Last year was slow for economic development, but this year”s a different story, Columbus-Lowndes Development Link CEO Joe Higgins said Monday.
“It was the second worst year (for economic development) ever,” Higgins explained of 2009, noting the Link, this year, already is vying for 15 projects, industrial developments with an average investment of $26 million and average job counts of 200. “Now, the state”s busy, the (Tennessee Valley Authority) is busy and we”re busy.
“I don”t think it”s any coincidence you”re seeing four aerospace projects (on the list of projects we”re trying to land), he added. “We”re trying to get labeled as a Mississippi aerospace cluster.”
In addition to visiting existing manufacturers and industry in the first quarter of 2010, Link officials have been “trying to come up with strategies to get more industrial investment in the city” and have presented proposals for projects considering Lowndes County as a location, Higgins noted.
In just the last three weeks, the Link has been “actively vying” for the following projects: A $45 million automotive company to potentially bring 500 new jobs to the area; a $15 million renewable energy project with 50 jobs; a $25 million Severstal-related customer to be located on the Severstal site, with 100 jobs; and a $60 million Severstal-related customer to be located on the Severstal site, with 230 jobs.
Also, the Link has been working, in the last three weeks, to land a $7 million renewable energy project with 75 jobs, a $12 million aerospace-related project with 75 jobs, a $2 million high-tech material manufacturer with 50 jobs and a $12 million automotive stamper with 150 jobs.
So far this year, the Link also has been vying for a $20 million global consumer products company with 300 jobs, a $55 million aerospace project with 500 jobs, a $10 million aviation project with 160 jobs, a $15 million aerospace project with 200 jobs, a $50 million transportation project with 350 jobs and a $15 million expansion of an existing underground gas facility with five jobs.
Additionally, a $50 million metal processor project– not related to Severstal– with 200 jobs, which earlier was on hold now is “back in play,” Higgins said, noting the Link, so far this year, has been vying for a total of $393 million in projects with a total job count of 2,945.
Proposals have been submitted to these companies, site visits are scheduled or have been held and “most will be in decision-making mode” by June or sooner, Higgins noted.
“We”re going to get some of these,” he said. “You can”t work that many and not get some of these.”
Retail and Sales Tax
The industrial-development future is bright, but Columbus” retail prospects still are a bit dim, he acknowledged.
“Retail is slow and is going to be slow, we think, for a little bit longer,” Higgins explained, adding the revision of flood plain plans helps the potential for retail development.
“Leigh Mall coming out of the flood plain is a big, big deal,” he said. “It will cast a favorable light on an expansion or redevelopment of that property.”
The new plans are expected to be approved this spring and Link officials are “tracking retail” developments, Higgins added.
Compared to 2008/2009, retail sales in Columbus and Lowndes County are down about $34 million from last year”s total of $1,012,284,033.
According to data prepared by the Link, from the Mississippi State Tax Commission, automotive sales are down $32,365,477 from last year, the sales of machinery, equipment and supplies are down $12,141,525, furniture and fixtures sales are down $5,323,256, lumber and building materials sales are down $11,289,311, miscellaneous retail sales are down $7,326,308 and miscellaneous services sales are down $1,206,341.
Food and beverage sales are up $3,101,934 from last year, sales of apparel and general merchandise have increased $3,253,338 from last year, contracting sales are up $26,842,829 and recreation sales have increased by $79,445.
In comparison, Starkville and Oktibbeha County have seen retail sales increase $8,972.118 from last year”s total of $529,310,905.
Automotive, furniture and fixtures, lumber and building materials, miscellaneous retail and miscellaneous services sales have decreased in Starkville and Oktibbeha County, compared to last year”s totals.
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