If
geography alone was the criteria for a perfect city, Grenada,
Mississippi would have to be rated extremely high. Far
enough way from any urban areas to allow for a laid back,
peaceful lifestyle the town is also close enough to such
areas—Jackson, MS and Memphis, TN—to attract
business, commerce and tourists.
Not only can Grenada boast of a perfect location, it also
is noted for a number of other economic and cultural assets
that have the city poised to possibly become a top five
player in the state in the not-too-distant future: an
nationally-recognized education system, the majestic and
expansive Grenada Lake, a progressive and strong city
leader, three major industrial parks, a major hospital
and community college, and a thriving downtown. It all
adds up and city and business leaders in Grenada are ready
to take the next big step.
Jim Lyles, the president of the Grenada County Chamber
of Commerce, is a vocal cheerleader for his community,
and with good reason. Lyles, who is also the customer
service representative with Entergy in Grenada, notes
that much is happening in the area and much more is in
store.
“We’re really excited about the 18-hole golf
course that’s online at the Hugh White State Park,”
Lyles says of one such project the community has going
for it. “Currently we are in the first few stages
of construction authority on the course and the bond commission
is being set up for it to become a reality within the
next few years.
When the sale of bonds is authorized by the State Bond
Commission, we should be set to go forward,” Lyles
continues. “This golf course will not only be a
tremendous asset to us in Grenada, it will also be a great
economic decision for the state.”
In other developments, Lyles mentions the 20,000 square
foot enterprise/incubator center that is complete and
ready for tenants. “This is part of the partnership
with Oxford and Batesville through the North Mississippi
Enterprise Initiative,” Lyles says. “The Grenada
location will be used for either industrial expansions
or start-up businesses to operate with shared assets,
like equipment, secretaries, etc. for all of the tenants.”
Lyles says that current highway expansion projects near
the area will also help Grenada grow.
“We’re looking at five highway projects taking
place right now in our county, including Highway 51 from
Elliot to Duck Hill in the South Grenada County, all of
which will make us more accessible,” says Lyles.
“Highway 8 is also slated to be four-laned.”
Retail is very strong in Grenada as well, Lyles notes.
“We’re very proud of a new shopping center
in front of Wal-Mart with eight different retail stores
as tenants, two of which are national chains,” he
says. “Our hotel and restaurant industry is also
one of the community’s great economic assets. We
have some 34 restaurants and 642 hotel rooms here mainly
because we’re known as a great place to stop for
travelers passing through.”
Lyles goes on to say that the Mississippi Mental Health
Crisis Center just broke ground in Grenada, a major state
project. “The foundation is in place now and the
center should be completed by next Spring,” he says.
“This will be a great addition to our community,
especially with Holmes Community College’s nursing
program in place. Grenada School System has also just
begun construction of a new 9th grade school, a 30,000
square foot facility, adjacent to our existing high school
which is being built to meet demand. Kirk Academy is,
additionally, operating a new capital improvement drive
and are set to make enormous improvements.”
The community support in place in Grenada is evident in
many ways, according to Lyles, especially in a recent
move.
“There was a unanimous agreement to purchase 1187
acres of industrial property just north of Grenada,”
he says. “The city, county, our business organization
Forward Grenada and the water and sewer districts all
went into a partnership to develop this property for a
major, mega industrial site. Our plan is to market it
extensively.” Amenities on the site include one
and a quarter mile of interstate frontage, two miles of
railroad access, access to Highway 7 on the north boundary
and an interchange on the south, Lyles says.
Lyles’ enthusiasm is not mere biased hyperbole,
either. Just ask any of the many business owners who house
their operations in Grenada, as the DBJ did.
“We have a great business environment here and it’s
a good place for a small business to succeed,” says
Armstead Townes, owner of Townes Construction about Grenada.
Townes says that his 15-employee company does dirt work,
contract hauling and other construction work at a variety
of sites, most recently at Mississippi Valley State University.
Amy Wright, owner of The Wright Stuff, also is pleased
with her recent move to Grenada. “My husband and
I moved here from Nashville in the fall of 2001,”
the owner of the medical supply company says. “I
love the atmosphere and the people and we’re very
accessible to Memphis and Jackson.” The Wright Stuff
ships medical products all over the country, Wright says.
Ken Koenig, of Koenig Marine, has had his two-story store
in Grenada for the past year and a half and is pleased
with the results. “We’ve done very well here,
as well we should with Grenada Lake just up the way,”
Koenig laughs.
Located on Highway 8 in Grenada, Koenig Marine carries
the Bass Tracker line of boats “and they build just
about any kind of boat you’d ever want except maybe
a battleship,” Koenig jokes. “We generate
a lot of our business through service, because there is
no negotiating with the price of a Tracker. We also have
certified Mercury technicians on staff and if we don’t
have the right parts, we can get them immediately. “
The only Tracker dealer in North Mississippi, Koenig says
the next move for his business will be to carry clothing,
gear and fishing supplies. “That’s what we’re
in the process of bringing in right now,” he says.
The biggest employer in Grenada County is North America
Heat Transfer for Outokumpu-Heatcraft, with some 1700
people working at the facility. Having a presence in Grenada
for the past 50 years, Heatcraft makes heat exchanges/coils
for the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration
market.
Jim Laycock, vice president and general manager of Heatcraft,
says the support the manufacturer receives from Grenada
is an important part of their success. “When it
comes to community, we are supported fully by the city
leaders, without question,” Laycock says. “If
there is anything we need, they are there to help us.
We have a very good working relationship with this city.”
One of those city leaders, Mayor Mike Hyneman, relates
that one reason Grenada is able to attract and retain
businesses is because the city itself is in good fiscal
shape.
“We’re doing better than the average community
in the state, according to our recent sales tax figures,”
says Hyneman. “”We’ve seen two to three
percent overall increases every year and the tourism tax
is holding its own, as well.”
Hyneman, who is up for reelection in 2004, joins Jim Lyles
in touting some of the new assets that Grenada will soon
call its own.
“Everything is getting in place for the new Hugh
White State Park golf course,” says Hyneman, “and
the 1200 acres on I-55 we recently purchased is no doubt
going to draw a major industry into the area. We recently
formed an industrial development committee headed up by
several prominent Grenada citizens who have done a fantastic
job renewing our relationship with the Mississippi Development
Authority and making them more aware of our activity and
dedication to being a major manufacturing player.”
Health care is also healthy, according to Grenada Lake
Medical Center administrator, Chip Denton. In the position
since October of 2001, Denton is pleased to report that
his hospital recently scored two major coups.
“First of all, we’ve installed MRI equipment
in the hospital, a $1.2 million project,” Denton
reports, “and we recruited a board certified general
surgeon, Dr. George Miller, to the community. Both will
have a major impact on Grenada.
“Grenada Lake continues to see growth in many of
our lines of service, including outpatient care and a
major increase in our obstetrics program, which is up
about 8%,” Denton says. The hospital itself is a
major economic plus to the community, hosting some 500-plus
jobs for area residents.
“This is an outstanding community,” Denton,
a Shelby, MS-native says. “Recreation is plentiful
and the education system is first class. This is a huge
asset to us at the hospital in our recruiting efforts,
which is always a challenge.”
Of course, the big draw for Grenada County is the upcoming
“Thunder on the Water” festival, coming up
June 13, 14 and 15. Now in its 11th year, this huge tourist
attraction has brought in over one million visitors and
over $6.2 million in revenue to the city. The free event
is called an “all-American good time with something
for everyone” by Brandi Brown, Director of Grenada’s
Tourism Commission.
“ ‘Thunder’ on the Water’ has
been one of the Southeast’s Top 20 events in the
month of June for eight years now,” Brown says.
“And I must say that we couldn’t do it without
our presenting sponsors, The Daily Star, the US Army Corps
of Engineers, the Grenada Tourism Commission and the Grenada
County Board of Supervisors.
Even though ‘Thunder on the Water’ is our
flagship event here in Grenada, tourism is big business
here all year long,” Brown says. “We have
events on a monthly basis with an average of 25 annually,
five of which are national events.”
Grenada, it can be said, is one of those fortunate communities
where all of the pieces—economic, manufacturing,
educational, cultural and health care—seem to fit.
Through the efforts of hard work, the city has taken advantage
of its abundant natural resources and ideal location to
truly be one of the finer midsize communities in Mississippi.
DBJ
