New industry gives an economic
boost to a Delta commercial hub
Positive growth reported by area businesses
by Mark Bird
DBJ Contributing Writer
The biggest and best economic news Greenville has received in recent times is the announcement that Textron Fastening
Systems will open a manufacturing plant in the city, creating 500 new jobs. Textron, an industry leader in the production
of fastening and assembly products for automotive and industry customers, is making a $35 million capital
investment in the area, upgrading the old Nicholson Saw Co. facility to house the new operation.
The Textron announcement has sent ripples of renewed optimism through the city, with business owners predicting a
wide range of direct and residual benefits. Representatives from retail, health care, education, industrial, and other sectors
generally look for a much better year.
In fact, Greenville has much to offer in all these sectors. As the city’s “I Believe In Greenville” promotional campaign
highlights, this is a vital and growing commercial hub for a large part of the Delta.
The city itself is moving ahead with infrastructure and other improvements meant to build on the city’s attraction as a
center for Delta commerce, says Main Street Program director Bill Raymond. “There are several downtown revitalization
projects in the works,” he reports. “One major project, the resurfacing and improvement of Main Street, has begun,
and a project for Washington Street is also slated for this year.
“There are a number of professional offices opening in several of our rehabilitated downtown buildings,” Raymond continues.“One of these is our Mental Health Center’s Crossroads Program headquarters. This is a program that provides
job training, financial assistance, and other services. The headquarters was a million dollar-plus project, and it’s certainly
worth noting that they were committed to locating it downtown.”
Continuing to educate the public about the air travel capabilities available in Greenville is a major goal for Frank Cooper,
new Airport Director at Mid Delta Regional Airport. “So many people still don’t realize what all we have to offer,”
he comments. “For example, we have a ‘code share’ program with Delta and Continental-you can fly out of Greenville on
NWA, but you do not have to be on NWA for your entire route. You can connect with one of these two carriers-it’s a real
plus for Greenville travelers.”
The biggest news at Mid Delta is the beginning of a major renovation project that will update the total exterior and parking
lot at the airport. “This renovation will make Mid Delta a showplace for the city,” Cooper states. “We’ll also be renovating
inside, and preparing for the possible addition of another car rental agency.”
For shoppers, Greenville offers an excellent variety of venues and merchandise. As local retailers point out, there really
is no reason to travel to other metropolitan areas, with the many products and good prices available right in town. David
Ayer, the new manager of the Greenville Mall, recently moved back to the Delta from middle Tennessee (he was born in
the Greenville area and attended Delta State University). He says the Mall’s three anchor stores and mix of specialty shops
make it a consistently popular shopping destination for area residents.
“We have a good, loyal customer base, and our stores offer most every type of merchandise shoppers are looking forthere’s
really no need to travel to the big metropolitan areas,” he comments. Asked about competition from the influx of
regional and national chains and “big box” stores, he says, “They only help attract more shoppers to the Greenville area.
We remain the only mall within a 100-mile radius.”
A downtown Greenville fixture since 1939, Queen City Furniture Company is a full line furniture and appliance store
which also has four branches throughout the Delta. Billy Phillips, Jr., president, says business remains steady, thanks to
a loyal clientele.
“We get customers from all over,” he comments. “They know we carry the same quality brands and styles they’d find
in the bigger cities, plus convenience, delivery, and service.”
Phillips says Greenville’s Chamber of Commerce has done a good job of promoting the city. “Our store is still located
in downtown, and it’s good to see all the commercial activity going on.”
Queen City Furniture was recently awarded the National Buyers Appreciation Award for the Board of Directors of the
Tupelo Furniture Market. This notable award, which was presented to Phillips by Gov. Barbour, has usually been presented
to large companies, typically from outside Mississippi.
At James Ceranti Motors, business is up thirty percent over last year, according to James Ceranti. He says his firm
benefits from Greenville’s identity as a commercial hub for the Delta. “The typical car buyer shops more than one dealer,
so we all have a better chance at the business when the buyer comes to Greenville,” he explains. “And while there’s
traditionally been a mindset that you can get better deals in bigger cities, people are finding out that it’s just not the case.”
New Dodge trucks and Durango SUVs are proving to be popular models among his customers, Ceranti reports. “We’re
also seeing a growing popularity of personal luxury sedans and ‘crossover’ vehicles like the Chrysler Pacifica.” He adds
that Daimler Chrysler will be introducing twenty-five new models over the next couple of years.
Tom Wadler of Tom Wadler Auto Group agrees that area car buyers are discovering they need not travel to larger metropolitan
areas for the best deals.
“One advantage for a company like ours is that we’re privately owned, family-owned,” he comments. “Many of the
metro dealers have been bought by public corporations, who often have so many layers of management, etc. that they can’t
offer deals as good as those the individually-owned firms can offer.”
Import automakers continue to see growth in the truck and SUV markets, Wadler reports, especially with the introduction
of new full-size models. As to The Wadler Group’s own growth in the Delta, he says future plans include a new Indianola
facility.
Chuck Jordan of Planters Bank and Trust cites several reasons why he is optimistic about the city’s future. “Not only
will the Textron plant create around 500 jobs, but the support industries that will spring up around it will generate even
more jobs,” he states. “The Delta Blues Casino is talking about adding convention facilities, which will help Greenville
attract more meeting business. And two additional casinos have been approved for the area.
“The Saint Joseph Catholic school is building a new $6 million facility,”, Jordan continues, “and it’s significant that
this money was raised locally-that says positive things about the economy.”
With the recent purchase of adjacent property, Planters Bank and Trust will be expanding its drive-up services, he
reports.
“We feel good about the local economic turnaround,” states Mickey Naaman, president of the Greenville branch of Guaranty
Bank and Trust. “Thanks to developments like Textron, morale is much better.” He reports that a good row-crop
year in 2003 resulted in a large influx of deposits and loan payoffs among the bank’s agricultural customers (most of Guaranty
Bank’s ag business is centered at its other branches).
“Since coming to Greenville in 1999, the bank has enjoyed great success,” says Naaman, “even in a very competitive
market which includes several major regional banks as well as other independents. I believe one major reason is our staff.
They’re our number one asset, and provide the kind of hometown personal service that is obviously important to Greenville
customers. We also provide all the products that the big regional banks offer-like ATM’s, Internet banking, and online banking.”
Even before Textron, Greenville was already home to an array of industrial firms that supply products and services to
customers throughout the region, the country, and indeed around the world. While most of their business comes from areas
outside the Delta, Greenville remains a good location for the headquarters of Reed Joseph International, says Barthell
Joseph, Jr. “We chose to be here for several reasons, and certainly a big one is the fact that Greenville is a great distribution
center,” he comments. “We can ship anywhere in the world as quickly as we could anywhere else, and it’s less
expensive to operate from here.”
Reed Joseph, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary last year, specializes in bird and wildlife dispersal systems for
airport, military, government and other applications. Much of the equipment for the company’s “Scare Wars” system is
manufactured in Greenville. As Joseph explains it, “Scare Wars is a radio-controlled system used primarily by airports;
it allows them to fire cannons to frighten birds away.” A recent installation was at a U. S. Army air base in Italy, he
reports.
At Taylor Rental, which for twenty-five years has been a Greenville resource for tools and equipment for industry, contractors,
and homeowners, Chuck Hobart says local projects on the horizon promise to bring about business growth.
“Since our business is geared probably sixty percent toward construction, I see some good potential from projects like
the Delta Regional Medical Center’s new south campus,” he comments. Taylor Rental prides itself on its large inventory,
he continues, something that sets them apart from other rental centers in the Delta. The company serves a trade area
which covers a 50-mile radius, Hobart points out.
One of Greenville’s newer industrial businesses, but one that continues to offer a long-established service, is Nichols
Steel Sales and Fabrication. As manager Henry Noble explains, “The Freeman company provided a steel service center for
the area for many years. When Mr. Freeman decided to retire, we saw the need to retain a center in Greenville. With the
loss of all the local equipment, and with most of the other suppliers located outside the Delta, the result could have been
higher prices and slower delivery.”
In its 80,000 square foot facility, Nichols Steel has an inventory of nearly 1-1/2 million pounds of steel, the largest
inventory in the Delta. “We stock all shapes and sizes of steel-sheets, plates, beams, bars, pipe, and more,” Noble
reports. The firm’s customers include local manufacturers, shipyards, steel fabrication and machine shops, as well as
crop and catfish farmers-they also offer extensive steel fabrication capabilities.
Delta health care providers have been faced with several challenges in recent years, including high insurance premiums,
the malpractice insurance environment, and the ever-rising cost of health care which has strained resources. Still,
Greenville area providers remain committed to offering a high level of service and new treatment methods at the local
level, minimizing the need to travel long distances for needed care.
Delta Regional Medical Center, Washington County’s largest single site employer, is developing a South Campus on 182
acres of land in south Greenville. Initial construction will include an outpatient surgery center and medical office building.
The entire project, which will be developed over a number of years, is estimated to represent an investment of over $100
million.
“One of our greatest challenges is to educate the community about the high level of care that is available at DRMC,”
says CEO Ray Humphreys. “Among other goals, we will continue our development of a family medicine residency program,
continue to add state-of-the-art diagnostic medical equipment, and recruit physician specialties not currently provided in
the Delta region.
He observes that the improving economic climate of the area helps attract highly trained medical specialists, and in turn,
the existence of top-level health care will help to attract business and industry.
At The King’s Daughters Hospital, Iris Yeldell Stacker has been promoted to Director of Quality Management and Regulatory
Compliance. Reports CEO David Fuller, “Iris’ duties will include—among other things—planning, administering, monitoring,
and assuring that quality management and patient safety processes are implemented and working in a timely
manner. This new position is a vital part of maintaining all regulatory agency compliance at an administrative level.”
The hospital also recently opened The Women’s Clinic and added two new obstetricians/gynecologists to its staff. As
Director of Community Relations, Kim Dowdy points out, “The clinic is vital to the hospital with the re-opening last year
of our maternity unit.”
A Senior Care Unit — also opened last year — provides comprehensive care for patients suffering from depression, anxiety,
and other adjustment disorders, Dowdy adds.
With a large local population of senior citizens and people nearing retirement age and planning to stay in Greenville, and
with increased interest in retirement living options such as those offered at Magnolia Gardens, Joy Lehman says the assisted-
living facility is now full. “More and more people are looking into the assisted-living option-not only the seniors themselves,
but also family members who want their loved ones in a secure environment.”
Lehman contributes Magnolia Garden’s growth in large part to successful efforts at educating the public. “It’s taken
about four years,” she observes, “but people now seem to have a better understanding of what assisted living is. And it’s
not just the family members we had to work closely with-we also had to provide a lot of education to social workers and
physicians.”
The Greenville/Washington County area offers a wealth of educational choices for learners of all ages, and attracts students
from across the region. Greenville Christian School, which for thirty-five years has offered a Christian based curriculum,
currently has an enrollment of 240, and draws students from several Delta communities, including towns in
Arkansas, reports headmaster Keith Aycock. “The economic climate of recent years affected all schools, and caused us
to lose a number of students,” he comments. “But the school remains in a solid financial situation, and with new local
industries like Textron, which will bring more families to the area, we hope to see an increase in students.”
Aycock says the school has future plans to update the existing facility and add new buildings to house elementary and
junior/senior high classes, as well as a multi-use building.
At the Washington School, a college preparatory school, headmaster Rodney Brown reports that a major landscaping
project is underway, and adds, “We’ve launched a major fund-raiser for our endowment fund, selling bricks which people
can purchase as memorials to family and loved ones, for example. It’s something we plan to do each year, and will really
aid the fund, which is put to use in attracting good teachers and maintaining the high educational quality of the school.
“All school systems hope to prepare students for college,” Brown comments. “What sets us apart at Washington School
is that 100 percent of our students will graduate, and 100 percent will go to college.”
The Greenville Higher Education Center continues to grow at an average annual rate of twenty-five percent, reports
director Dr. Mary Jean Lush. During the 2003-04 academic year, over 7,770 students enrolled in the 339 academic classes
offered at the center, she points out.
“In addition to traditional academic programs offered by the partner schools (Delta State, Mississippi Valley State University,
and Mississippi Delta Community College), GHEC also provides non-credit professional development and personal
enrichment courses for Delta citizens,” says Lush. “To expand access for individuals unable to travel to the GHEC campus,
an agreement with ed2go (makes its possible for non-credit students to enroll in and take online courses.”
Beginning in April, Mississippi Delta Community College will offer GED classes on the GHEC campus, according to Lush.
New industry, new jobs, and a generally improving Delta economy are coming together to create a tangible sense of optimism
in Greenville. With that optimism, and with all the city has to offer to Delta residents, Greenville is ready to grow
again. DBJ
