Sunflower County moves
forward on new expo building
Hunt for possible locations has begun
by Julie Whitehead
DBJ Contributing Writer
A local committee is gathering community opinion and information on possible sites for a proposed multi-purpose sports
and agricultural expo building in Sunflower County.
Edgar Donohoe, president of the board of Supervisors of Sunflower County, said that the county is seeking funding under
a program developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural and Community Development office under the direction
in Mississippi of Nick Walters, director for Mississippi’s State Office.
“We’ve been chosen one of 10 counties to go into a pilot program,” Donohoe says. One county is eligible from each
of the ten planning and development districts in Mississippi; Sunflower County was selected from the South Delta Planning
and Development District.
The proposed complex plans were designed by the county engineers, says Donohoe. The $1.4 million building could
house a horse arena, a meeting area, and an office complex, possibly for use by the Sunflower County Economic Development
District, Donohoe says. Future planning envisions a tennis complex and baseball or softball fields.
The committee charged with gathering information in the next month on possible sites for the proposed complex
includes all the mayors of county municipalities: Indianola, Ruleville, Sunflower, Doddsville, Inverness, Moorhead, and
Drew, according to Donohoe. Each supervisor then appointed two representatives each from their districts.
Whichever site is selected should be large enough for future expansion as funding comes available, says Donohoe.“We’re planning on getting enough land to add to it,” says Donohoe, who would not speculate on possible sites.
Economic development entities agree that the complex would be a boon to Sunflower County. Sam Jones, Chair of Sunflower
County Economic Development District, believes that whatever site is selected will benefit the entire county.“There are a lot of places we can use this building.”
Beth Lyon, director of the Indianola Chamber of Commerce, says Sunflower County definitely needs a facility such
as is under consideration. “We don’t have a convention center, auditorium, or anything like that,” said Lyon. “We’d
be able to have things like Cleveland’s home show, and a garden show like they have in Greenwood.”
“It’s something we don’t have-we need something to keep young people here,” says Donohoe. DBJ
