear/grub more of the 384-acre site off Highway 389 will take longer than expected to accommodate the long-eared bat mating season — which runs from mid-May through September.
The northern long-eared bat, known for roosting in trees during their mating season, is being moved to the endangered species list.
Because of their possible presence in the area, and the fact federal money is being used toward the project, it could be fall before trees can start coming down, Higgins told Starkville aldermen during a work session Friday at City Hall.
“If you get federal funds, you have got to do an environmental review,” he said. “… Basically what it means is come May 15, you ain’t cutting a tree until Sept. 30.”
The environmental review is complete, Higgins said, which means clearing can commence until mid-May, but the work likely won’t be complete by then.
“The clearing… is kind of important because you’ll be able to see the entire site from Highway 82,” Higgins said.
The LINK contracts with Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties and their municipalities for industrial development. On Friday, Higgins broadly addressed prospects and challenges for recruiting to Northstar and Starkville as a whole.
Garan Manufacturing moved its headquarters from Highway 12 to Northstar in 2021, becoming the park’s first tenant.
Higgins said LINK negotiations with another tenant, “a company that delivers products to your home,” fell through recently because parking space availability for their trucks would be too cramped. Also, since the 50,000 square-foot spec building is designed for potential expansion to 100,000 square feet, meaning if the company did ever expand the facility it would eliminate more parking.
“We had a tenant for that building that has probably consumed more than a year, and we have been unable to get to terms,” Higgins said. “… We were going back and forth negotiating the stuff, and at the last minute, they just said no.”
The Oktibbeha County Economic Development Authority developed the spec building property and deeded it to Agracel, which built the spec building. The LINK and Argracel are now working together to market it for new prospects, hoping to use the $2.5 billion Aluminum Dynamics plant being built in Lowndes County as a selling point to draw makers of structural, can (beverage) and automotive aluminum.
Ultimately, Higgins hopes to develop at least 10 spec buildings of up to 100,000 square feet at Northstar.
Even now, he said, Starkville is reaping benefits from the coming aluminum mill, as ADI executives who will be stationed in the area are taking a hard look at living in Starkville.
Mayor Lynn Spruill said she expects Starkville to be a big draw for any of the aluminum plant employees as they come into the area.
“I believe we’ll get the majority of the residents from the aluminum plant,” Spruill said. “I also believe we’ll get a lot of second- and third-tier jobs from it.”
Flexsteel prospect, ‘neutral’ site for LINK office
Higgins said a German company is looking at possibly temporarily locating in the former FlexSteel facility on Industrial Park Road. That company wants to transition to a permanent location in the same county as its temporary location.
The temporary location could house 100 employees, while the permanent site could employ 800, Higgins said. The company is expected to decide on a location by summer.
Spruill on Friday also pressed Higgins on when the LINK would move its offices from Columbus to a “more neutral” site. That’s a “priority” for the organization, Higgins said, that will be realized within the next three years.
The LINK was originally a Lowndes-based operation, but over the years expanded to include the rest of the Golden Triangle. Higgins noted the office location should reflect that.
“It’s non-negotiable,” he said. “When we put the three counties together, we said we’re going to have a neutral spot. It is not going to be in Starkville, it’s not going to be in West Point, and it’s not going to be in Columbus.”
Managing Editor Zack Plair contributed to this report.
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