The Columbus-Lowndes Development Link paused for a little praise Wednesday at its annual luncheon.
A recent round of focus group surveys completed by the Link encouraged the economic development specialists to better publicize their accomplishments. Thus, Link CEO Joe Max Higgins began Wednesday before an estimated crowd of 250 at the Hogarth Ball Room on the Mississippi University for Women campus.
MUW Interim President and Link board chairwoman Allegra Brigham summarized the value of the Link”s work over the past seven years.
“Lowndes County is in the starting blocks and ready as the economy improves to take off and fly,” she said.
Higgins got specific as to why Lowndes is in good shape, explaining eight megasites exist in the Tennessee Valley Authority”s 80,000 square miles of coverage area.
“Two are here,” said Higgins. “The west side and the east side of Golden Triangle Regional Airport.”
The Lowndes County Global Industrial Aerospace Park is poised to grow exponentially in the coming years, adding thousands of acres and millions of dollars worth of infrastructure. Higgins admitted the Link”s focus is on bringing “whale” industries like Severstal, which lead to auxiliary jobs in addition to direct jobs, to the park.
Having the infrastructure in place, he said, sets Lowndes County apart.
“That park is going to put us on the map. There are only two like it: one in Kinston, N.C., and one in Panama City, Fla.,” he said.
Higgins said the aerospace park is also competing for other future-based industries with international locations like an industrial park in Singapore.
Looking ahead, Higgins stated the $156 million the Link brought to Lowndes County in 2010 wasn”t good enough. But the year to come is already shaping up better than the past year with nine projects totaling 3,435 jobs and $2 billion worth of investment being pursued.
Landing those “high-end” steel, aerospace, chemical and automotive industries isn”t a given, but Link officials say the groundwork laid by the Link and its partners has Lowndes County positioned to compete.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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