Focus Section:
GREENWOOD/LEFLORE COUNTY
Revitalizing its downtown district and reenergizing the entire community
For tangible proof that Greenwood is on the move again after some sluggish times, you only need to make a tour of the city. There's downtown Greenwood , with the luxurious Alluvian Hotel drawing tourists, business visitors, and media attention from many parts of the country. There's the renovated Staplcotn headquarters and other restored buildings in the Cotton Row District. Move beyond downtown and see the new businesses opening, the infrastructure improvements underway, and the new industrial and manufacturing plants under construction.
Certainly, challenges remain. Economic development efforts must sustain momentum to bring in the new industry needed to offset big job losses of recent years. Roads and other infrastructure must continue to improve to support that hoped-for industrial growth. Greenwood schools must remain committed to improving the city's educational opportunities.
Still, it looks like Greenwood 's doldrums are behind it, evidenced by comments from civic and business leaders, which range from cautious optimism to outright excitement.
“I believe we have a much-improved economic outlook in Greenwood this year,” states Mayor Harry Smith, “with key factors pointing to a better year. Several announced and about-to-be-announced new businesses point to more jobs. And, we have a major downtown renaissance going on—The Alluvian Hotel, the Staplcotn renovations, Steve LaVere's Blues Museum development, and a host of new downtown businesses are part of this.”
Several public projects are in final planning and bidding phases, Smith reports. They include a $4.6 million rail relocation project to eliminate grade crossings through the city and improve Greenwood 's industrial park by locating the track there. A major new street in north Greenwood will open up a large area to development and relieve traffic congestion on Park Avenue . The city is moving ahead with Phase II of a sewer renovation program that encompasses modernization of the treatment plant and improvement to the collections system.
Says Janice Moor, Executive Director of the Greenwood-Leflore Chamber of Commerce, “We have a very busy Chamber—there's something new every month. We've got an ongoing slate of community activities and educational programs.”
A big current project, she reports, is the city's third annual Lawn and Garden Expo, to be held in April. Coming months will bring not only Greenwood 's renowned annual Balloon Fest in June, but also the annual 300 Oaks Road Race in September. “It's the largest race in the state,” Moor comments, “with over 1,000 entries.
“Something we're extremely proud of is our Main Street Program, which the Chamber started about ten years ago,” she continues. “There has been, and continues to be, very exciting revitalization of our downtown, thanks especially to the efforts of Staplecotn and Viking Range .”
Major Greenwood employers, in addition to playing a key role in the city's revitalization, are reporting strong signs of growth themselves. The two-year long renovation of the main offices of Staplcotn is nearing completion. The cotton cooperative's offices have been in downtown Greenwood 's Cotton Row Historic District for over eight decades. One of the country's largest and oldest cotton associations, Staplcotn has grown from its original membership in the Mississippi Delta to provide warehousing, financing, and marketing services to nearly 12,000 members around the United States .
Of the renovation, Vice President for Human Resources Gene Stansel says, “The office will provide an efficient workplace for our employees, updated with 21st century amenities, while emphasizing the architectural style of the historic district in which it's located. Visitors to the offices will be able to view displays of items significant to the history of the United States cotton industry and to Staplcotn. A pictorial history exhibited along the corridors of the building will serve to invite members and visitors to take a walking tour through the industry's history and Staplcotn's legacy to it.”
Over the past twelve months, Viking Range has introduced several new products and services, according to Communications Coordinator Cary New. These include a Designer Series continuous grate countertop and Viking Professional blender and stand mixer, as well as additions to range, built-in oven, and refrigerator/freezer lines.
“Throughout 2004, Viking Range will continue to expand all of its product lines,” she says. “Among the expansions will be our outdoor products, with the addition of an outdoor gas oven, outdoor electric smoker, and outdoor ventilation. We'll also be expanding our refrigerator line.”
The Viking Training Center , which since its opening in 1998 has trained Viking dealers and distributors from around the world, hosted over 1,000 trainees in 2003, New says. “We will soon unveil a model dealership showroom, for training purposes only, in the former Gregory Cotton office on Main Street in Greenwood ,” she reports.
Milwaukee Electric Tool, which is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, continues to report growth at its Greenwood production facility. According to Human Resources Manager Lisa Edwards, the plant is now running both an evening and midnight shift. “We'll be adding people throughout the year on all three shifts,” she says. “We're going to be bringing in an additional blade line, followed by another blade line and then a saw line.”
The company continues to work with Mississippi Delta Community College to provide pre-employment training, a program which Edwards says has been very successful. “The work force is this area is great, with many high-quality people looking for work,” she comments.
Greenwood banking institutions are reporting increased business activity, and continue to bring the latest in technology and convenience to Delta customers. Greg Bennett, new president of Trustmark Bank in Greenwood , says he is very impressed by activity in the city and the attitude and enthusiasm of Greenwood citizens: “It's exciting to see what's happening downtown—the focus on revitalization is really revitalizing the entire community. One thing that's good to note is the number of long-established businesses which had moved away from downtown and are now coming back.”
Since late 2003, Trustmark has experienced a significant increase in loan demand, he reports. “People are gaining confidence, and deciding to move ahead with capital investments. System-wide, Trustmark is focusing on putting decision-making capability as close to the customer as possible, and that's happening at a great time for Greenwood .”
Internet banking, ever more popular with consumers, is also gaining ground among business customers, he observes. “One great Internet banking service is the ability now to get statements and document images on CD,” Bennett says. “Not only is it good when it comes to storage, but also when searching for documents, thanks to the search engine that's built into the CD.”
State Bank and Trust opened two new offices in the past year, reports Clay McWilliams, and moved their branch in Webb into a new building with ATM and drive-up services. He comments, “For the first time in several years, our farmers have money, and that money in flowing into the local economy—helping businesses start growing again. Much of the bank's growth is in fact coming from our existing customers as their businesses grow.
McWilliams also mentions the increased usage of online banking. “Not only are people becoming more comfortable with it, but also convenience seems to be the main thing many people want in banking,” he observes. “We're seeing increasing use of debit cards and electronic transfers, and a decreasing number of paper checks.”
Greenwood is also home to several well-established companies whose reputation and clientele stretch far beyond the Delta. Malouf Furniture and Interiors was founded in 1946—under its John-Richard brand, the company also manufactures high-end lighting, pictures, oil paintings, bedding, accessories, and furniture. Designer Charlotte Fransted reports, “We're currently re-doing the store. We held huge sales in January to clear out merchandise, and over the next several weeks we'll have almost a completely new inventory. We're concentrating on our best vendors and our best-selling lines.”
After researching their competition, Malouf has restructured its pricing, according to Fransted. They now offer a 30-day pricing guarantee, and are positioned very competitively in the marketplace, she adds.
Having completed a major acquisition, ITC Deltacom is now the second largest telephone company in the Southeast—a $700 million company that provides a range of sophisticated commercial telecommunications services. Alan Wood, Jr., Director of the Systems Division, says the company is looking to have a good year.
“The telecommunications industry was strong in 2003,” he comments, “and our equipment division had its best year ever. It was, in fact, a tremendous year for the company throughout the eleven states we operate in.
“With the general upswing in the economy, businesses are investing more in technology,” Wood reports. “People went a long time without buying technology, but the need to stay up with it is something they're now addressing.”
As part of a business plan that calls for greater emphasis on civil and industrial projects, Malouf Construction will be shifting more of its operation to Greenwood , says company president George Malouf. He explains, “Since our shop and construction yard which supports these types of projects is already in the Delta, as is a large portion of out employee base, we decided to move accounting and other operational support functions to the area. “We're currently constructing a new office building to house our Mississippi Delta operations, just south of Greenwood on the 25-acre site where our yard and shop are located.”
Malouf comments that while Greenwood —like other Delta communities—has lost several key employers in recent years, positive things are occurring. “Hamlin Sheet Metal, a North Carolina-based sheet metal manufacturer, is opening a new facility in Greenwood this spring. There are Nissan suppliers moving into the area as well, and several much-needed infrastructure projects are moving forward. These will support the continued growth of the city.”
With America 's generally aging population has come an increasing need for daytime care of Alzheimer's and dementia patients—in the Delta, this need is being met by facilities such as Garden Park Adult Day Care. While such centers are not yet common in the region, public awareness is growing, says Social Worker/Program Supervisor Paula Mann.
“During our first couple of years, many people just didn't know that places like ours existed,” she comments. “But as the need has grown, and with more marketing to churches, civic organizations, and such, we've been able to educate people about the need and about what we offer.
“A significant accomplishment has been the start-up of the Mississippi Adult Day Care Association,” Mann adds, “which was formed to help set and maintain high standards.” The association, which currently has approximately twenty-five members, is lobbying the Senate for legislation to regulate adult day care, she says.
By capitalizing on its heritage, the entire Delta region is making tourism an ever more important factor in local economies, and efforts to coordinate tourism development efforts range from the activities of the Mississippi Delta Tourism Association to legislative activity aimed at promoted the so-called “Blues Trail”. With its rich blues history connections and other attractions, Greenwood is positioning itself more and more as a travel destination.
“This is an important year for us,” comments Suzy Gordon-Johnson, Executive Director of the Greenwood Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Our legislation expires this year, and we'll have to work again with the state legislature. But things look good—I make frequent trips to Jackson to keep our legislators aware of our efforts, and I believe they have come to recognize how much economic impact such efforts can have.”
Johnson reports, “So far in our new fiscal year, we've seen increased activity each month,” she adds. “My goal is to increase the average of overnight stays in Greenwood from one to two or three. Events like the Balloon Fest, Viking's cooking school, and all the other activities both in Greenwood and in other communities around us help us to keep people here longer.”
Johnson also plays an active role in the Mississippi Delta Tourism Association, currently serving as that organization's treasurer.
The Greenwood Blues and Heritage Museum is an outgrowth of owner Steve LaVere's association with jazz and blues—specifically, the Mississippi Delta blues and Robert Johnson. “The museum's mission is to increase the awareness of Greenwood 's role in the history and development of the blues and the importance of the blues in the history of American music,” LaVere states, and reports that the museum will be moving soon into the newly renovated Three Deuces Building on Howard Street .
LaVere is now involved in another tourism project which should see fruition this year. He explains, “It's called the Riverside Quarters, and is based on the Shack Up Inn concept in Clarksdale —the idea of turning old tenant houses into a 1940's style motor court, in rustic Southern style. The location for the Quarters is three miles north of Greenwood alongside the Tallahatchie River .”
Certainly one of the jewels in the crown for revitalization efforts in downtown Greenwood has been the opening of The Alluvian. The luxury boutique hotel, created through the efforts of Viking Range at the site of the old Hotel Irving, celebrates its first year of operation in May. Its success has been even greater than expected, helped by a high level of support from the community and the state, says general manager Jondi Brackeen.
“We hit the ground running,” she comments, “and we're extremely busy booking corporate retreats and meetings.”
While The Alluvian is primarily a business hotel on weekdays, Brackeen is working to make the hotel a weekend destination. “Through Viking, we're expanding our culinary side. We're offering weekend packages that include Viking cooking school classes, as well as a stay at the hotel and dinner at Giardina's restaurant (adjacent to the hotel).”
In addition to working closely with the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the State Department of Tourism, Brackeen says they are running ads in magazines ranging from Southern Living to Gourmet, and The Alluvian was recently featured in Architectural Digest.
“We do still have challenges,” observes Mayor Harry Smith. “But our elected and private leaders are working together in harmony and with a clear vision. By working together, we are getting things done. Public and private investment is probably at an all-time high over a period of three years. We have a good hospital, and great publicly-owned electric and water utilities. Our schools are improving and committed to continued improvement. And jobs are coming back to Greenwood .
“I believe we have a great future, and it is beginning to happen now.” DBJ
