BY MARY ELLEN POWELL
Contributing Writer, Delta Business Journal

  It was just last year that Simmons Catfish expanded to add 8,000 square feet to its processing plant. JacPac Meat Processing opened for business just last year as well. Come to think of it, it wasn't too long ago that it was announced that a second federal prison would be built in Yazoo City.
  Well, that was then and this is now. Now Simmons Catfish is planning a second expansion, JacPac Meat Processing is already planning to expand, and word has recently been received that the medium security federal prison has been included in the Clinton administration's budget.
  Simmons Catfish began in the Yazoo area in 1982 and currently employs approximately 200 employees. The company's most recent expansion came in 1999 when 8,000 square feet was added to give more working area for the processing plant. A small amount of equipment was also added at this time, thus, meeting the company's need for the addition of 30 to 35 more employees and more space.
  Now Simmons Catfish is adding additional equipment to greatly increase their freezing capacity and refrigeration space.
  "Currently we are able to freeze 22,000 pounds a day but with the new equipment, we will be able to freeze 50,000 pounds per day," said Harry Simmons.
  The freezing capacity will be increased through the use of a spiral freezer. This quick-freezing piece of equipment can totally freeze the catfish within eight to ten minutes.
  Simmons added, "This will also give us the ability to add 80 to 100 new employees if sales demand. We are hoping to fully utilize the new expansion and equipment."
  Within the last year, Simmons Catfish maxed-out with their current facilities producing 17 million live pounds. But with these new capabilities, they are hoping to produce 25 million live pounds in three to five years.
  JacPac Meat Processing, which has only been in Yazoo City for about five months, will be adding to its production line. This addition will add approximately eight new employees and will enable them to double their capacity as far as cases produced.
  The company's products that consist of pork and turkey are shipped throughout the Southeast in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas and Tennessee.
  H.E. Helton of JacPac said of the future of the company, "We have a business plan and goals that are reviewed monthly and quarterly, so we are still trying to work our business plan. So far, everything in the business has been executed according to that plan."
  The other piece of economic good news is the inclusion of the medium security prison in the administration's budget.
  Lobbyist Haley Barbour told The Yazoo Herald, "Last year and the year before last, Senator Cochran with help from Senator Lott and help from Congressman (Roger) Wicker who is on the House Appropriations Committee, had $14 million added to the budget to build a new medium security facility as an expansion to the Yazoo City prison."
  "Every time, led by Senator Cochran, the Mississippi delegation has gotten us added to the budget. This time, for the first time, the administration has us in their budget from the beginning."
  Jerry Frasier, president and CEO of the Yazoo County Chamber of Commerce, also told The Yazoo Herald of President Clinton's budget proposal, "We've always had to start off in the Senate and work through joint committees. This is a head start for us and we don't see any problem at all."