New industrial park opens

George County unveils 1,200-site with rail access
Courtsey of Sun Herald/April 18, 2007

BY ROYCE ARMSTRONG
Between 75 and 100 state and local government officials, business leaders, economic development experts and members of the general public watched as local officials cut the ceremonial ribbon on a 1,200-acre industrial site in George County Tuesday afternoon.
"This event showcases what George County has to offer," said Kelly Wright, president of the George County Board of Supervisors. "This park is important to bring jobs to George County. We want to attract quality jobs that will be a benefit to the entire county."
The industrial park has a number of key features that will help make it successful, said Steven C. Hardin, the director of regional services for the Mississippi Development Authority. One of those key features is railroad access.
"Rail sites are important to major manufacturers," Hardin said. "This site is a large acreage with an active rail line."
The Mississippi Export Railroad, which connects two major railways, the CSXT and the CNIC, has a spur extending nearly a mile into the park, said Mark Miller, the vice president of operations.
"Do you hear that?" Miller said. "That is the CNIC running on a line right over there. The CNIC goes clear up into Canada. The CSXT runs from Florida to Texas. This park has major railroad access. Our focus is to help bring multiple industries into this park. We want to provide good jobs for George County. If we do that, some of those industries will also ship by rail."
State Rep. Deryk Parker said that the number of people who came to the park for the ribbon-cutting showed the event's importance.
"This just goes to show that business leaders, elected officials and the public are excited about the future of George County and the opportunities that we have in this growing economy," he said.
Mark Loughman, the director of economic development for Mississippi Power, said he felt the ribbon-cutting ceremony was important to two groups.
"First, there are the various economic development partners, the people that will likely be instrumental in bringing industry to the county," he said. "The other audience is the citizens and leaders of George County. They must believe in the growth that is coming."
Loughman said he expects the county may see significant new growth and development within the next five years.
"With this industrial park, the county will get exposure like never before, like it would never have gotten before Hurricane Katrina. There will be development in all three of the counties just north of the three coastal counties. George County has an advantage because it is near a major metropolitan area - Mobile, Alabama."
It is not just the rail service that makes the industrial park attractive, said Sue Wright, executive director of the George County Economic Development Foundation. The county is strategically positioned between three major metropolitan areas - Mobile, Pascagoula and Hattiesburg. It is also connected by two major highways, Mississippi 98 and Mississippi 63, and is less than 30 minutes from the airport in Mobile.