Four billion and counting. Dollars, that is.
The Columbus Lowndes Development Link used its Wednesday annual luncheon to celebrate the economic development agency’s successes this year and since its founding.
Link board member Gordon Flowers said the agency has brought $4 billion in investments and 5,600 jobs to Lowndes County since it was founded eight years ago.
Lowndes County is projected to be No. 1 in the state next year in assessed industrial value. Lowndes is currently second only to Jackson County. Participating businesses’ memberships are what allow the Link to match funding requests to bring industry and jobs, he said.
The county claims 7,500 “shovel ready” acres with electric, water and sewer service at the airport industrial park as major assets to recruit businesses, Flowers said. Other assets include three universities within 60 miles — The W, Mississippi State and the University of Alabama — and a top community college, Eastern Mississippi. Rail, air and water transportation are available.
Link CEO Joe Max Higgins Jr. said 2011 alone has brought $730 million in investments and 1,650 jobs. Further, the Link is pursuing another $2.7 billion in investments and 4,000 jobs for 2012.
Flowers said the Link has three major goals for 2012. The first is completion of a study of the county to determine how to increase the size of the economy, the quality of the economy and the tax base. The study will also offer direction on how to reduce poverty entitlements.
The second goal is to pursue primary industry. A primary industry offers jobs with yearly salaries at $40,000 and above and makes products that are sold elsewhere, which means all the money is new to the county.
The third goal is to develop a Golden Triangle Region leadership program. The idea to bring in experts in their fields to coach local businesses came from a series of 2010 focus groups hosted by the Link.
“Our challenge, I believe, is to continue to work hard so our luck will continue,” Flowers concluded.
Higgins said next week will bring the purchase of another 1,000 acres to the airport industrial park. And another 1,000 acres is expected to be part of the park a year from now.
He concluded his comments by noting the city of Columbus posted $725,000 in sales tax revenues for August. That is the highest August revenue in the past five years. “The key, folks, is we’ve got to keep moving forward.”
More than 300 people attended the luncheon in the Pope Dining Room on The W’s campus.
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 32 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.