With the help of the state’s research universities, Mississippi has been recognized as having one of the top twenty global ecosystems for business startups. The 2021 Global Startup Ecosystem Report is lauding MSU, The MS Development Authority, Innovate Mississippi and the state’s university system as a whole.
The Idea Shop, a 2,000-square-foot facility in downtown Starkville, is one of many ways MSU contributes to Mississippi’s startup ecosystem. (Photo by Megan Bean)
“Mississippi is well-known for our work with companies in the advanced manufacturing, agriculture and automotive sectors, but we have so much more to offer, especially in emerging technologies,” said Laura Hipp, MSDA interim executive director. “Our focus on technology-intensive, knowledge-based economic development includes close partnerships with organizations across the state, including research universities, industry, nonprofit and private sector groups. Some of the areas we are focusing on include marine technology, renewable energy, information operations and biotechnology. These types of companies are especially important to Mississippi and would benefit greatly from locating here.”
MSU, in particular, was held forth as an exemplar for innovation and small business startups – a model for others to look to and emulate.
Please click here for the original article: https://www.msstate.edu/newsroom/article/2021/09/msu-contributes-mississippi-startup-ecosystem-through-entrepreneurship
Vowell’s Marketplace, located at 118 Hwy. 12, has announced that they will most likely be closing by Halloween of this year, according to store manager Max Stillman. having replaced the Piggly Wiggly at that location over seven years ago, this will leave a large retail spot open at a good location thereafter.
GOLDEN TRIANGLE AREA, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
“At times, it seems like we are all running in different directions, often with the best of intentions,” said Ryan Miller, executive director of Accelerate Mississippi, part of a new state agency, Mississippi Office of Workforce Development. “As an organization with the mandate to coordinate all these efforts, the question is, ‘How do we get our arms around it?’” He and others have been working hard to coordinate communication between agencies that exist to help expose our middle and high school students to new and better professions and skills.
Area middle school students practice floating concrete during the FORGE Foundation Career Expo at East Mississippi Community College’s Communiversity workforce training center in October 2019 Katie McCrary – Courtesy Photo
“It’s cool stuff,” EMCC Communiversity director Courtney Taylor said. “We go into the classroom and challenge kids to solve a problem in the advanced hybrid electronics. Then we’ll bring the students to Communiversity to look at the equipment and the jobs. It’s also a way to expose students to careers that they’re just not exposed to in high school, like, say, a machinist. How can a high school teacher who has never been a machinist know that?”
The Communiversity will play host to the “FORGE Your Way To A Career Expo” on Oct. 27. The expo will be sponsored by The FORGE (Family Organizations Recruiting Great Employees) Foundation. It will expose students from around the GTR area to work with and learn more about many construction-related jobs and techniques that they might not otherwise have had access to. FORGE is made up primarily of local business owners.
CMSD Superintendent Cherie Labat spoke about the prior Expo, held in 2019: “I really can’t say enough about FORGE. It was great exposure for our students. . . The feedback we got from the students was wonderful. They had the opportunity to pour concrete, see and use tools, even hammer a nail. Some of our kids had never even done that before.”
Helping to prepare our youth for the future is good for them, good for our community, and has the potential to bring dividends for many years to come as horizons get expanded ever further. And THAT’S Good for Business!
GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins recently spoke to the Rotary Club of Columbus to tell them about a number of major projects they are working on bringing to our area. They estimate a total combined investment impact of nearly $900 million and about 500 new jobs paying $50K or more.
Golden Triangle LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins speaks to Rotary Club of Columbus on Tuesday as Rotarian Carey Edwards (seated) listens – Zack Plair – Dispatch Staff
One of these has been given the codename “Lettuce;” in the final stages of negotiation, it will be a $60 million, 150 job project, paying its new hires in the $75K range.
Another comes by way of Origis, a solar farm company. They are looking at putting two such farms in Lowndes County and another in Clay County to supply power to the TVA, to the tune of $550mil in local investment: “We’ve got enough solar being built in the Golden Triangle right now to equate to a small nuclear power plant,” Higgins said.
A proposed Lowndes County Port project may bring $100mil in investments and 100 jobs in the $50~60K range; it is hoped that more concrete information will be available by October.
Projects Renegade and Buckle look to bring in $125mil and $40 mil, respectively, with a total of about 220 jobs.
Clay County’s Project Coco is looking to bring in $10mil and 70 jobs — many of them in welding, starting at $21/hr.
“(Labor force) is our Achilles’ heel and that’s everybody’s Achilles’ heel,” Higgins said. “That’s the question we have to answer the most. That’s why we really don’t go after companies that don’t pay very well. We’ll point blank tell you if you’re paying cut-sew widget squidget wages, you’re probably not going to be able to succeed here. . . We don’t go after the 3,000-job deals, because quite frankly [the area] can’t supply the labor,” he added. “You’re lying to yourself when you say you are. Internally, we say our pressure point is 500 jobs. We think that’s the maximum amount we can do and successfully compete. Once we get one of those, there’s a period of time that you can’t get another one. You can’t get a 500-job in Oktibbeha, 500 in Lowndes and 500 in Clay (in a short timeframe). It just doesn’t work like that.”
Also, Higgins has also been in touch with medical marijuana companies — remember that the people of Mississippi voted to legalize it by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. This was put on hold by a technicality, but they feel that it won’t be too long before the situation is dealt with. The companies in question are looking at repurposing existing buildings in Columbus, West Point, Starkville, and Maben in anticipation of this possibility. Also, the TVA refuses to supply power to growhouses because the drug is currently outlawed at the Federal level; thus, alternative power sources are being considered.
All sorts of businesses are looking to coming to our area, bringing with them good-paying jobs and cold, hard cash…and THAT’S Good for Business!
GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
COLUMBUS
Owner Gon Carley has had a soft opening for her new Gon Thai location next to the commissary at CAFB. “I’ve been in business for nine years now,” Carley said. “I’m very excited (to open another location). I’m glad to serve all our men and women in uniform.” The Main Street location will continue to operate as always. The Base’s location will hold its grand opening soon.
On a sadder note, First Columbus Pawn and Gun, 1513 Hwy. 45, will be closing its doors for good on September 15 of this year. Having been in business for 30 years, they are now holding an “everything must go” sale, and they mean it. Go check ’em out while you still can!
STARKVILLE
Prime 44 is a new steakhouse that opened its doors about a week ago. They are located in the former King’s Craft Butcher Shop location at 211 S. Jackson St. Suite B. Sun~Thurs 5-9pm and Fri~Sat 5-10pm; reservations recommended. Right Track Medical Group, a counseling and therapy clinic, has moved to 200 Hwy 12. Mon~Fri 8am-5pm
WEST POINT
Fred and Kimberly Chase held their ribbon cutting at Legacy Auction this past week. They are located at the Mossy Oak Outlet at 5767 Hwy. 45 S. The grand opening of their auction space will be Sept 3rd, and they’ll be holding their first auction then at 7pm; doors open at 6pm.
Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2021-08-26/mary-means-business-gon-thai-expands-to-air-force-base/
GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
COLUMBUS
Kaylie Gibson is preparing to open a family-owned children’s clothing store in the former Rae’s Jewelry location at 110 5th St S in Columbus. Kid’s Cavern Clothing Co. came about because Gibson felt that “It’s always hard to find kids’ clothes that are reasonably priced. . . We wanted to open up a store for everyone where the clothes aren’t so expensive.” They plan to be open for business starting in October, and hope to accommodate working parents by staying open into the evenings. “It’s a family-owned company,” Gibson said. “. . . We’re excited to bring this to the community. I’m a big supporter of family-owned stuff and shopping local. We are just excited to bring that here in Columbus.”
STARKVILLE
Villa Nails Bar and Spa, 327 Hwy. 12 W., opened up next to Umi back in July. “It’s not your average nail salon,” salon manager Hailey Elkins said. “We want people to give us a chance. Our prices are a little higher, but the quality of work is worth it.” Mon~Sat 9am-7pm
Fearless Martial Arts at 821C Hwy. 12, next to China Garden, is open Mon~Fri from 2-7:30pm. They offer kid’s martial arts, adult self-defense, and both kid and adult fitness classes. “My family and I are beyond excited and blessed for the opportunity to serve families here in Starkville,” owner Josh Buford said. “If there is anything we can do for you, your child, or your family: Please reach out to us.”
WEST POINT
The area’s first Checkers (aka Rally’s in some markets) will be opening up at 230 U.S. 45 Alt. next month. Checkers is a drive-thru only burger restaurant that offers big, juicy burgers, spicy fries, and the like. They will initially be open Sun~Thurs 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. and Fri~Sat from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m.
Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/business/2021-08-12/mary-means-business-kids-clothing-store-to-open-in-old-raes-building/
Image courtesy of happydoggo.com – Lowndes Recreation Soccer Complex Bark Park
Website happydoggo.com recently honored the dog park at the Lowndes Soccer Complex among the top 50 such parks in the entire country. Sitting at #40, this is the only Mississippi dog park to make the list. It’s located on 6th Avenue North, not far from, 3rd Street North, where it moved in late 2020. Their description says that “This is a recreational ballpark where there is plenty of human activity. As long as your dog is up to date on all its shots, you can bring your pooch here for a bit of fun. There’s a fenced-in area where you can let your doggo roam off-leash and play with the other dogs. This is a great area to play fetch, simply run around, and tire out for your pooch for the night.” The park takes up about 3/4 of an acre and is divided into sections for small and large dogs. the only other dog park within city limits is at Probst Park.
LC Rec manager Roger Short attributes the park’s success and quality to dog owners who help to keep the place nice and clean. Regular visitor Ken Hargett said that “It’s just a great place where our dogs can exercise. Where a lot of us live, we don’t have a lot of space at our houses. . . So we come out here several times a week just for that.”
GOLDEN TRIANGLE REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch
COLUMBUS
Bruce Johnson (courtesy photo)
Columbus Lock and Key founder Tom Cole has sold his business to another expert in the field, Bruce Johnson, of Boardtown Locksmith. Cole will now retire after a long career helping out the people of Columbus. “I appreciate Tom and what’s he’s done over the past 40 years,” Johnson said. “I just hope I can continue that strong service he’s done in the area.”
Collier Hardy, a recent high school graduate, has been in the business of selling goat milk soaps and scrubs sourced from her family’s own goats for four years, and she has now decided to expand her business by purchasing Gypsy Tan in downtown Columbus. The boutique is located at 109 Fifth St., and will continue offering customers natural tanning services, oils, lotions, notions and potions. Gypsy Tan is open Tuesday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Jolly Smiles, a teeth-whitening service, has now opened its permanent home at 400 Main St., Suite D. Mon~Fri 9 to 5, Saturdays 9 to noon, all by appointment only. Check his Facebook page for updates and appointment info. Pennyridge One Stop, the service station at 2003 Ridge Road, is under new ownership. The items on offer have already been expanded, and owner Tristan Atkinson has big plans for the future: “I am grateful for the opportunity to be able to do what we are doing,” Atkinson said. “If there is anything we can get or do for anyone, we will do our best to get it done.” Open daily 5:30 AM to 9PM.
How about a cuppa tea? Feel Good Nutrition, 720 N. Lehmberg Road, has opened its doors and is offering loaded teas and the like. Mon~Fri 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
STARKVILLE
Ty MMI, a Vietnamese pho bowl and seafood restaurant, will soon be opening its doors in Middleton Court.
New Orleans’ De la Tour Holdings purchased a cluster of buildings near 5th Street and 3rd Avenue not long ago, and they are working with veteran contractor Chris Chain to fix them up and convert them into space for some new stores and a set of eighteen luxury apartments. DLT CEO Bill Legeir said, “We’re going to put a new face on it that’s going to resemble exactly what it was back in the days when it was built.”
The structures were originally built in 1905, and Chain’s team estimates it will take around five months to bring them back to their former glory. The massive project should bring as many as 300 construction jobs into the area, according to Chain: “With all your subcontractors and their crews, you got electrical crews, you got mechanical crews, you got plumbing crews.”
Legeir went on to say that “As we looked into Columbus, we found out that it’s an ideal community . . . It offers a lot of stability and it offers a lot of potential for growth.”
Requests from potential renters have already been coming in; they plan to have the first ones move-in ready sometime in January.
R&D and development company Camgian Microsystems, Inc., is growing and adding new jobs to the area! First founded in Starkville in 2006, they have done work for the US military, among other major customers. Furthermore, The Mississippi Development Authority has certified Camgian for the Advantage Jobs Rebate Program, which provides incentives to businesses that hire locals for above-average pay for the area.
“We greatly appreciate the support of the State of Mississippi and the Mississippi Development Authority as we continue to grow our business. It is our objective to recruit Mississippi’s best and brightest engineers to tackle some of the world’s most challenging problems in national security, finance, and industrial operations. – Camgian Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gary D. Butler
“When some people think of the Golden Triangle, they usually think manufacturing. Well, we also do high-tech, and Camgian is a world-class example of a leader in their field. We are lucky to have them calling the Golden Triangle home.” – GTR LINK Chief Executive Officer Joe Max Higgins, Jr.
