Governor Reeves recently announced the State of Mississippi is investing $1,350,000 in a site development grant to Pearl River County for the Pearl River County Industrial Park, located in Poplarville on Highway 26 off of Interstate 59. This site development grant will be used to make improvements to Highway 26 in front of the industrial park and to extend a turn lane to service the development.
Malcom Perry, President of the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors, stated “Pearl River County is thankful to Governor Reeves, our legislative partners and the team at the Mississippi Development Authority for their continued investment in the growth of our region. Their partnership with Pearl River County and the development of our new industrial park will have rippling impacts for the trajectory of our regional economy for generations to come.”
Pearl River County will utilize the Site Development Grant – Select Sites funding for the widening of Highway 26 in front of the Pearl River County Industrial Park property, including the installation of a turning lane into the site and grading, draining, base repairs and paving as needed for the improvements.
“Last year we brought in a record amount of new economic development, and these grants will help to continue Mississippi’s momentum,” said Governor Reeves. “These long-term investments are designed to create ideal opportunities where companies will find shovel-ready sites on which to build, grow and expand. This is key to our strategy of bringing more higher-paying jobs to local communities.”
Lindsay Ward, Director of Economic Development for Pearl River County, stated “the continued improvements at the Pearl River County Industrial Park is creating a premier site that will be used to recruit new industries that will create high paying careers and make strategic investments in our community. Pearl River County has aligned its focus on site development to enhance the economic development outlook for the region and to increase our ability to be competitive for future industry recruitment.”
In total, the Mississippi Development Authority is committing $16,859,893.19 in Site Development Grant – Select Sites funding. Created in 2021, the Select Sites program was designed to increase the number of highly competitive industrial sites available to meet the needs of prospective companies. From the 32 top publicly owned industrial sites evaluated through the select sites program, the Pearl River County Industrial Park site was one of thirteen chosen to apply for Select Sites funding based on the current funding availability.
For more information on the Pearl River County Industrial Park, please contact Lindsay Ward at lward@pearlrivercounty.net.
For the full press release about the announcement, visit: Mississippi Development Authority Announcement, December 27, 2023