After months of speculation, the specifics of a tri-county economic development coalition were unveiled today at East Mississippi Community College’s Lyceum Auditorium.
Phase one of a joint partnership between Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay counties will begin in October, as soon as Oktibbeha County, Starkville and the Greater Starkville Development Partnership sign a contract with the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link. The contract will be similar to that which Clay County, West Point and the West Point-Clay County Growth Alliance signed with the Link in April.
At that point, the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link will cease to exist, with the joint entities beginning temporary operations as the Golden Triangle Development Link through September 2014.
By October 2014, the organization will be fully functional, operating as the Golden Triangle Regional Development Authority. It will be governed by a nine-member board, with one member appointed by each county’s board of supervisors, one member from each county nominated by the GTRDA board and approved by the supervisors, and one member from each county appointed by the GTRDA Foundation.
The organization will have an annual operating budget between $2.3 million and $2.5 million. The three counties will provide 70 percent of the funding, while a private Foundation will provide the remaining 30 percent. A portion of the counties’ funding will be guaranteed by a levy of up to 2 mills or existing sources.
Friday’s announcement was led by Link CEO Joe Higgins and members of the steering committee. Higgins confirmed that he will serve as the CEO of GTRDA once it begins operations.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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