Special
Focus Sections:
Delta State, industry, strong leadership are assets that
serve this town well
From shopping to school, Cleveland makes it’s mark
BY C. Mark Bird
DBJ Contributing Writer
What is it that sets Cleveland apart from other Delta towns?
In a region that abounds with historic, close-knit, active
communities, what gives Cleveland its special character,
helping it continue to grow as a hub for Delta commerce
and culture?
Civic and business leaders display a strong pride in Cleveland
and Bolivar County, and their reports of business growth
and expanding potential reflect a real sense of optimism.
Beyond that, they speak of a wide range of assets-both physical
and intangible-that give the area a solid foundation for
growth, and its citizens a positive outlook for its future.
Economic development in Cleveland has certainly gained momentum
in recent months, especially with the announcement that
Faurecia, a leading global supplier of automotive seating
and interior systems, will be opening a manufacturing facility
in Cleveland and creating over 250 jobs. But while bringing
Faurecia to town has been a major focus for city and county
officials, they continue to move forward in other areas.
Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Cole reports a wide variety
of current or planned projects in Cleveland. “One
major infrastructure project is the four-laning of Rosemary
Road in conjunction with Baxter. This project is also part
of our long-term plans for four-laning around the city.
Also planned is a railroad history museumÑCleveland
was founded as a railroad town, and Mayor King feels that
we need to do something to preserve that history.”
A feature of the museum will be a 15-foot by 71-foot model
railroad layout, Cole says.
“We’ve recently assisted the Delta Arts Alliance
in their plans to convert the old Ellis Theater into a center
for the visual arts, music, and dance,” he adds.
Board of Supervisors President Richard Coleman mentions
a number of goals: “In the long-term, we hope to fulfill
infrastructure needs that include, among other things, a
multi-use auditorium, as well as development of our rural
areas for sewer and water lines, electrical service, etc.
More immediately, we hope to upgrade our heavy equipment
to help build and maintain good roads. We’ve hired
a county administrator who will help us identify grants
and other funding sources.
An important focus for the Board is economic development
in Bolivar County towns that surround Cleveland, Coleman
says. “We need to increase the opportunities in these
towns, to help them be more autonomous in meeting the needs
of their citizens.”
Observes Bob Eley, Chairman of the Cleveland-Bolivar County
Industrial Development Foundation, “In an area that’s
been losing jobs, to get a new industry like Faurecia that
will generate 250 jobs is a real boost,” he comments.
“Still, it’s important to point out that the
Foundation maintains its strong emphasis on our existing
businesses and their needs.
One of Cleveland’s strengths is the strong leadership
it has enjoyed for over fifty years, Eley says. “We
continue to have great elected officials, with a real willingness
to participate in and support efforts like those which brought
Faurecia here.”
Cheryl Line, Director of Tourism with the Chamber of Commerce,
says the Cleveland area offers numerous attractions for
visitors. “The quality of life is something that sets
Cleveland apart, and it keeps getting better,” she
states. “We’ve got great restaurants and lodging,
plus a good safety factor that tourists appreciate.
Growing environmental awareness and increasing popularity
of “eco-tourism” are also drawing visitors,
says Line. “There’s a new group, 'The Friends
of Dahomey’ (National Waterfowl Refuge), which is
helping to developing opportunities for various activities.
And the refuge is located right off Highway 1, which has
recently received a 'scenic highway’ designation.”
Delta State University is consistently cited as Cleveland’s
greatest asset-not only for the excellent educational opportunities
it provides, but also for the wide range of services it
offers to the Delta, and its influence on the civic and
cultural life of the region. University president Dr. John
M. Hilpert reports a high level of activity at DSU.
“We’re in the middle of several building projects,”
he says. “The Kent Wyatt Student Services Building
is nearing completion-we’ll be moving into it in June.
It will be a wonderful 'one-stop’ center for both
new and current students.
“Delta State is very busy trying to establish a greater
level of activity with our outreach centers in other Delta
towns,” he continues, “and this fall we’ll
begin offering classes in Tunica. We’re researching
the future of E-learning as well. I believe there’s
a real potential in distance education, and it could have
a positive impact on the Delta.”
Baxter Healthcare Corporation has been an anchor of Bolivar
County industry for decades. Plant manager Mark Jackson
says diversity of industry is a stabilizing factor in Cleveland.
“Having multiple economic sectors represented plays
an important role in the overall health of the local economy,”
he comments.
Several new product lines are currently under development
at Baxter, Jackson reports, although they are not scheduled
for near-term introduction. “These additions to the
current product portfolio will, in the long-term, strengthen
the facility by transforming positions in the plant from
low-technology, high labor content operations into more
high-tech operations,” he states.
The late Lowell Benton, Executive director of Bolivar Medical
Center passed away prior to press time. we were fortunate
to get his thoughts on the hospital and he was very excites
about the future of Bolivar medical Center. The hospital
now offers state-of-the-art lithotripsy and laser treatments
for kidney stones, and has added a second endoscopy room,
he reports.
“Heart disease and diabetes are two of the Delta’s
most deadly diseases,” Benton observed. “We
are trying to make a significant difference in the lives
of these patients, through the expansion of our cardiology
services to include a second cardiologist, and with the
development of the Delta Diabetes Center.” This program
is an education and support service which will providing
information to diabetes patients in order to aid them in
effectively managing the disease, he reports.
“Cleveland is something of an oasis in the Delta,”
comments Judson Thigpen, II of Gresham Petroleum. “We
weren’t hurt as badly as some other towns during the
slowdown of recent years. I think one of our real positives
is the way our city and county administrations work together.
You don’t have the competition and the infighting
among various groups-everyone just wants to see things get
down to help the community.”
Much of Gresham Petroleum’s business comes from the
agricultural market, and Thigpen says last year’s
strong crop results, and positive signs for 2004, bode well
for the company’s business.
“Cleveland is very fortunate to have such a good public
school system,” observes Mark Hargett, president of
the Cleveland branch of Planters Bank. “This helps
us attract businesses and new residents.”
Planters Bank moved into a new facility last year, and Hargett
says the new building’s higher visibility has helped
drive an increase in bank traffic. He also reports growing
popularity of Internet banking: “We’re doing
some advertising now that’s specifically focused on
the Internet options.”
“Every small community needs a real reason to exist,”
says George Steen of Cleveland State Bank. “Without
that Ôanchor’, it’s tough for a small
town these days. We’re fortunate in Cleveland because
of Delta State. And, we’ve got a fairly balanced economy,
with some established and new industry.”
The bank continues to see slow but steady growth, he reports.
Interest rates that remain near 40-year lows are having
some negative impact on older depositors’ interest
income, but are helping those looking to buy homes, Steen
comments.
States Ron Vaughan, senior vice president at Merchants and
Farmers Bank, “We had a very good year in 2003, and
the first quarter has been strong. Certainly, we’ve
all benefited from the good farming year-there’s more
money flowing into the community.
“Cleveland also benefits from a competitive but cooperative
banking market. We’ve got six good banks in town,
plus several strong credit unions, and we all work together
to address issues that affect all of us and our customers.”
Ned Mitchell of SouthGroup/Bolivar Insurance Agency is encouraged
by all the activity going on near his downtown office. “Downtown
Cleveland continues to do well,” he observes, “with
all the shops and the walking trail. I’m excited about
the Ellis Theater project and the railroad museum plansÑthese
will really be an asset, and will make downtown even more
alive.”
Mitchell reports that his business is generally very good.
“We’re starting to come out of the type of market
where companies didn’t want to write policies,”
he comments. “Many companies have scaled down their
expenses, and there’s been some other streamlining
in the industry. I think we’ll start seeing more competition
again.”
According to Mike Brister of investment firm Blakeman, Brister,
& Putman Financial Group, “Cleveland has always
had a positive attitude. This is something that has served
us all well.
“We find that clients in the Delta like to conduct
face-to-face transactions,” he observes. “They
like to be able to look at you-you never really know who
you’re talking to on the phone. But in today’s
world, this is somewhat unique, and you don’t find
these kinds of relationships in other areas. Another thing,
I’ve had client relationships with several generations
of a family-that’s something that’s also becoming
rare in many places.”
David Norquist, partner in the Jacks, Adams, and Norquist
law firm, says, “There are several things that make
Cleveland attractive. I think the community’s entire
educational system benefits from Delta State’s influence,
for one thing.
“From a legal perspective, we’re fortunate here
in the Delta to have very good judges-this is certainly
one thing that makes it enjoyable to practice in the area.
And one of the best aspects is the attorneys. I work with
various plaintiffs’ attorneys on a daily basis, and
there’s a better working relationship among Delta
attorneys than I’ve seen elsewhere.”
Family-owned Jimmy Sanders Inc. is a Cleveland institution
and one of the area’s large employers. An improved
agricultural climate has certainly had a positive effect
on their business, says Allen Morgan, Director of Strategic
Business Development. “Farmers are once again seeing
the opportunity to sell their products at a profit, and
that change has made everybody more positive,” he
observes. “We like to see our growers in that position.”
The company is building a new office/warehouse facility
in Greenwood, and has opened new outlets in Louisiana and
Arkansas, he reports.
Delta Pine and Land Company, headquartered in Scott, remains
a world leader in the development of cotton and soybean
seed. Tom Kerby, vice president of technical services, reports
the introduction this year of several new cotton varieties.
“DP 444 BG/RR is a variety that is changing fiber
quality expectations in early-season, Bollgard”/Roundup
Ready” stacked-gene cottons,” he comments. “This
variety offers a good potential for improvement in micronaire
and other fiber quality traits.
“DP 449 BG/RR is a new, mid-maturity, stacked gene
variety that also offers improvements in both yield and
fiber quality potential over other stacked-gene varieties.
These are just two of several new varieties which we’re
making available to the market this year.”
Says Ed Kossman of auto dealer Kossman’s Inc, “There
are so many good things going on in Cleveland. Real estate
and retail are strong, the overall business climate is good,
and the city is in good financial shape.
“Something that I think really sets Cleveland apart
from other Delta towns is the high level of volunteerism,”
he continues. “A lot of people give a lot of their
time very unselfishly, just to help Cleveland and Bolivar
County. Another thing is the pride people have here in home
ownership and in the cleanliness of the community.”
His dealership will be offering a wide range of new General
Motors products over the next couple of years, Kossman reports.
At Flatland Ford, Ricky Poe reports that the new F-150 four-door
truck is a hot item, and says the dealership is offering
a larger inventory than in several years. “Among coming
Ford models is the 500 Sedan, a 2005 replacement for the
longtime top-selling Taurus,” he says. “People
are also going to be excited by the new Mustang. It’s
a beefier car, with Ôretro’ styling that echoes
the style of those classic Mustangs of the Sixties.”
Raymond Huerta of Huerta Construction observes that Cleveland
has many well-established family-owned businesses, where
customers enjoy a warm welcome and a “home-owned feel”
that adds to the sense of community. He also reports that
his firm is at work on numerous projects throughout the
Delta, including a 20,000-plus square foot shopping center
in Robinsonville.
“One of our jobs in Cleveland is the 32,000 square
foot New Life Church,” says Huerta. “I think
this is a real asset to Cleveland, not only because of the
size of the facility, but because of the congregation, which
is really focused on reaching out to those in need in the
community.”
Bolivar County is, of course, more than just the city of
Cleveland. Its other communities also report an upswing
in business activity and the potential for more. In Rosedale,
the second county seat, a burst of optimism has been generated
by the announcement in April that a new industry will be
moving into a long-empty plant facility. The new tenant,
IBPS of Mississippi, will manufacture high-tech wall components
for pre-manufactured housing.
“This will create dozens of new jobs for Rosedale
and Bolivar County,” states Mayor Cary Estes. “We’ve
also got a new industry moving in at the industrial site
at the Port, and we’re talking with yet another group
about a possible relocation to the area.”
Underway in Rosedale is a $1.8 million sewer and water project
that will upgrade the system and expand it to annexed areas,
Estes reports.
The Port of Rosedale is seeing a good deal of activity,
reports director David Work. “We’ve been very
busy since the last harvest season,” he says, “loading
the various crops. It’s been a fairly good year so
far in grain loading-the tonnage has been equal to or better
than the normal average.” He adds that the Port’s
industrial site continues to grow, reporting a new liquid
fertilizer terminal under development.
Merigold mayor Andrew Westerfield (who also owns the town’s
popular Crawdad’s restaurant) comments, “McCarty’s
Pottery is certainly something that put Merigold on the
map, and their restaurant, The Gallery, has proved to be
a popular destination as well. Now, one of our local residents,
Jenny Smith, has started the Merigold Marketplace art showings
adjacent to The Gallery, which will help attract more visitors.
Knight’s Sports Center has also opened in Merigold,
Westerfield reports, consolidating several locations around
Cleveland into a new facility with a state-of-the-art machine
shop.
“I’m certainly very pleased to see Faurecia
come to Cleveland, with the jobs and opportunities they
bring,” comments Boyle mayor Joe W. Reed, who is also
chairman of the Bolivar County Economic Development District.
“Here in Boyle, we have a new business, Taylor Air
Conditioning. We’ve also completed our walking trail,
and we’re about to take bids on a new city hall.”
Reed also says that Boyle plans to annex land between its
current city limits and the Cleveland city limits. “We
want to develop this as an industrial zone. We’re
pursuing every opportunity to bring in new business.”
By no means is Cleveland the only part of the Delta (or
even of Bolivar County) with strong industry, good potential,
and committed officials and business leaders. But with its
fortuitous combination of assets, leadership, and community
spirit, the town is poised to remain one of the region’s
strong, progressive, growing communities-a model for Delta
rebirth in this new century. DBJ
