BY ALLEN ROARK DBJ Contributing Editor

Located in the heart of the Delta, Bolivar County offers up some of the best the region has to offer. From great hunting and farm land, to the charm and sophistication of Cleveland and Delta State University, Bolivar County is an example of an area that covets its tradition yet keeps a progressive eye to the future.
Mayor Martin King of Cleveland, who recently won a first primary and faces a general election in November, is one of the leading cheerleaders of his community. Mayor of Cleveland since 1969, King says that “the people are the great assets of this town. That and the fact that we have one of the leading educational institutions in Mississippi with Delta State really combines to make Cleveland shine. Our growth here in town parallels that of the growth of Delta State.
We also really excel in volunteerism in Cleveland,” King adds. “We have a spirit of cooperation with our citizens, our local government, our Chamber of Commerce, Junior Auxiliary, Lion’s Club, Crosstie Arts Council, and other civic organizations which really pull together as a cohesive unit. These groups produce results and are happy doing it.”
As far as the business climate in Cleveland, Mayor King says, “I think we do extremely well here, particularly with our downtown merchants on Cotton Row. We have a number of shops that draw people from many miles away because of their uniqueness. We also have great restaurants here, and all of these factors combined make us an ideal tourist attraction, or a place to get away for a day.”
Mayor King says that the city’s leadership responds to the needs of its citizens as well. “We keep uppermost in our minds the quality of life of the people who live here,” he says. “Our first aim is to satisfy our constituents, and to do so we have made many innovations for our town, such as building new parks and new amenities for the enjoyment of the folks who live here. We are always looking for better ways to do things in Cleveland.”
Don Skelton, Associate Vice-President for University Advancement and Executive Director for the Alumni Association and Foundation at Delta State University in Cleveland, concurs with the mayor. “My job is to get the word out about our University and the many benefits we have to offer,” Skelton says, “and certainly being located in a town like Cleveland is a strength for our recruitment and publicity efforts.
“Delta State has a true partnership with the city,” he continues. “Our relationship is based on our respective leadership being on the same page with regard to helping one another. I think that Delta State has a tremendous effect on Cleveland, especially with the faculty, staff and students we have who live here, people who are active members of the community. They bring many positives to the table. Delta State is also very dependent on the leadership of Cleveland and what its citizens contribute to our mission.”
Skelton says that, without a doubt, Delta State will continue to grow under the leadership of President David Potter. “I think Dr. Potter has done much to make Delta State more a vital economic force in our part of the state,” he notes. “He is addressing the future in a beneficial and positive way, as is the leadership in Cleveland. It is a true joint venture and one that will pay benefits.”
Ned Mitchell, president of Bolivar Insurance Agency in downtown Cleveland, was raised in town and has been a business owner there since 1973. “Cleveland is a diverse community, with a strong economy and with the cultural amenities of Delta State,” he says. “It is very conducive to business and that’s why I’ve stayed here. I really think that Cleveland is the best town in Northwest Mississippi.” Quite a claim, to be sure, but Mitchell has reasons for such accolades.
“Cleveland was developed by people who were not the big, wealthy landowners,” he says. “It is more of a case of hardworking folks who rolled up their sleeves and built this town. They had to think up ways to make a living and to make the town grow. There was no big money behind the development and growth of Cleveland, just ingenuity and perseverance. I believe this made a big difference in our getting Delta State here and Baxter Healthcare in 1950, both huge boosts to our economy to this day.
We also have tremendous community spirit here,” Mitchell observes, echoing Mayor King, “which translates into a great amount of volunteerism, with our Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Development Foundation, and all of the countless volunteer efforts our citizens undertake to better their town.”
Mitchell says that Cleveland is the base for his insurance business which has branch offices in Greenwood and Sumner as The Mitchell Group, and that growth is strong. “I will always keep my main office in Cleveland, though,” Mitchell says. “There’s a good business climate here and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.
“I’m the president of the Mississippi Main Street Association, so naturally I am involved in downtown Cleveland’s growth and appearance,” Mitchell adds. “Our focus at Main Street is on renovation and restoration, and with that in mind I am very proud of what downtown Cleveland has done through community efforts. We now have a historic district on the National Historic Register downtown, and I am very pleased that the city got a grant from the Department of Transportation to establish a beautiful walking trail that should be completed by the spring. There’s a lot of beautification taking place in Cleveland, and it will only enhance our already positive image.”
Another prominent and longtime Cleveland resident and businessman is Ed Kossman. Kossman’s has been one of the Delta’s biggest car dealers since 1927, when Ed Kossman’s father opened a Pontiac-Oakland dealership on North Sharpe Avenue. The Kossman dealership has seen many changes in that time, but has always consistently been one of the leading businesses in Cleveland, as well as the Delta.
Kossman, who grew up at the dealership, washing cars and doing odd jobs, officially took over managing the business in the early 60’s, with his father’s oversight. “My brother, Chester, is currently heavily involved in our business, as well as my son, Edward, who also has his own Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep franchise here in town as well,” Kossman says.
Kossman relates that, after World War II, his father was offered several major car dealerships in larger markets in Florida and Arizona, but chose to remain in his hometown of Cleveland. “He loved the quality of life here, in spite of the possibility of gaining stronger financial rewards in bigger markets,” Kossman recalls. “His main goals in life were helping others and raising his family in a strong, safe, family-oriented community, so he stayed here, as have I.”
Ironically enough, the senior Kossman tried to encourage his son to do what he decided not to: move to a bigger market. But, like his father, Ed Kossman also chose to remain in his hometown. “I love being around the lifetime friends I have who still live here,” Kossman says, “as well as the friendships I’ve acquired from new residents. Besides, everything you want is within five minutes driving time and that is very convenient. Delta State is one of the backbones of our town, as is Baxter and I support both completely.
I love the people here, and that is what makes us special; the warmth and sincerity of the people,” Kossman says.
“We are, by far, the shining star of the Mississippi Delta,” Kossman adds, referring to Cleveland and Bolivar County. “One of our biggest success factors is the abundance of volunteers who work tirelessly to better their community, not for monetary gain. This is why we shine. No other community has the level of cooperation and volunteerism that we have. That’s the nature of our success.”
Another strength of Cleveland is in its tourism activities. Cheryl Line, Tourism Manager for the Cleveland/Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, points to several factors in her area’s offerings to tourists and business owners looking to relocate. “I usually highlight out the fact that Cleveland is one of the most progressive towns in the Delta,” Line says.”The community works very well together, unusually well, would say. Additionally, we have some of the best shopping in the Mississippi Delta, with many specialty and unique shops. Our performing arts here are on the level of a much bigger town and are not neglected. We have the outstanding KC’s restaurant, which has been featured prominently on several national news programs recently, as well as several other fine dining establishments to satisfy any taste.
Cleveland and Bolivar County is also known internationally for our blues history,” Line goes on to say. “The State is in the process of helping us, and others in the Delta, capitalize on this love of the blues that is on a huge scale worldwide. Tours are being organized to bring in the tourists, and we will certainly be able to give them a product they can enjoy and that the state will be proud of,” she says.
Line agrees with others when she says that the “progressive” nature of Cleveland and Bolivar County that is used to describe the area so much is based on people working together. “The Chamber works with the City, who in turn works with Delta State and the area businesses and the Main Street program. We’re all working for a common goal as opposed to having little turf battles, and to me, this is our progressive nature shining through.”
Line says that hundreds of tourists are coming through the county, primarily by way of the Tunica Welcome Center. “I know this through our hotel volume and the number of brochures picked up from our northernmost tourist centers.” Line also says that many Europeans come through the area, the true hardcore blues afficianadoes, “and they stay gone from anywhere to two to four weeks, and spend that time in the Delta,” she adds.
Danny Whalen is Senior Vice-President of Cleveland State Bank, an financial “institution” in every sense of the word, having opened its doors in 1908. With three branches, all thriving, Whalen says that being in Cleveland means “that we serve a very independent and self-sustaining community, which is great for us. Our bank, being independent as well, has enjoyed being a part of this community.”
Whalen sees a strong mix of industry, higher education, and recreational opportunities as being catalysts for this unusual autonomy that Cleveland shows. “I’ve lived here for 13 years now, and it has certainly become home for me and my family,” he says.
Cleveland State Bank prides itself in being locally-owned and managed, Whalen says, but also takes pride in full services that larger banks offer. “We make our top priority individual customer service,” he notes, “and that is easy to do in a town like Cleveland because of the friendliness of the people here and our knowledge of their specific needs.
“Cleveland also has a reputation of having a healthy real estate market,” Whalen observes, “and that is a major building block for a healthy economy in a smaller community like ours. We have a good business balance here for a town our size, and Cleveland also has a strong and vibrant retail market. There’s not a reliance on any single industry or business for survival here. Cleveland State Bank is very proud to be part of this great community.”
Mike Easley, plant manager for Royal Vendors in Cleveland, in business since October of 1999, says his company chose Cleveland due primarily to the efforts of the Chamber of Commerce and the Delta Council. “We had strong tax incentives to locate here, as well as support for workforce training which were major keys in our decision,” Easley says.
“I first came to Cleveland in the fall of ‘83 to work with Baxter,” Easley recalls, “and I found the local Chamber and community support of business to be excellent here. I have absolutely no complaints. There is an environment for industry in Cleveland and Bolivar County that says you are welcome and we will help you in any way you need help.”
“We have shifted our focus here at Royal Vendors towards the remanufacturing of vending machines,” Easley says of his company. “Our emphasis is more on that now than on new machine purchase and creation. We will continue to strive to keep up with the rapidly changing economic times and do so in the best way possible.”
Port Director of the Rosedale Port, David Work, says that the Haynes Enterprise operation center, an offshoot of the Cleveland facility, is scheduled for construction in the Rosedale Industrial Park. That’s one highlight of what is going on at the Port. Other projects are more tentative, though Work says many things are in the works, including the location of the I-69 highway. “This will be a tremendous asset to Bolivar County and the entire Delta and its future,” Work enthuses. “We’ve met with many Washington and State dignitaries about the highway, and the consensus is that the bridge is going to be at Benoit and that funding will probably be in place for right-of-way and bridge design,” Work says.
“I think that, overall, our future is looking good in Bolivar County,” Work says. “There are industrial loss of jobs all over the country,” he notes, “but we just have to hold out and hang tight. The river industry is looking really good for us now, and the projections is for our cargo tonnage to double. This means, to us in the Delta, that we will have twice as many barges, eighteen wheelers, rail cars, freight air cargo planes; that’s going to be incredibly strong for us and that’s where I-69 will help greatly.”
Kim Gowan, general manager of Advantage Packaging, in Cleveland since October of 1998, is one of those unique, yet vibrant, businesses that adds to the town’s strengths. Advantage makes pallets and designer boxes in high quantities and can ship them out to customers the next day. “We deal with a diversity of businesses, anybody who needs a box for their product, basically!” Gowan laughs.
Advantage works with companies throughout the South, but stays in Cleveland because, Gowan says, “there’s a strong industrial climate here, and we want to help generate business for the Mississippi Delta because we’re proud to live here. Our business is doing really well, we’ve got 86 employees in three different facilities, including one in Mound Bayou, and business is growing,” Gowan relates.
It’s obvious that Cleveland has many things to offer, both to natives and to visitors: the business climate is strong in a somewhat volatile and shaky region, the dining is exquisite, ranging from home cookin’ to worldly cuisine, and the shopping is so famous that even Southern Living magazine, it its May 2001 issue, covered “Shopping the Delta.” This widely-circulated and highly popular magazine reported that Cleveland “...does fancy...very friendly, and trendy with the best of them.”
Economically, Bolivar County has almost 12,000 employed in manufacturing and an additional 5,700 available workforce. Additionally, there exists an industrial base with five industrial parks totaling some 5,000 acres readily available for location of new industry. A strong business climate has become a trademark for the area, as these numbers attest.
It’s a clear enough picture: Bolivar County, and its centerpiece of Cleveland, offers much to the state, to the economy, and to the culture. The Delta’s future does indeed look bright, and leading the way is Bolivar County with its “progressive” citizenry, strong economy, and educational opportunities. DBJ