Rolling hills and tree-studded land might sound idyllic to most people, but when it comes to economic development, it spells dollars signs. 

On Sweet Gum Bottom Road, the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors has committed to spending millions developing the surrounding land for potential industry based on the recommendations of consultant J. Michael “Mike” Mullis.

“One of the major things that we campaign on is economic development,” Jonathan Wells, the supervisor for District 1 and board president, said. 

Mullis and his Memphis-based company, J.M. Mullis, Inc., selected the section of county-owned land as the best site for potential economical development, saying the site could attract between 300 and 400 jobs to the area in a report to the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation in the fall. 

During a special called meeting on Tuesday, supervisors discussed various financing options, accepting a bid of $3.5 million to level the land from Clarksdale-based SB Construction, LLC. The contract allows for up to 2 percent, or $70,983, in excess of the $3.5 million bid, which would bring total construction costs to $3.6 million. 

According to their filings with the Secretary of State’s office, dated for Jan. 28, SB Construction specializes in Highway, Street and Bridge Construction. 

Other bids included $4.7 million, from Joe McGee Construction Company, Inc; $5.5. million from Eutaw Construction Company, Inc; and $9.2 million from Yates Construction. The initial engineering estimate given to the county forecasted that the work would cost approximately $4.3 million, according to supervisors. 

To cover the construction costs from SB Construction, including the 2 percent allowance for change orders, supervisors voted to transfer $3.6 million from the general fund to Fund 138 – Industry and Recreation. 

Up to $2.5 million of those costs may be covered by a Capital Improvements Revolving (CAP) Loan from the Mississippi Development Authority, which the supervisors authorized the county to apply for on Tuesday. Annual interest rates under CAP loans, according to the MDA website, is 3 percent for taxable activities and 2 percent for tax-exempt activities. 

An alternative loan, which would make funds available more quickly but at a higher interest rate, wasn’t passed by supervisors. 

The county also previously applied for a grant from the MDA for up to $250,000 earlier this month.

Despite all supervisors running re-election campaigns in the fall, Wells said supervisors were committing to economic development and moving forward on the aging courthouse this year.

“I think it’s important that we have a game plan to accomplish both projects,” Wells said. “We have our fingers crossed we’ll receive help on the state level and the federal level.”

While some stakeholders seemed blindsided by the ramifications of the project, Wells said that the groundwork for the industrial park had been established by the board who bought the property off of Sweet Gum Bottom Road nearly two decades ago.

“A past board purchased that land 18 years ago and we’re going to continue that vision,” Wells said. “Mullis suggested we do these things and provide better opportunities.”