With a down economy and less prospective new employers than in years past, the Columbus-Lowndes Development Link is taking time to prepare for future growth.
“The economy isn’t very good right now, as far as (economic development) deals go, people wanting to locate (in Lowndes County). That’s a fact,” said Joe Higgins, chief executive officer of the Link, said during the agency’s quarterly luncheon, Wednesday.
In the past year, Lowndes County has seen $150 million to $175 million in expansions and new locations — the second worst in six years, Higgins noted.
But eyeing the future — not a seemingly bleak present — is what has given Columbus and the rest of Lowndes County success in the past, he said, reminding attendees of the county’s first megasite, home to Severstal Columbus steel plant, and the second megasite — Crossroads megasite — where the Paccar engine manufacturing and technology center resides.
With these successes and future ones in mind, the Link plans to get funding for infrastructure west of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport and create the Golden Triangle Global Aerospace Industrial Park.
A resolution signed by the Lowndes County supervisors Tuesday pledges cooperation and collaboration between Lowndes County, Noxubee County, Oktibbeha County, Monroe County, Clay County, Pickens County, Ala., Lamar County, Ala., Starkville, Columbus, West Point, Mississippi State University, East Mississippi Community College, Mississippi University for Women, the Tennessee Valley Authority, the Mississippi Development Authority, the Airport Authority and the Industrial Development Authority.
While the area to the east of GTRA is well-developed with water tanks, gas lines and rail spurs, the west side of the airport doesn’t have much infrastructure, Higgins said.
Link officials currently are working to secure financing — by competing for a Rural Development Authority grant and loan totaling about $17 million — for water and sewer improvements on a 2,500- to 3,000-acre parcel of land, west of the airport.
“We’re taking this time to set ourselves up for another win,” explained Higgins, who said the development at the Lowndes County Industrial Park has “evolved” into something larger than can be claimed just locally or regionally.
Officials hope land options and funding are in place by the end of October.
Higgins says jobs created by those locating in the aerospace park will be high-paying jobs that can tap into Mississippi State University’s status as “one of the premier engineering colleges in the nation.”
American Eurocopter, manufacturer of helicopters, Stark Aerospace, producer of unmanned aerial systems, and Aurora Flight Sciences, which also designs and builds robotic aircraft and other advanced aerospace vehicles, already are located near the site, which would take in much of the Crossroads Megasite and add additional land.
