Video: One Northeast Mississippi County Receives Top Honors For Its Economic Development Efforts

[syndicaster id=’6258846′]

LEE CO. MISS. (WCBI) – For the fourth time in ten years, the Tupelo area has been named to Site
Selection magazine’s list of the most active micropolitan areas for new and
existing industries for 2015.

Tupelo came in fourth in the nation among micropolitans. According to the
U S Census bureau, a micropolitan includes a city of at least 10,000
people, but less than 50,000.

David Rumbarger is president of the Community Development Foundation, which
helps bring industry to the area. He was also recognized by “Consultant
Connect” as one of the top 50 economic developers in the nation.

Rumbarger says a key to the success is attracting industries of all sizes.

“That gives us a base of operations, sometimes we would much rather have ten
100 person companies than one 1,000, because the impact is so great.
Obviously, Toyota with its 2,200 people is tremendous, but at the same
time, there’s 10 or 15 suppliers we have who supply them that we’re
delighted to have because they give us that economic base.”

Cooperation between government and private industry is also key. For
example, CDF promotes tax breaks given to businesses by the state, and
there are also local incentives.

“It’s jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs. This is a very competitive sport and if you
don’t give people the breaks, or some incentives they will go to the next
state, county, that’s just part of it,” said Billy Joe Holland, president of the Lee County Board of Supervisors.

Last year, the Tupelo region announced 13 new and expanding industry
projects. It means more than $42,000,000 in new capital investment
, more than 1,300 new jobs , and $40,000,000 in new wages.

The Tupelo region came in fourth place among top U S Micropolitans,
according to Site Selection magazine.