Governor Tate Reeves has announced the state of Mississippi will invest nearly $25 million in site development projects throughout the state. The Economic Development Authority of Jones County has been working with the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) since early summer and will now be receiving three of these grants totaling in over $4 Million.
MDA has several site classifications that aid in determining investment levels. The EDA of Jones County has one “Ready Site” and two “Select Sites.” The Ready Site is in the Howard Industrial Park and will receive $50,000 for drainage improvements. This is the maximum amount available to a Ready Site.
The I-59 South Site, is a Select Site located within Ellisville city limits, and will receive $553,600 for clearing and the construction of a temporary road. This site is a top priority for the EDA and has great potential to recruit big industry to Jones County.
The I-59 Supply Chain Park (at Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport) is a Select Site and a joint effort between Jones County, Forrest County, and the Hattiesburg-Laurel Regional Airport Authority. This site will receive $3,402,858 to upgrade sanitary sewer capacity, construct a building pad, and complete intersection modifications. The I-59 Supply Chain Park is the future home of FedEx Ground which is under construction now.
MDA has committed $11,642,589 to Select Sites funding. This means that Jones County will receive almost 34% of all funding being allocated to Select Sites. The Economic Development Authority of Jones County is grateful to have the state joining our local entities in supporting the growth and development of Jones County.
Johnny Burnett, President, Jones County Board of Supervisors, states “Jones County has worked hard to be a competitive option in Mississippi for new and existing industries to succeed. We appreciate the state investing with us and supporting our efforts to further improve site development.”
Ross Tucker, President, Economic Development Authority of Jones County, adds “Receiving this grant from the Mississippi Development Authority will allow The EDA of Jones County to continue to make our industrial property shovel-ready. This action allows us to compete with not only other counties in Mississippi, but other states. A well-developed industrial park will aid existing development and attract new industries with high paying jobs. This serves our ultimate goal of making Jones County a great place to live and work.”
Lewis Holifield, Area Manager, CenterPoint Energy states “Funds awarded from the Mississippi Development Authority will be a tremendous boost for Jones County acting as a catalyst for attracting new investments and creating job growth, which are key ingredients for a region to prosper. CenterPoint Energy is proud to support the Economic Development Authority of Jones County as they work to raise the standard of living for all county residents.”
These two conceptual renderings show the sites potential. The EDA will often submit these or similar renderings when applying for grants or marketing the sites to new industries.
