BY jack criss
DBJ Executive Editor

Ideally located, the town of Grenada, Mississippi is quickly becoming one of the fastest growing and most progressive towns in the state. Exactly 90 miles from Memphis and 100 miles from Jackson off of Interstate 55, Grenada boasts an industrial infrastructure and a political unity rarely seen in the country, much less in Mississippi.
According to 1996 population figures, Grenada is home to 14,861 citizens. The town has a police force of 53 full-time and 14 part-time officers and a fire department consisting of 32 full-time workers and 20 volunteers. Only five percent of the population is unemployed, and the median per capita income of an individual in Grenada is $17,000, up from $15,600 in 1994. It is a community that is very proud, as evidenced by any casual conversation with a city official or business owner. Numbers are certainly important; for tax collection purposes and the availability of certain services; but no numbers can gauge the unity and sense of purpose that the residents of Grenada show, and have shown. Clearly, it is a town on the move, thanks in large part to its industry and businesses.
As Grenada's single biggest employer, Heatcraft, Inc. is the world's largest producer of heat transfer products. A wholly owned subsidiary of Lennox International, Inc. of Dallas, Heatcraft employs some 2,700 people in its facility, and the majority of these Grenada workers do more than just act as day-to-day laborers.
"This town is extremely community and volunteer minded," says Andy Carter, director of human resources for Heatcraft since 1995. "Our people here are involved in as many local projects as possible, and we encourage our employees to take leadership roles in these volunteer groups."
Known originally as McQuay, what would become Heatcraft moved to Grenada from Minneapolis, MN in 1954. The company became part of Lennox International in 1986. Heatcraft produces tens of thousands of coils, air handlers, and unit heaters each day. The company also includes an in-house Copper Mill, a Tool and Die operation, a state-of-the-art Research and Development laboratory, a Commercial Products Group, an Advanced Distributor Products Division, and a recently-added Advanced Heat Transfer Division.
"We are involved in heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration products," Carter explains. "Our plant here makes heat transfer parts for the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturing) market. We also have about 500 to 600 customers who use our products for food preservation equipment, ice machines, and so forth. We export these services as well," Carter continues, "and have recently been reorganized as part of the worldwide transfer division.
Essentially, we make component products for in-users, and Heatcraft in Grenada is seen as the center of excellence for heat-transfer capabilities," Carter says. The industry services over some 2000 accounts that compete in a variety of different markets in both the United States and abroad, and has acquired additional manufacturing facilities in Tennessee, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Mexico, Brazil, and France.
"In addition to manufacturing heat transfer coils on a large scale, we also produce our own copper-tubing via our in-house copper mill," Carter says. "This capability provides us with a continuous flow of superior grade raw materials that support our goals for producing a top quality product consisting of only the best materials." Heatcraft also has an in-house Tool and Die operation which produces most tooling required by local production plants as well as other company facilities across the country.
Being the largest employer in Grenada, Heatcraft has gained an excellent reputation for serving the community. "As a company, we have received several community service awards," Carter proudly states, "and we are involved heavily in the Grenada League of Adult Literacy Program, Christmas in April, and developing training for curriculum at Holmes Community College here. We've also sponsored the District II Technology Students Association for the past several years," Carter says.
Perhaps the ultimate contribution Heatcraft has made to Grenada, and its continued success as a community in the future, was the company's recent $1 million donation towards the building of the Industrial Technology Center, Grenada Center. The 32,000 square-foot, $3.8 million building, built for Holmes Community College and opened on August 14, will be used in coordination with training programs designed to help meet the specific needs of local industries for the training of technical workers.
William Tyner, executive director of the Grenada County Chamber of Commerce, was quoted as saying that "this is a move by the community to provide workers that are trained to do what you need them to be able to do." Tyner's own organization contributed $600,000 to the center.
Carter explains that the concept for the Industrial Technology Center was several years in the making. "Many of us in the business and political sector realized the critical need for workforce training here in Grenada in order to be competitive in the global economy. Over the years, Heatcraft has had an outstanding relationship with Holmes Community College based on ongoing training programs we've sponsored, but we saw a need for a training facility." One individual who couldn't be more pleased with the whole project is Jack Holmes, vice-president of the Holmes Community College Grenada Center.
"The Industrial Technology Center is a beautiful, functional facility that totally enhances the quality of training that we can provide here," Holmes enthuses. "The center features a multimedia center that can accommodate up to 100 students, and a rear-screen projection system for distance learning, teleconferencing and audio/video presentation." Holmes goes on to say that the center will house Holmes' existing Drafting and Design Technology Program with two separate labs featuring built-in workstations, and will also have four new labs specializing in instrumentation and process controls, digital electronics, hydraulics and pneumatics and industrial electricity/electronics.
"The whole project was a true city/county effort," Holmes says, noting that the city donated 8.4 acres to Holmes Community College to house the facility. This acreage includes room for future expansion which Holmes hints might be used for a new media center in the future. Such a center would certainly be put to good use for the over 800 students on the Holmes' Grenada campus.
Grenada's medical community is also flourishing, thanks in large part to the mission of Grenada Lake Medical Center, a 156-bed facility that services Grenada, Calhoun, Tallahatchie, Leflore, Montgomery, Carroll, Webster, and Yalobusha counties, a market area of around 80,000. Hospital Administrator Linda Gholston is proud of the services Grenada Lake offers.
"We have an outstanding group of physicians and employees here," Gholston says. "With our strong obstetrics program, which includes labor, delivery, post-partum, pediatrics and nursery, as well as our critical and progressive care units, we are probably as well-suited as any hospital in the state for the future of health care and the changes that may lie ahead."
Gholston explains that Grenada Lake Medical Center is a county-owned facility, with a seven-member board of trustees, all of whom live in Grenada County. "These trustees are responsible for the operation of the hospital and are appointed by the County Supervisors," she says. "Consequently, we enjoy a good relationship with our board and with the community. Our philosophy is that we are here for one reason, and that is to serve the needs of the people in the area."
Grenada Lake Medical Center is one of the largest businesses in the city, Gholston explains. "Within the hospital, we have the largest food service in Grenada, we have the largest pharmacy, and the largest laundry service. Overall, we employ approximately 600 people, with 44 physicians on staff.
Grenada Lake Medical Center is, in my opinion, one of the finest community hospitals in the state," Gholston states. "We're working everyday to strive to make it even better. With our strong list of specialties and capabilities, we see this happening. Just recently we completed a brand new rehabilitation area, which is one of our strongest suits. We were also named Industry of the Year in 1998, and we put $30 million into the local economy every year. We are extremely proud of such accolades and facts," Gholston concludes.
Also a major and crucial part of Grenada's burgeoning and well-respected health care scene is the Cardiology for Mississippi clinic headed by Dr. John Seibel. As the only cardiologist in Grenada, this Maryland native arrived in town in the spring of 1997, and has been quite pleased with the progress his facility has made.
"Dr. Frank Martin of Memphis was instrumental in the setting up of Cardiology for Mississippi, as well as my coming down here to run it," Dr. Seibel says. "A cardiologist was needed to oversee the cath lab in the hospital here, which Dr. Martin had helped build at the request of the community, and I was approached. At the time, I was in practice in Virginia, but I was excited at the prospect of starting a new clinic, so I accepted the job."
So far, Dr. Seibel's experience in Grenada has been nothing but positive. "The town obviously needed a cardiologist, and I'm pleased and honored to be the one here," he states. "Besides, the rolling countryside in Grenada is reminiscent of Maryland, and the fishing is outstanding!" Seibel laughs.
"I'm extremely happy with the progress Cardiology for Mississippi has made," Seibel continues, "and I enjoy the fact that I have the autonomy to take the clinic in the direction in which I think it should go to do the most good. The other physicians here in town have been extremely supportive, and we are drawing patients form all over the region."
Within the next year, Cardiology for Mississippi will be moving its office to the new medical facility scheduled to open in early 2001, located where the old Grenada Wal-mart was formerly housed. "This new set of offices will certainly help the Grenada medical community, as well as the patients," Dr. Seibel predicts.
Dr. Seibel says he has had success in keeping those patients in Grenada who might otherwise erroneously believe they could get better treatment in a bigger market. "That's a huge misconception," he notes. "In fact, a patient can usually receive much better care here, with a more personal touch, than they would in a big city."
Yet another major component in Grenada's strength as a community is its school system. Consistently ranked among the highest in the state, the Grenada School District has served as a beacon and model for other systems across Mississippi. Dr. Buddy Pender, the District's superintendent, says that organization has been the key to the success of Grenada's educational system.
"We are a municipal district that encompasses the entire county," Pender relates, "and we are only one of five districts in Mississippi so organized. In 1967, the city and county voluntarily consolidated into one district, and consequently we now serve 4700 students and only have four schools. We're highly consolidated," Pender continues, "therefore, we're able to focus on specific needs that arise and not have to worry about our schools duplicating services. The school system here in Grenada has thus been very cost effective, efficient, more centralized and easier to run."
Pender also says that community support cannot be underestimated when it comes to Grenada schools. "We have, especially over the last 14 years or so, received tremendous support from businesses, churches, and individual citizens. We have an excellent Adopt-A-School-Program and our Kidzeum, the hands-on learning center, the first ever in the South, was funded by several community sources, such as the Bank of Mississippi, Piggly Wiggly, and the Episcopal Church.
We're immensely proud of our facilities here and are continually upgrading them," Pender goes on. "Our teachers are on another level as well, and a majority of them take advanced work at the local universities nearby. Because of our track record, we are able to attract many young, gifted teachers and have never experienced any staffing difficulties."
The Grenada School District has always won numerous awards and garnered national recognition, such as Business Week magazine's naming of Grenada Elementary as on of the country's "Break the Mold" schools. Also, for six years in a row, Grenada has been selected to exhibit at the National School Board's "Education Excellence Fair," a display recognizing outstanding programs across the country. These are but just two of the awards that demonstrate the strength of Grenada's schools.
Pender says that the school system in Grenada  places a significant emphasis on the arts, with such training beginning in kindergarten. "We also have the best band program in the state," Pender proudly states, "and we're ranked nationally as well. We've had bands perform in the Macy's Day Parade, and all over the U.S."
Grenada is also home to some of the most unique and interesting shops and businesses in the state, such as Grenada's Art Gallery, Magnolia Graphics, Out Of The Box, and many, many others too numerous to mention in the scope of this article. However, many businesses in Grenada, large, small, or in the middle, are currently expanding and bringing with this expansion a sense of pride and accomplishment that one can sense in a casual conversation with a resident. Education, industry, health care, tourism, and city government have all contributed to Grenada's "renaissance" in a rare display of cooperation, ingenuity, and forward-thinking.
The rolling hills on the outskirts of Grenada indicate the true "Delta's Edge" one is approaching. But this unique and prospering city certainly serves as a model for the entire state to look at when the goal is good living in a safe, productive, and exciting city. As the city slogan's says, Grenada certainly seems to the place where one can live "life as it should be."

(Be sure to watch WABG-TV 6's own Jamie Ferguson as she also covers Grenada in the special "Delta's Edge" focus segments beginning the first week of October on the 6 and 10 pm weekday news broadcasts.)