With a major industrial employer on the way and other projects in the works, confidence was the theme at Tuesday's annual meeting of the Greenwood-Leflore Carroll Economic Development Foundation.
Two videos were shown - one recapping the year's events in economic development, and another describing the county's newest industrial employer, Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp.
Also recognized were leaders from Mississippi Valley State University, Mississippi Delta Community College, Delta State University and Holmes Community College as well as Entergy, BellSouth, Delta Electric Power Association, Mississippi Valley Gas and Greenwood Utilities.
The foundation's chairman, Donnie Brock, likened the area to an athletic team that can defeat a more talented opponent through its will to win. The foundation's region has experienced setbacks, including the closings of some plants, but it has recovered, he said.
"Confidence has never been a characteristic that this community lacks," he said.
The communities will need to improve training options, because unskilled labor is on the way out, Brock said. A community can't rely on minimum-wage, low-skill jobs but instead should push for higher wages and good worker benefits that can improve lifestyle, he said.
Another key will be to think globally, Brock said. Top companies, including Staplcotn, Viking and the John Richard Collection do a great deal of business abroad. Milwaukee Tool's parent company is in Sweden, and Irvin Automotive Products is owned by a Japanese company.
Negotiations also are under way with an internationally known aeronautics company, Brock said.
Milwaukee Tool said last week that it will relocate its Brookfield, Wis., manufacturing facility to Greenwood, creating 200 jobs. It will occupy the site in Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park that once housed Takata Restraint Systems.
The 20-year lease on the building is to take effect Nov. 15, and the plan is to begin at least partial operations by January, Brock said.
The foundation secured a $1.7 million loan from local banks to acquire the building and make improvements. Next, the city and Milwaukee Tool will apply for a state loan to buy the property.
The $1.7 million includes $1.55 million to buy the building and lot, $120,000 to add six loading docks, $25,000 for new carpeting and $4,000 to $5,000 to build a fence separating it from Irvin Automotive's parking lot.
As a nonprofit organization not funded by tax dollars, the foundation can move more quickly on such a loan than other entities might do, Brock said.
The state loan would come from the Mississippi Business Finance Corp. and be administered by the Mississippi Development Authority. The money comes from tax-free bonds backed by the state, with the proceeds loaned to cities and counties for development.
Brock said the loan should be approved by early summer. It will take a few months because the bonds are issued in only two rounds each year, he said.
The application for this loan couldn't be filed until now because Milwaukee Tool wanted to maintain confidentiality, Brock said.
Brock said the city and the Economic Development Foundation have met with MDA representatives about this project. He said he was confident that it would go smoothly because the MDA was set up for efforts such as this.
Brock said he is also optimistic about an aerospace manufacturer that is considering locating at Greenwood-Leflore Airport.
The company's president has visited the site. Soon, development representatives from here will meet with company officials to discuss their vision for the building, and then they will put a package together, Brock said.
Brock said he feels that effort will succeed if a proposed aviation technology center can be established at the airport.
The foundation, Holmes Community College, Mississippi Delta Community College and city and county governments are working on the aviation proposal. The facility would offer airframe and engine repair as well as administrative and conference spaces.
The video, produced by Hammons and Associates and narrated by Jim Chick, began with some of the frustrations experienced in the last two years in the region. These included the loss of six manufacturers and 1,156 jobs from plant closings at Baldwin Piano and Organ Co., Carrollton Manufacuring, Ferguson, Electro-Mechanical Devices, Rocky Manufacturing and Takata. However, 972 new jobs have been added or secured.
Recent success stories and upcoming plans mentioned in the video included:
- Expansions and job additions at Viking Range Corp., The John Richard Collection, Heartland Catfish and America's Catch.
- Building renovations such as Viking's restoration of the Hotel Irving and Main Street Greenwood's facade grant project.
- Retail and service growth including Bath and Body Works, Dawkins Office Supply, Upchurch Rental, Performance Tire and Flat Land Bar and Grill as well as additions at Smith and Company Merchants and Clothiers, the Capel Surgical Group and Frank's Flowers. Also planned is a move by Mississippi Gift Company.
- Expansions at Greenwood Leflore Hospital and North Central Mississippi Regional Cancer Center.
- Increased enrollment at Mississippi Valley State.
- The opening of Greenwood Middle School this fall.
- Improvements to the city sewer system and planned work on roads, bridges and railroad routes.
- Activity at Greenwood-Leflore Airport, including a ramp rehabilitation project, the engine leasing done by The Memphis Group and the addition of Campbell Helicopters. Provine Helicopters also has broken ground on a new hangar and office complex.
- Greenwood Utilities' $5.5 million project to enhance electricity output.
- The relocation of Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to Florewood Plantation.
