In 2008, the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link hatched a plan to create a regional industrial park, with a special focus on attracting aerospace industries.
A monumental undertaking, the plan called for buying thousands of acres of land near the Golden Triangle Regional Airport, installing utilities and expanding the airport”s runway.
Since then, there have been $5 million in improvements on the east side of the airport, and $17.5 million in infrastructure projects on the west side of the air port are under way.
Wednesday, at East Mississippi community College-Mayhew, the area celebrated another milestone in the project, with the commemoration of a $13 million loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture”s office of Rural Development. With it, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors plans to purchase 1,475 acres of land to expand the aerospace park.
“Companies that come in want to have land (ready to develop),” said Joe Higgins, CEO of the Link. “When we can say, we have water and sewer and environmental (studies), and we own it, we just moved to the front of the line of places competing for it.
The park can be mixed-use, Higgins said, but land along the runway will be reserved for aerospace companies.
“People don”t realize how limited space is by airports,” he said, noting only 59 airports in the Southeast have runways 8,000 feet or longer.
“Factor in commercial air service, acreage and infrastructure, (and) it”s very few,” Higgins added.
The Link is pursuing about a dozen prospective companies, about half of which are aerospace companies. A number of the prospects are overseas companies.
“I think it”s unique to the country,” Trina George, state director of Rural Development for the USDA, said of the aerospace park. “This project is not only attracting national projects. It is attracting international interest.”
The $13 million RD loan is the second phase of funds provided by the USDA to support the project. It complements a $17.5 million loan-grant combination awarded to the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors last year, to expand and improve water and sewage infrastructure.
“They have proven that the project is worthwhile,” George said. “This is just an investment in Mississippi.”
“It”s based on prior performance here in the Golden Triangle,” U.S. Rep. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., said. “(Mississippi has) an educated workforce that believes in work ethic. They”re reliable. They get the job done. And they come to work.”
Mabel Murphree, district director for Rep. Alan Nunnelee, R-Miss., touted the Link”s “vision,” along with the partnerships of Lowndes and surrounding counties.
“As Congressmen Nunnelee says, ”Alone, we can do little, but together, we can accomplish much,”” Murphree said.
Already housed at Lowndes County”s industrial park are aerospace companies American Eurocopter (helicopters), Stark Aerospace (unmanned aerial vehicles) and Aurora Flight Sciences (UAVs). The site also is home to Paccar engine plant and Severstal steel mill.
As for what”s to come at the aerospace park, Wicker summed up his anticipation with two words: “Stay tuned.”
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 39 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
