West Point and Clay County are the newest members of the Columbus Lowndes Development Link.
The Link board voted unanimously to add West Point and Clay County to its economic development portfolio at Friday’s regular quarterly meeting.
Link executive director Joe Max Higgins said contracts need to be signed to formalize the agreement, but Friday’s vote starts the process that will add another economic developer to the organization’s staff.
The West Point Clay County Community Growth Alliance will pay the Link $350,000 annually to have representation on the Link board and one person working solely for those communities.
Higgins said the goal is to land a big project in Clay County, which has infrastructure in place.
Columbus and Lowndes officials praised the action.
Lowndes Supervisors President and District 1 representative Harry Sanders said, “This is one of the best things that’s gonna happen in this region.”
Mayor Robert Smith said, “I’m very much in support of it.” He added this effort complements the regional government approach that officially began Thursday night at Trotter Convention Center. He, West Point Mayor Scott Ross and Starkville Mayor Parker Wiseman initiated the cooperative approach to market and operate governing entities in the best interest of the region, not just one facet.
The Link was formed six years ago to recruit business and industry to Columbus and Lowndes County. Its recent focus is adding industrial and high-tech jobs at the Golden Triangle Regional Airport industrial park.
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