If you watched any national T.V. news, picked up a nationally circulated newspaper, or read any kind of news blogs in 2009, you heard about America's economy and just how bad it has been.
In Mississippi and Lauderdale County, it was the same story on a smaller scale. Governor Haley Barbour cut budgets by tens of millions of dollars. The city of Meridian saw a dip in sales tax revenue and the mayor has talked of possible layoffs. The county also had a tight budget and has cut budgets for most departments.
Businesses locally have suffered, numerous local employers have laid off large numbers of people, and retail outlets have closed.
But not all of the economic news has been bad. In February, Barbour announced that Handy Hardware, a company based in Texas, would build a distribution center at Meridian's I 20/59 industrial park. Not only will the facility bring 150 new jobs to the area, but as the first industry to locate at the industrial park, it will make the park more marketable to other businesses.
A ceremonial groundbreaking was held for the facility in July.
Local News
No. 8: In poor economy, not all the news is bad
- Local News
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Serving the community
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Chisolm named deputy director
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MCC program gets ‘outrageous’ start
- Amtrak Exhibit Train coming to Meridian
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Doors of newly renovated city hall opened to the public
The wait is finally over ...
Meridian's newly restored city hall has reclaimed its place as a majestic focal point in downtown. More than five years in the making, the doors of the nearly 100-year-old building were reopened to the public Tuesday during an open house ceremony. -
Veteran sentenced in shooting
A military veteran who was charged with the shooting of his wife two years ago was sentenced Monday in Lauderdale County Circuit Court to 20 years.
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Shelter from the storm
The memory of Hurricane Katrina has not faded much in the seven years since that devastating August day and because of her lasting impression, Lauderdale County is still reaping the benefits of a proactive approach to preparing for any and all types of natural disasters.
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Money woes delay police station
Construction of a new police station has stopped and isn’t scheduled to resume until March 15, project developer David Watkins confirmed Tuesday.
Watkins said the project, renovating an old grocery store building on 22nd Avenue into a new police station that will serve the entire department, has taken significantly longer than expected to finance. -
Supervisor voices opposition to site
District 2 Supervisor Wayman Newell says emphatically he is not against the county securing a grant from FEMA for the proposed $3.2 million Lauderdale County Community Shelter.
He understands fully the welfare of county residents lies heavily on the shoulders of county officials in making well rounded decisions that will benefit the most people without putting an undue financial burden on the taxpayer. But at the same time, Newell said if the vote had been Monday to approve or reject the acceptance of the funding, he would have voted against the project. -
Student Visit Burton
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