Young Entrepreneur Teaching Others and Learning New Things

COLUMBUS, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

17-year-old Ellie Dawson, a senior and cheerleader at Heritage Academy, was looking for ways to make some extra money this Summer to put towards her college fund. She found a number of ways that were right up her alley: She not only trains younger students in tumbling and cheer, but she also juggles doing child care, dogsitting, and plant watering for hire: “I really didn’t think I would get as much (business) as I have,” Dawson said. “Once I started doing it, I realized this is a great way to earn some money as a young adult.”

“I enjoy it because I get to meet a lot of different people with the business,” she went on to say. “Especially through cheer, I can meet young girls and help them and it’s always fun because they’re so talkative. I also love animals when I’m dog sitting or if they have a cat I need to feed because who doesn’t love animals?” These activities have helped her to gain new skills while taking in some money:

“I’m definitely focused on time management between scheduling with all these people making sure I [go do the work] . . . I have to make sure that I’m keeping up with everything.” She is hoping to attend the University of Alabama, and to continue earning money during the school year, schedule permitting.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-07-22/young-entrepreneurs-ellies-summer-jobs-help-dawson-learn-time-management-communication-skills/

Jones Cafe is Back!

GTR REGION, MS – Courtesy of the Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

COLUMBUS

A perennial favorite Columbus eatery, Jones Restaurant, located at 112 Fourth St. S. (aka Catfish Alley), is preparing to re-open in the future! If all goes well, renovations will soon commence, and they plan to bring it back with their classic menu of tasty, tasty food. Owner Laura Jones Chalmers said that she is currently working on obtaining funding for the project. The restaurant had originally shut down in 2019, but she has been wanting to re-open for some time now. There will also be apartments available above the venue.

Angie Craddieth recently held a Grand Opening for the permanent home of her Heart 2 Heart Comfort Homecare business, at 2240 Military Road. “I have also been getting referrals from different people for their family members or friends for service,” she said. “It’s been going pretty good.”

STARKVILLE

Hibbett Sports, 874 Hwy. 12 W., will be hosting a “Clips and Kicks” back-to-school event on Sunday, in partnership with Adidas. They will be giving away free school supplies and haircuts, from noon to 5 p.m.: “Our Clips and Kicks back-to-school events have become a great tradition that families look forward to each year, as they get ready for back to school,” District Manager Cordaro Gaines said in a press release. “We really appreciate our generous partners at Adidas for helping us bring this year’s event together for Starkville.”

Finally, Big Dawgs Station 26 closed up shop earlier this month, as they have decided to shift to a food truck format instead of a permanent store.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-07-20/goings-on-with-grant-jones-restaurant-making-a-comeback-in-columbus/Adidas

APEX Ammo to Bring Jobs to Columbus

COLUMBUS, MS – Courtesy of the GTR Link

Mississippi-based manufacturer APEX Ammunition LLC is preparing to open a new plant in Columbus. This comes with a corporate investment of nearly $4.45 million; they anticipate creating 64 local jobs over the next few years. They produce premium shotgun ammunition for online retail and wholesale dealer sales. They plan to open up shop late this year. The City, the County, and The Mississippi Development Authority are providing assistance with the building and other concerns.

“APEX Ammunition has strong ties to Columbus, and the state of Mississippi has made a concerted effort to support our expansion and growth trajectory. This great partnership has led us to plant permanent roots in Mississippi, and we couldn’t be more excited about that. The new manufacturing facility gives us room to significantly increase production to meet the surging demand for our ammunition, and we will be adding numerous jobs to achieve this.” – Jason Lonsberry, President and CEO, APEX Ammunition LLC.

Please click here for the original article: https://gtrlink.org/news/article/241?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Roasting

STARKVILLE, MS – Courtesy of The Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

Kenneth Thomas, owner of Umble Coffee Co., First opened his coffee roasting business, Umble Coffee, in 2017; just this past June, the increased business he has earned over the years opened up a cafe on Industrial Park Road, which incorporates his roastery: “I like coffee and I like beer, and everybody and their mama in 2016 was getting into microbreweries . . . the further I got into coffee, the more I learned how healthy it is when done correctly. It can be healthier than green tea, red wine, blueberries, acai, and so I thought I would try to figure out coffee.”

He spent his first few years selling his high-quality coffee wholesale, rapidly discovering that his primary market was right here in the Golden Triangle. He has since been doing business with local bakeries, restaurants, and others, including MSU, Ole Miss, and Kroger to bring his blends to the masses. “It’s been a great collaboration because they were looking for a local coffee roaster, and of course, we’re always looking to grow because the business is a volume game,” Thomas said. “That has helped stabilize us as a company, and MSU and Ole Miss dining services have both been great partners to work with. It’s fun being able to give coffee to like tens of thousands of college students.” He also hosts a podcast called “Coffee 101.”

Thomas plans to expand his roastery further, and even conduct tours of it someday. He is also looking ever forward, seeking to get his product into more and more stores: “We would like to be in more grocery stores, more bakeries and breakfast places and we’d like to be dominant in the Southeast,” he said. “… This business is fun, and I really enjoy doing it. To anybody who wants to do something like it, I think you inherently can succeed if you enjoy it.”

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-07-18/community-profile-kenneth-thomas-turns-passion-for-good-coffee-into-thriving-business/

image: Kenneth Thomas turns on a roaster Wednesday at Umble Coffee Co. at 216 Industrial Park Road – Grant McLaughlin, The Dispatch

Burns Bottom May Soon See New Life

COLUMBUS, MS – Courtesy of The Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

CRA President Marthalie Porter presented a Planned Unit Development form to the City Council and the Mayor recently, along with renderings of proposed buildings to be placed into the Burns Bottom redevelopment/urban renewal area near the soccer field. The proposal includes both residential and commercial areas, similar to the ones near Main and 5th St currently. The planned budget for the 5-block area is in the $25-30 million range, and will include 103 residential lots (1~3,000 sq ft ea), 28,000 sq ft of condos with office spaces underneath, and 5,000 sq ft for restaurants.

“(The board) agreed that going to the Planned Unit Development method would put all the parcels together,” Porter said. “There are several different zonings down there, and this is a mixed-use plan. The lot sizes out there are around 6,500 square feet and ours may be smaller or may change some.”

City/CRA attorney Jeff Turnage remarked on the allowances the plan makes for future changes that may come up: “The market is going to drive some of this (development),” Turnage said. “We need to have some flexibility on the lot sizing and particular use for a particular parcel.”

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-07-14/working-plan-for-burns-bottom-estimates-it-would-take-up-to-30m-to-redevelop/

image: Renderings of duplexes in the Burns Bottom redevelopment presented to Columbus City Council Thursday as part of a Planned Unit Development proposal – Courtesy image – Columbus Redevelopment Authority

Steel Processing Plant to Open Soon Near Airport

COLUMBUS, MS – Courtesy of The Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

Altex Tube, a maker of steel tubing, plans to open its $110 million facility by mid-October. They share a space with Steel Dynamics near the GTR Airport. Construction is nearly complete at 1923 Airport Road, with equipment installation just waiting for those last-minute touches. The plant will be able to produce 100,000 tons of metal tubing using SDI’s black and pre-galvanized steel coil products.

They anticipate hiring sixty employees, with a salary range of $70-75K/year to start, with thirty workers there on opening day. They hope to ramp up both capacity and employees as they increase their sales over time. Their main customer base will consist of steel service centers that process the steel into parts and other equipment needed for local farmers and other consumers. By sharing a campus with SDI, the cost of overland shipping to Altex is eliminated.

GTD LINK COO Meryl Fisackerly commented that “The continued growth is always exciting to see and just how fast (Altex Tube) has been able to build their building is really just impressive to watch. . . Having them here and operating here is going to be really great for SDI as well for our community. You pull out of the (Golden Triangle Regional Airport) and the first thing you see is Altex Tube, a big, bright, shiny new building. It really makes a statement.”

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-07-11/altex-tube-plant-set-to-open-mid-october/

image: The Altex Tube building shown Monday at 1923 Airport Road – CEO Zach Smith said the plant is expected to open in mid-October and will produce 100,000 tons of steel tubing per year – Grant McLaughlin, The Dispatch

A Big Bad Bonanza of Restaurant News and More!

GTR REGION, MS – Courtesy of The Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

STARKVILLE

Oxford’s famous eatery, Big Bad Breakfast, is coming to Starkville! Co-owner for the new location, Cameron Parker, says that an official announcement will be forthcoming, along with details on the time and place. The restaurant has grown to sixteen locations in the US thanks to its award-winning food and atmosphere.

COLUMBUS

The Ranch House in East Columbus is getting a makeover and a rebranding as the Road Side Ranch House! co-owner Tracy Wilson says that the area is in need of something a bit different to accompany all of the same old fast food joints: “I realized there’s nothing here besides the McDonald’s, Taco Bell and Wendy’s over here, and once they’re close, there’s nowhere to go but places on Highway 45 North,” Wilson said. “It got to the point where I thought it’s time to put something else back over here.” They plan to offer a mix of foods, including both Mediterranean and soul foods. they plan to open up by August 1st. 807 Alabama St; planned hours: Monday through Thursday from 5:30 a.m. to midnight, and Thursday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Also, a new T-Mobile Store is under construction at 1521 Hwy. 45 N., next to O’Reilly Auto Parts. The build is still early, so we do not have an official opening date just yet.

WEST POINT

Local filmmaker Michael Williams has opened The Great Catsby Herb Cartel, an herbs & spices and tea bend shop: “I thought this was kind of a faraway dream,” Williams said. “But this year was our second year having a front yard garden, and I realized the abundance was going to be big enough that I could go ahead and launch it. (The Great Catsby Herb Cartel) was also kind of a way for me to find the name for the company and it will be something where Catsby’s legacy can live on.” The shop is named in honor of his beloved kitty-cat, Catsby. They will open their doors this Saturday at 221 E. Westbrook St. from 8 to 11 a.m. They offer items such as basic herbs: basil, oregano, lemon grass, and various blends for tea, plus other merch like t-shirts, which customers can order from their website.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-07-06/goings-on-with-grant-big-bad-breakfast-coming-to-starkville/

New Office Park Renovation Well Under Way in Starkville

STARKVILLE, MS – Courtesy of The Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

A $2 million renovation is underway at the former Cadence Operations Center at 12239 Hwy. 182 W. It is being converted into the “Professional Park” under the guidance of Mark Castleberry of Castle Productions: “We believe the market needs good quality office space,” Castleberry said. “New construction is very, very prohibitive right now. We felt that when we purchased this, that the building was a good value, it’s in a very good location, great parking and was well maintained and we were able to lease it at an acceptable rate.” the park is planning to offer ten spaces for offices/other businesses and thousands of feet of warehousing space in a 40 thousand sq ft facility.

Sylvia Byrd, dept. head of the MSU Extension Service’s Office of Nutrition Education, was one of the first to sign on, as they have been planning to expand: “Parking [on-campus] is a challenge. So the ease of the location (was important to us). So we started looking for space when we knew that we would need to be looking to expand our services. It just worked out that this property became available and when I found out about it, I just called and we went to look at it and decided that yes, this would meet our needs.” She went on to say that, “It’ll allow us to up our game and virtual program delivery, which is something that we’re planning for the future.”

Their new offices will include space for new training kitchens to teach clients about nutrition, health and food learning and even other facilities to improve its virtual learning programs. They plan to move in by mid-September.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-06-29/castle-properties-begins-2-million-renovation-of-former-cadence-operations-center/

Smokin’ Hot News! Texas-style BBQ Restaurant to Open in August

GTR REGION, MS – Courtesy of The Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

STARKVILLE

Entrepreneurs Craig and Michele Fant, owners of Taste and Bluto’s Greek Tavern, have been renovating the old Breakfast Club building at 105 Eckford Drive, right off Highway 12, in preparation for opening “The Joint,” their new Texas BBQ joint: “We just wanted to bring a different type of barbecue to Starkville,” Mrs. Fant said. “We wanted to be as true to Texas-style barbecue as we could. We also ship in post oak wood and use all the same meats that they use in Texas. Even inside of the building, we tried to make it as Texas-style as possible to keep it authentic.” they plan to open up for business on August 2nd, and will be offering a variety of smoked meats and sides.

Over across the way, Rick’s Cafe at 319 Hwy. 182, is adding a dog bar and play area for patrons, replacing their old tiki bar. Patrons will be able to bring their good doggos to play together, provided that they first sign up for a membership and show a photo along with pertinent info such as shot records and the like. Dog-themed cocktails will also be available for the hounds’ 2-legged friends. Hours for the bar will be Thursday through Saturday 3-10 p.m.

COLUMBUS

Family Dollar is building a new store at 850 Tuscaloosa Road, right next to the 12-50 Package Store. FD is owned by Dollar Tree, Inc.

Tanya Cockrell is getting ready to open 4D Healthcare, a family medical and psychiatric care facility at 1324 Military Road, on June 29: “I realized you have to take care of the whole patient, and it was kind of hard to take care of the entire patient when they can’t function mentally,” she said. “I wanted to bring that to Columbus.”

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-06-22/goings-on-with-grant-texas-barbeque-coming-to-starkville-aug-2/

New Roads Being Built for Aluminum Dynamics Facility

GTR REGION, MS- Courtesy of The Dispatch and Grant McLaughlin

Land excavation has been in progress on new roadways which will eventually lead to Aluminum Dynamics Inc.’s site for its planned flat-rolled aluminum mill. The next major step will be to begin work on office spaces and infrastructure for the site. “You could call this phase one,” Geiger Excavators project manager Grant Chaffee said. “We are where we’re trying to get roads established on the site. We are concentrating on the one end of the site right now to get as many people in there to get started working (in those offices). So they’re starting (dirt work) with some of the smaller buildings in order to get those erected.”

GTD LINK CEO Joe Max Higgins spoke further on the project: “Obviously, they’re out there working daily. Quite a lot of dirt work is being done,” Higgins said. “… (ADI) will have their final permits in hand probably around the first of July, then they’ll be ready to go.” The creation of and improvements to local roads in order better to support the plant are also proceeding apace.

Please click here for the original article: https://cdispatch.com/news/2023-06-14/early-dirt-work-ongoing-at-site-of-aluminum-mill/

photo credit: Grant McLaughlin/The Dispatch