Ask
civic leaders or business owners to relate what’s
going on in Vicksburg, and one sure topic is the Washington
Street project. After months of road construction, rebuilding,
and landscaping, a major downtown district renovation
is virtually completed. Clearly, residents and visitors
welcome the revitalization—the annual fall festival,
held in downtown Vicksburg shortly after all the affected
streets reopened, boasted its biggest attendance in years.
The rebirth of downtown Vicksburg stands as a symbol of
a new attitude that permeates the historic river town.
Like all Delta communities, Vicksburg is working to attract
new industries, create new jobs, and improve the services
offered to residents. In this particular Delta town, government,
industry, and civic organizations have realized that local
history and culture are valuable tools for constructing
a bright future. By coming together to build on these
tools and exploit them, city leaders are creating a new
Vicksburg which combines old Southern charm with the amenities
and attractions that today’s industries—and
tourists—are seeking.
“I am very encouraged by all that’s going
in Vicksburg,” states Mayor Laurence Leyens. “Our
economy is strong, unemployment is down, and the city
is cleaner and safer than it’s ever been.”
Leyens’ aggressive approach and progressive thinking
are cited by many as a major force behind the new spirit
in Vicksburg. Leyens himself says he has focused on redefining
government in terms of productivity. “We’re
making government accountable and bringing back integrity,”
he comments.
“You might not recognize Vicksburg if you haven’t
been here recently,” he continues. “We’ve
got so much underway—waterfront development, including
a $1.8 million children’s’ interactive art
park. A sidewalk improvement project which is basically
addressing every sidewalk in town. Upgraded traffic systems,
street repairs, and repair of gas and water lines, some
of which are 100 years old.”
Leyens says Vicksburg is in a strong position for economic
development, and calls the city a sleeping giant. “With
the river, the Port, the major roads, and our industrial
park, all the resources are here and available,”
he observes.
“New industries will also mean new people moving
in, so quality of life is critical. Companies are moving
employees and their families when they relocate, so such
companies are very attuned to the quality of life a community
offers. This is one reason we’re working so hard
on the aesthetics of Vicksburg—it demonstrates the
integrity of the community.”
Don Brown, president of the Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber
of Commerce, says the area is enjoying a good business
climate. “We’re doing very well compared to
the rest of the state, and the rest of the country,”
he comments. “Not only is unemployment low, but
we’re doing more to prepare a good workforce that
can attract new industry—just one example is the
strong vocational training programs that are available.
“We’ve been able to create a community alliance
which helps puts all of us on the same page, so we won’t
be duplicating services when working to attract new industries,”
he continues. “This will be of tremendous benefit,
serving as a kind of clearinghouse for new businesses
coming in, and ensuring that all local entities will be
made aware of those new businesses.”
Says Jimmy Heidel, Economic Development Foundation director,
“Vicksburg is investing a lot of money in its future,
over $50 million in the next several years. In addition
to the millions of dollars in downtown projects, there
is work going on throughout the community—infrastructure,
for example, will undergo vast upgrades in the next few
years.
“In 2005, we’ll begin the four-laning of the
Interstate through Vicksburg,” he continues. “A
new exchange at the industrial park is also planned. There’s
also a $3 million project to widen the channel into the
harbor, which will allow more barges.”
He continues, “Two of the premier Nissan suppliers
who are located in our industrial park are expanding,
adding square footage and adding employees. Five local
industries are working on expansions, and I expect to
see a net gain of 1,500 jobs this year and into next year.”
Plans are also under development for a multi-million dollar
interpretive museum depicting the history of the Mississippi
River and the influence of the Corps of Engineers. The
Vicksburg National Military Park is purchasing the historic
Pemberton home, which will be converted into a Civil War
museum.
“Another very significant development at the Park
will be the dedication next February of an African-American
monument,” reports Heidel. “It will be the
first such monument in a national military park. It’s
a beautiful 8-foot bronze sculpture depicting three African-American
soldiers.” He adds that the Park hopes to generate
national media coverage of the dedication.
Vicksburg’s Main Street Program is now in its 17th
year—Vicksburg was one of the state’s original
six Main Street communities. Program Director Rosalie
Theobald, discussing the extensive downtown urban renewal,
reports, “We’re now finishing our street project
on Washington Street, which actually encompasses a five-block
area in the district. We’ve put in bricks to replace
asphalt, added turn-of-the-century period lighting and
benches, as well as new landscaping with a built-in PA
system.”
One of the Main Street Program’s achievements this
year is the hiring of an Economic Development Coordinator,
Bob Ward. A former business owner himself, Ward says his
goal is not just to fill the renovated buildings in downtown
Vicksburg, but to place businesses which complement the
district and the needs of locals and visitors.
“We have a large tourism industry in Vicksburg,”
Ward comments. “The national military park is—after
the casinos—one of the state’s biggest tourist
draws. We want those visitors to feel welcome in Vicksburg,
and to have a variety of things to do after they visit
the Park.”
In spite of the road construction in recent months, Ward
reports, “We only lost two businesses. And in fact,
since January, we’ve had seven new businesses open
in the Main Street district, and look for four more to
open by the end of the year.”
Eric Biedenharn, chairman of the Vicksburg Convention
and Visitors Bureau, comments that there is a lot coming
into the next several years which will significantly enhance
Vicksburg tourism. “Of course, the Washington Street
downtown district renovation is a real shot in the arm
for downtown,” he comments. “There are also
plans for an African American Museum and farmers’
market complex, which is being developed in partnership
with Alcorn State University.
“Along the seawall we’ve installed several
murals by renowned artist Robert Dafford,” Biedenharn
continues. “They are real works of art, very detailed
murals on outdoor surfaces. They highlight various parts
of Vicksburg’s history—there’s a riverfront
scene with boats, and a depiction of the first bottling
of Coca-Cola, for example.”
Lynn Foley, who started in the hospitality industry in
Vicksburg some years ago, returned to the city earlier
this year to assume the position of Director of Tourism
and Film with the Convention and Visitors Bureau. She
says the CVB’s mission is to work with the community
in every way possible to bring visitors to Vicksburg,
and adds that increased local support of the Bureau’s
efforts is resulting in even better results.
“Coming back to Vicksburg, it‘s been really
exciting to see the change in attitude, not only toward
visitors, but toward the community,” she comments.
Among Foley’s initial projects have been the re-establishment
of the Bureau’s website and the launching of a television
advertising campaign. She says that she is taking a different
approach in presenting Vicksburg as a destination. “We’re
inviting local representatives to travel with us and be
a part of our presentations,” she explains. “We’re
combining our skills and presenting the city as a whole
package. Vicksburg has a lot to offer, and we’re
improving the way we’re presenting the city.”
Signs of growth are coming from many sectors in Vicksburg.
From manufacturing, medicine, service and retail businesses,
there come reports of expansion and a positive outlook
about both the general economy and prospects for the town’s
future.
States Phillip Clendenin, CEO of River Region Health System,
“We’ve been very busy. The Heart Center at
River Region Medical Center continues to gain acceptance
in the region based on the quality of outcomes and service.
We’re the only hospital in the region to harvest
veins from the patient’s leg endoscopically. This
less invasive technique, which usually requires only two
small incisions, provides for speedier recovery and much
less discomfort.
“We’ve just initiated long-term patient monitoring
to detect the cause of seizure-like activity,” he
continues. “The intent of this program is to find
the root cause of the seizure, which can often be caused
by sources other than the brain.”
River Region has also opened a sleep lab offering diagnostic
sleep studies. Clendenin says sleep disorders are prevalent
in today’s society due to allergies and obesity,
and explains that the sleep study aids in the diagnosis
and treatment of multiple sleep-related disorders.
At LeTourneau, Inc., manufacturer of offshore drilling
rigs and one of Warren County’s largest employers,
Donald Cross reports an improved market. “There’s
a lot of activity in the Gulf of Mexico,” he comments,
“deep drilling but in shallower water. More and
more, we’re building rigs that have the capabilities
of the harsh environment rigs we build, but which are
designed for the milder environments and shallow water
applications. The Vicksburg facility recently laid the
keel for the “Tarzan II”, one of four contracted
rigs that will all be delivered by 2006.
With the closing of several industrial plants in the Vicksburg
area in recent years, a number of displaced workers have
been hired at LeTourneau. “I don’t like it
to happen that way,” Cross emphasizes,” but
we have picked up a number of people who were laid off
elsewhere.”
John Moss, president of Moss Construction Company (and
chairman of the Warren County Port Commission), says his
company is staying very busy. Among recent Moss Construction
projects in the commercial/industrial arena are renovations
at Rainbow Hotel Casino and a building expansion at Vicksburg
Metal Products. “We’re also doing a renovation
project at River Region Health System’s west campus,”
he reports. “The second floor of the facility is
being converted into a long-term acute care unit.”
May & Company is a certified public accounting and
consulting firm, established in 1922. Four years ago,
the firm established an office in Tallulah, Louisiana,
and launched a “virtual office” in Millport,
Alabama last year. Now they are expanding again, reports
managing partner Rusty Hawkins.
“We have a branch office in Clinton scheduled to
open in November,” he says. “We’re pleased
to be able to bring our services closer to our clients
in the Metro West area. We also have several members of
our professional staff who live there and are active in
the community—the Clinton office will be staffed
by two of them.” Hawkins says an open house and
ribbon cutting are planned for December 4 at the new office.
At Vicksburg Factory Outlets, construction is about to
begin on a second phase of construction, reports Margaret
Gilmer—one that will add 15 stores to the current
27 tenants. “The initial work on the first half
dozen stores should begin in about sixty days,”
she says, and the first of these should open next summer.”
When completed, the expansion will add approximately 80,000
square feet of retail space to the center. “Based
on our experience with our present stores, the 15 new
stores should add about 225 jobs, and on average should
generate about $20 million in additional annual business,”
Gilmer comments.
Expansion is also underway at the Rainbow Hotel Casino,
according to Curt Follmer, vice president and general
manager. “We’re in the process of connecting
the hotel to the casino, expanding our restaurant, and
improving our amenities,” he reports.
A past president of the Community Alliance for Vicksburg/Warren
County and currently president of the Mississippi Gaming
Association, Follmer says downtown renewal is not an overnight
process. “It will be a few years before the interpretive
museum and the planned museum in the Pemberton home are
open and making an impact,” he comments. “But
there are exciting things happening. The Economic Development
Foundation is working hard to increase our industrial
base, and they have been fairly successful in attracting
Tier 1 Nissan suppliers.”
Rusty’s Riverfront Grill opened two years ago in
a building formerly owned by the mayor of Vicksburg. Rusty
Larsen reports, “Our business just continues to
grow, even during the downtown construction. In fact,
we’re hoping to start an expansion in the next few
months, adding to both our seating and our kitchen space.”
The restaurant, which features items such as fried green
tomatoes with hollandaise sauce and lump crabmeat, has
been featured in a Southern Living article on Vicksburg,
says Larsen.
Since 1987, Harry and Alicia Sharp have operated the Duff
Green Mansion Bed and Breakfast. The antebellum mansion,
built in 1856, was totally renovated to offer several
overnight guest rooms and a party/reception area. Sharp,
who is also the chairman of Vicksburg’s Main Street
Program, says the mansion has a colorful history. “It
was the Salvation Army headquarters for over 50 years
before we bought it. And going back to Civil War times,
the mansion was converted into a hospital during the siege
of Vicksburg, and was later used as a soldiers’
home.”
Perhaps because of its somber association with the Civil
War and wounded soldiers, ghost sightings have been reported
by many guests, Sharp says. But far from scaring guests
away, the ghosts are an added attraction. “The ghost
phenomenon is quite popular, “ he comments. “Our
Main Street program has started a ghost tour of Vicksburg,
which includes Duff Green, and it’s proven to be
very successful. The CBS affiliate in Memphis recently
filmed here for a “Ghosts of Duff Green” feature.”
With a “new” downtown, new businesses, and
new attractions, the face of Vicksburg is indeed changing.
A theme used by the Convention and Visitors Bureau in
some of their promotions seems to sum up the new spirit
in Vicksburg: “We’re planting a seed, and
we’re inviting you to grow with us.”
Comments Mayor Laurence Leyens, “The general feeling
in Vicksburg is of confidence in the future. Downtown
is definitely one good demonstration of our commitment
to that future.
“Things are pretty darn good here.” DBJ
