Millions Of Dollars In Grants, Investment Spur Infrastructure Work At The Hive

TUPELO, MISS. (WCBI) – Millions of dollars in federal, state and local grants and investments will help provide roads, water and gas to a new industrial and business park in Lee County.

Earlier this year, Lee County Supervisors agreed to spend a little more than $3 million  to purchase 500 acres North of Highway 76 in Tupelo.  The land is known to many in the region as the Hancock Family Farm.

As soon as the deal was finalized, work began to secure funds needed for infrastructure, like roads, gas and water.

The Appalachian Regional Commission will contribute $1.2 million to build the entrance road. ATMOS energy agreed to invest up to $2.5 million for a new natural gas pipeline and the city of Tupelo and the Northeast Mississippi Regional Water Supply District will kick in more than $3 million to extend water service to the Hive.

“This is integral to making sure this park is successful and the capacity is there for future growth. Mississippi is blessed to have an abundant supply of natural gas service and we need to put it to work for our residents and also for industrial growth,” said Northern District Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley.

“We’re proud to play our part in bringing jobs to Tupelo, at the end of the day, that’s what our jobs as elected officials is about, making sure we have a great business climate right here,” said Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton.

Efforts to recruit tenants to the Hive have been underway for awhile and are expected to get a boost with the infrastructure grant announcements for the next generation business park.

“We’ve targeted more a higher tech , more compact environment, distance between buildings will be a little less, plots are 150, smaller acre plots, not a Toyota type plot or supplier type plot, those are typically higher automated companies, a little higher end look too,” said David Rumbarger, President and CEO of the Community Development Foundation.

A team from CDF will travel to Germany soon meeting with potential prospects for the Hive.

Lee County has a 5 year option to buy an additional 500 acres of land at the site.