New Gun Range in Lowndes Co.

LOWNDES COUNTY, Miss. – (WCBI) Lowndes County law enforcement officers and Columbus Air Force Base personnel could have a new 2 million gun range by next year.

The Lowndes Development Link Tuesday got approval from county supervisors and the Columbus city council to apply for a $1.6 million state grant to build a new firing range to serve both the base and the community.

The city and county will have to put up about $200,000 most of it with in-kind services.

The two-acre indoor-outdoor facility would expand on high-tech equipment already used at the existing range and save the base about $100,000.

The city and county already own the property in East Columbus. Government leaders say it would show the community’s support for keeping the base open during the next round of base closures.