Mississippi Power’s Economic Development Department recertified Meridian Regional Airport as one of nine industrial sites across the company’s 23-county service territory as Project Ready, clearing Raytheon Company’s proposal for a manufacturing plant for take-off.

The Project Ready program identifies sites with industrial-quality capacity for water, sewer, natural gas and electrical infrastructure to meet the demands of industrial customers.

The airport was certified previously but was recently recertified, Mississippi Power announced Tuesday, to help attract Raytheon Company in its plans to build the T-100 Integrated Air Training System, a proposed training jet for the U.S. Air Force, in Meridian.

“We’ve got 130 acres here at the airport going to be Project Ready,” Meridian Regional Airport Authority Director Tom Williams said. “This designation markets a site. We put in a lot of work getting the site certified. What this designation tells a company is that you’ve done your homework and our site is ready to build, It’s a big achievement and we’re really proud of it.”

Mississippi Power Economic Development Director Brian Useforge said the company always has an eye toward economic development and business.

“We had an emphasis on economic development when we started in 1925,” Useforge said. “Impacts included business and industrial recruitment, commercial development, community development, and we’re very engaged in workforce and educational initiatives as well as being involved in bringing investment to the area.” Useforge said.

Useforge explained the Project Ready program.

“Project Ready is really related to our business and recruitment effort. It’s one of the most critical elements as we try to lure business into southeast Mississippi that has a viable site,” Useforge said. “That means when industry comes in or has plans to expand, they need a site that meets a criteria. They want to know if they have enough capacity without any risk for their taking over the site. They don’t want mitigation plans to overcome.”

Useforge said prospective industries have a lot of questions when considering new sites.

“They want to know that if the site doesn’t have everything that is needed what are plans to provide those and the cost and timeline to address all those things,” Useforge said. “That is the reason we get into site certification. The first step is to attract investment in southeast Mississippi. Project Ready Certification Site Program is a way to partner with local community and economic development agencies to address all components critical to the site.”

Useforge said the usual first step is hiring consultants to inspect areas and address possible issues.

“It takes completion of due diligence. A certified site tells it meets the criteria and is shovel ready. This program is designed to get those sites ready.

Useforge said Williams did his homework preparing the airport.

“Tom is a great partner. He stepped up and got all the reports necessary. He was responsible for getting all the due diligence done,” Useforge said. “This process has been ongoing for about a year. The airport’s monetary investment was probably not as much as personal time. There was a ton of data involved in completing this process.

“This was important as a first step in attracting new companies. And partnerships with local economic agencies and elected officials was critical to make this a success,” Useforge said.

Additional locations certified as Project Ready in six southeast Mississippi counties, include George, Harrison, Jackson, Jones and Marion. – are being recognized as Project Ready. 

Key Brothers Aviation Site

General Site Overview

• City: Meridian.

• County: Lauderdale County.

• Site Ownership: Meridian Airport Authority.

• Site Acreage: 130 acres.

• Developable acreage: 130 acres.

• Land for purchase or lease: Lease.

• Distance to Interstate or Highway: Site strategically located off of I-20.

• Rail Service: Rail is not currently available but could be.

• Site utilities: Electric, natural gas, water, wastewater.

Source: Mississippi Power