Community preparedness focus of EMBDC annual meeting

Published 1:30 pm Wednesday, November 7, 2018

When a business considers moving to a new area, three factors come into play: workforce development, site preparedness and community leadership.

 J. Michael “Mike” Mullis, the president and CEO of J.M. Mullis, Inc., told the business leaders of Lauderdale County to focus on these three aspects of community preparedness as Lauderdale County worked to prepare sites for development.

“We decided to take a hard look at Meridian, Lauderdale County and the surrounding environment to see what could be done,” said Mullis, whose Memphis-based company specializes in project location services. 

Mullis worked with the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation over the last months, culminating in a final presentation to its 60-to-70 member board last week.

“Many of the things we’ve said, you’ve adopted. And many of the things we’ve said, you probably haven’t liked,” Mullis said. “We have been elated from what we’ve seen here in terms of the community wanting to do business.”

Terrell Temple, with Engineering Plus, highlighted two properties the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors had dedicated resources to: clearing trees and paying to level out the land.

One, between Highway 45 and the interstate, had vast differences in elevation, making it unsuitable and one off of Sweet Gum Bottom Road still needed timber cleared. 

“When BWI (Companies, Inc.) moved to the area, they wanted a site they could work with,” Temple said. “They wanted to get to work.”

Temple said companies wanted to see sites that were nearly ready and could have access to amenities, such as the railroad. 

“This is not about spending,” Mullis advised the crowd. “It’s about investment.”

While no companies interested in the sites have publicly been announced, Mullis said it would take three months from site selection to occupancy. 

“We’ve got communities around the country that are qualified and have good sites and they still can’t close the deal,” Mullis said. “But once you have that one hit, every company is wondering what’s happening there.”

Mullis added that the area had secondary and post secondary education in place for training the workforce needed for companies and, hopefully, attracting educated graduates back to the area. 

“I think it’s exciting because I know there’s opportunity here and Meridian Community College plays a role in connecting people with opportunity,” Thomas Huebner, the president of MCC, said. “Meridian and Lauderdale County are a good place to be, there’s lots of potential for growth and we’re glad to be a part of that.”

Greg Snowden, the speaker pro tem in the state house of representatives, said that he wanted to expand upon the role the legislature played in economic development. 

“Obviously we’re committed to jobs, economic development and economic growth,” Snowden said. “Dirt moving is not cheap and (Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors) has stepped up big time… these are the economic development opportunities for the state that we need to pursue… we’ve been successful in the area with the Riley Center and the (Mississippi Arts + Entertainment Experience), but these are jobs.”

With site developments finalizing the three aspects of community preparedness, Mullis said, Lauderdale County now had a product to sell.

“It’s your time. It’s your time if you’re ready to be a leader in this state,” Mullis said. “I’ve never seen more energy in a community that wants to do something… so what are we lacking? Three hundred to five hundred jobs a year. So let’s make it happen.”