Opportunity has exploded. Just watch this red-hot area for more to come.
As home to Columbus Air Force Base, Columbus has always been a hotbed of activity, but lately, it’s been on the forefront of economic development headlines.
The boom began with the largest industrial investment of 2005. SeverCorr announced a $1.5 billion steel mill, the first built in the US in a decade.
And just last July, PACCAR, who manufactures premium commercial vehicles for Kenilworth and Peterbilt, broke ground for a $400 million, 420,000 sf engine facility and technology center.
So what is it about Columbus, MS that makes industry – revise that to say INTERNATIONAL industry – flock to northeast Mississippi??
"To start with, we have a great team of elected and non-elected leaders and tremendous resources," said Joe Max Higgins Jr., CEO of the Columbus Lowndes Development Link, "Plus we work hard at it every day because we know in economic development second place pays the same as last."
The list of resources Higgins refers to are long and impressive. Here are just a few highlights:
Two TVA-certified Megasite locations over 1400 acres each, with rail access
Located at the intersection of US Hwys 45 and 82, both built to interstate standards
An Education Nucleus - Mississippi University for Women, East Mississippi Community College and the Center for Manufacturing Technology Excellence
Mississippi State University is the state's principal research university where more than 800 faculty members teach and conduct research in ten colleges and schools
Home to the Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science, one of the nation's four residential high schools for academically-gifted students
Custom-designed pre-employment training, post-employment training, and upgrade/re-training services in conjunction with the community college system.
A Regional Transportation Hub with 10 motor freight facilities
In addition to their megasites, Columbus and Lowndes County offer a variety of location choices with available buildings and industrial parks:
The Lowndes County Port and the Riverside Industrial Park are located on an island between the Tenn-Tom Waterway and the Tombigbee River in Columbus, Mississippi.
The waterway connects 16,000 miles of inland waterways to the Gulf of Mexico
The 271-acre park has 110 acres available
Barge, rail and adjacent four-lane highway provide multi-modal options
8” natural gas main and 3 phase power on-site
The Golden Triangle Industrial Park features 960 pristine acres, 700 acres are currently available.
Utilities include natural gas and 3 phase power on-site
1 mile from the regional airport served by Northwest and Delta
10 miles to a barge terminal on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway, which connects to the Port of Mobile, Alabama
Rail on-site
57,000 sf spec building ready for occupancy on six acres with adjacent 50 acres available
And, if you can believe it, there’s more. To get the in-depth scoop on how you can capitalize on the aggressive location package that Columbus, MS and Lowndes County can offer, contact Joe Max Higgins at jhiggins@cldlink.org or 662-328-8369. www.cldlink.org
PACCAR is pleased to locate its engine facility in one of the most dynamic and progressive areas in the Southeast,” said Mark Pigott, chairman and chief executive officer. The company plans to develop a “close relationship” with area higher education programs by investing in engineering programs and providing ongoing learning opportunities for employees.
