This last year has shown the resilience of Leflore and Carroll counties in striving for economic success, Donnie Brock said at the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation's annual meeting.
Amid a report of positive growth in the area, including the arrival of Milwaukee Electric Tool Co. and Viking Range Corp.'s expansions, the group's chairman had to "admit defeats" Thursday night.
In July, the state ordered the shut down of Delta Correctional Facility. Announcements came the following month that Uniek Inc. will close its Greenwood plant in December and that the bulk of Irvin Automotive's workforce will move to Mexico in early 2003. A three-county team lost its bid for a major helicopter manufacturer to come to Greenwood-Leflore Airport.
But, Brock said, "we have taken those licks, and we have bounced back. And we continue to bounce back."
He offered last month's 7.8 percent rate as evidence of that. "That stands very favorabe compared to recent years."
While recent months have been littered with bad news, good news also has hit the head lines. A video produced by Hammons & Associates reviewed the successes.
Milwaukee Tool, which relocated to the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park from Wisconsin at the first of the year, has broken ground on $2.8 million, 50,000 square-foot expansion of the former Takata plant. Employment there will reach 300 by summer 2003.
"They are adding employees almost daily," Brock said.
Employment at Viking Range Corp. has surpassed 900. The company's growth is evident in expansions to its manufacturing operations. Viking added 80,000 square feet to its cooking products facility on Viking Road and 40,000 square feet to its distribution center on U.S. 82.
The video also highlighted additions worth $5.5 million and $1.5 million respectively to the processing plants of America's Catch and Heartland Catfish. John-Richard built a 28,000-square-foot showroom in High Point, N.C.
Good things have come out of some of the economic failures, Brock explained.
Although a team of political, business and education leaders did not land American Eurocopter, that doesn't preclude an aviation technology school the group is pushing for the airport. The effort has shown the commitment of local communities to team up, Brock said.
"That experience showed us that we can do whatever is necessary, and we can play ball with the big boys, and we can get good industry here," he said.
Also, Greenwood attorney Lee Abraham has bought the soon-to-be abandoned Uniek plant and plans to locate another manufacturing operation or his trucking company there.
Much of the industrial growth has fueled a renaissance in downtown Greenwood. The video estimated private investment in the historic district to be around $5 million.
Viking has led the charge. That effort is most evident in the orange net covering the transformation of the vacant Hotel Irving into the Alluvian, a 50-room boutique hotel. Viking has continued its facelift of Cotton Row. It turned the old Myrick Ford building into a training center and has gutted the Ashcraft Building on the corner of Howard and Front streets to add to company headquarters.
Staplcotn is following Viking's lead in renovating its own headquarters. A new facade is currently going up on the Howard Street side of the office. Following completion of that, work will begin to restore the Market Street side to its "original turn-of-the-century appearance."
Other downtown developments mentioned in the video include the relocation of Mississippi Gift Co. across Howard Street to the old Fountain Department Store. A bakery, coffee shop and ballroom are planned for the second floor.
Four new businesses have opened downtown: Lady Bug Fashions, Fincher's Antiques, Twiford & Johnson Interiors and Classic Elegant Thrift Store.
