BY Elizabeth Reid
Contributing Writer, Delta Business Journal

  With economic development activity in a wide range of industries, Greenville’s economy continues to gain strength.
  “Industrial activity for first quarter 2000 has been significantly higher than in previous years,” says Tommy Hart, executive director of the Industrial Foundation of Washington County. “That is a good indication that business is continuing to develop and our competitive features are beginning to attract a higher number of firms to consider Washington County as a
site location.”
  For example, several sizable projects, in the middle of feasibility studies, are analyzing Green Point Industrial Park on Hwy. 82 south of Greenville, a site that offers the highest access to the most favorable energy costs and complete intermodal transportation features, Hart says.
  “Our airport is the only commercial airport facility in the federal empowerment zone,” says Hart. “We hope to benefit from that designation in terms of additional incentives offered at that site.”
  Elliott M. Seiden, vice president of law and government affairs of Northwest Airlines, recently told Jackson business leaders that Mississippi has always been a key state for Northwest Airlines and its Airlink affiliates.
  “We’re the only carrier in Greenville (and) consider it very important to Northwest,” Seiden says.
  “Business is real good right now,” says Pagers Plus owner, Bill Walker.
  Pagers Plus consists of a paging company and 24-hour call center (answering service). Walker’s company is also an authorized cellular agent for CenturyTel. According to Walker, the call center side of his company has grown considerably during the past year as Delta businesses are finding the increasing need to have an answering service help with calls.
  “We’re not just an answering service,” says Walker. “We’re a professional service offering the latest in telephone answering technology to insure the utmost in efficiency and accuracy for our customer. For example, during the day, if a business doesn’t have a secretary or receptionist, we can help them with their calls. And then on nights and weekends we also can
take care of their calls even when business owners are on vacation because we are here all of the time. Additionally, many businesses may not want to pay for a full time receptionist. We can help them take their calls at a fraction of that cost.”
  The paging side of Walker’s company also offers alpha numeric paging.
  Harold Burdine, port director of the Greenville Port Commission, says a commitment from the Washington County Board of Supervisors for additional funding to the port expansion project has been received.
  “We are just about ready to go to the engineers to get final plans, specs drawn up and let it out for bids,” Burdine says. “Although we haven’t yet seen increased traffic, when the expansion is complete, we do expect it. We’re seeing an increase in trade with Mexico and South America affect barge shipments. We expect the inland river terminals to participate in
this increase in trade. There is not very much traffic on the Mississippi River now, but there’s quite a bit of it in the northwest. We hope to see container-on-barge catch on in the Mississippi (River).”
  Charles Furlow, vice president of Ware Lind Furlow/Aquaterra Engineers, Inc., a firm that specializes in geotechnical and environmental work, is currently working on the design of the Mississippi River Bridge on U.S. Hwy 82 in Greenville, another transportation mode that will greatly enhance the community.
  Improvements to the bridge that connects Mississippi and Arkansas, a $200 million construction project, include tearing down the old bridge and replacing it with a completely new structure. The project will take at least five years to complete, said Greenville Mayor Paul Artman.
  Greenville’s business atmosphere appealed to Westvaco, an international company that recently acquired Mebane Packaging, a 105,000 square foot manufacturing plant established in the city in 1979 and employs 170 people.
  “The Greenville facility of Mebane Packaging was part of an acquisition by Westvaco in January 2000,” says Kent McPherson, operations manager. “Westvaco Corporation is a major producer of paper, packaging and specialty chemicals with annual sales of $2.8 billion. Increasing Westvaco’s participation in premium consumer packaging markets, particularly the
pharmaceutical and personal care segments, is a prime strategic direction for the company. Mebane Packaging is a leading domestic supplier to many major multinational companies in those markets and provided an outstanding operational fit with Westvaco’s existing consumer packaging business.”
  The availability of a quality workforce in addition to the product demand was the reason this occurred, he says.
  “While there was a transition to accommodate our new associates, the employees in place at Mebane helped with the training of our new hires and our workforce is ready to help us compete aggressively in the markets we serve,” McPherson said. “Our ability to make this transition is a tribute to the talented associates already in place at our operation and our new associates.”
  Even though Fruit of the Loom, Ltd. filed for Chapter 11 reorganization and received $625 million in debtor-in-possession financing in December, it’s business as usual at the Greenville plant.
  Since mall owners acquired Greenville Mall in August 1997, they have relished the warm welcome from the community, says Renea Simmerman, mall manager. “They have made many changes to the mall, which has significantly helped the center in appearance and help drive up sales,” she says. “The mall is trending at $260 per square foot in sales and the center is
100% leased, which we are very pleased with. The owners’ goal is to support the community and, in the future, continue to market Greenville Mall as a community shopping center.”
  Mary Hobart, owner of Hobart Learning Co. in Greenville, says “we’ve enjoyed doing business here and the people seem to appreciate the services we provide.”
  Perry England of England Motor Company says about 100 vehicles are sold every month in the market that extends to Arkansas and Louisiana, and makes Greenville “a good drawing point.”
  Delta Wildlife in Stoneville, located eight miles from the heart of Greenville, is in the business of wildlife habitat enhancement, says Trey Cooke, executive director.
  “Delta Wildlife enhances wildlife habitat which provides an avenue for environmental tourism to thrive,” says Cooke. “Additionally, Delta Wildlife holds an annual expo during the first weekend in November when 5,000 to 10,000 attend. The Delta Wildlife Expo has grown to be one of the largest out-of-town draws for Greenville, filling hotel rooms and restaurants while raising money for Delta Wildlife’s habitat enhancement programs.”
  Events such as ShowFest 2000, a car show scheduled May 20 and 21 in Greenville expected to draw 500 car enthusiasts, or the World’s Largest Baby Shower held April 1 in Washington County, may not draw as many tourists to the area as larger festivals, but still attract positive attention to the Delta, said Yvette Benson, administrative assistant for Washington
County Convention & Visitors Bureau.
  “The 30th Annual Chamber of Commerce Mainstream Arts and Crafts Festival and the 16th Annual DDT Catfish Races are scheduled for May 13,” said Lynda Richardson, Main Street manager and assistant director of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. “This festival has gone on for 30 years and is really a good thing. Have you ever seen a real catfish race?  Let me tell you about it!”
  The Washington County Convention Center Complex recently housed the city’s first annual home expo, which drew thousands despite the sightings of tornadoes during the three-day event. Of the 66 exhibitors, offerings covered products from the rooftop to the threshold of new and existing homes.
  Greenville’s two casinos, Lighthouse Point Casino and Las Vegas Casino, add to the city’s nightlife – and its coffers. A common walkway on Lake Ferguson from gambling boats leads to downtown, which has recently been revitalized with the addition of restaurants, coffee shops and blues clubs and upgraded with period lamps, benches and landscaping. Improvements in downtown’s entertainment district provide tourists more to do than just visit the casinos, Artman says.
  “We’ll be ready in the next few weeks to unveil the final details on a downtown meeting and event center,” Artman says. “We haven’t unveiled this latest project yet.” A new residential development that has everyone abuzz is the Princeton subdivision, developed by Al Brock. With about 150 home sites,  the planned development groups neighborhoods by size and price, from patio to executive homes.
  Exemplary quality healthcare can be found at Delta Regional Medical Center, which recently added a new cardiovascular center and a comprehensive outpatient facility as part of its $13.2 million expansion and renovation. DRMC, a nonprofit hospital with 268 beds, is owned by Washington County and by King’s Daughters Hospital in Greenville, recently purchased by Community Health Systems.