BY MARK BIRD DBJ Contributing Writer

Coahoma County is a place of contrasts. It is an area with an economy historically based on agriculture, but one where industry and tourism are coming on strong. It is a place with the relaxed lifestyle and advantages of small towns, but also one that is alive with the excitement of casino gaming and live entertainment. And, while you hear a lot of optimism about the future, it is tempered by major concerns about present economic conditions.
Agriculture remains the top industry, but it has suffered the most in recent years, from a combination of bad weather, foreign competition, and low commodity prices. At the same time, strong investment in the area from other sectors has helped maintain steady, if slower, growth.
Ron Hudson of the Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce says that while there is economic uncertainty, especially in agriculture, the county has fared reasonably well.
“Farmers are not as optimistic as they could be,” says Hudson, “and the economic conditions in agriculture have impacted the county significantly. However, there are a lot of other good things going on.”
One of these represents perhaps the single largest investment in the history of Clarksdale and Coahoma County—a new gas-fired power plant and transmission line being built by Clarksdale Public Utilities and Aquila Energy. CPU is building, and will own and operate, the new plant, a project that will cost over $100 million. Aquila, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, will purchase all power produced by the plant for the next 30 years.
At the same time, the Mississippi Delta Energy Agency will build and own a new transmission line that will deliver power to the Entergy transmission system.
Hudson says that the plant will have a major impact. “During the construction phase, which will last 12 to 18 months, the plant will generate around 150 jobs. Long term, the increased power capabilities will make our area even more attractive to other industries.”
“There are already a lot of good reasons to locate here,” he adds. ”We’ve got readily available labor and facilities and good transportation routes. Available incentives and tax credits make the Delta a good place to do business.”
Richard Dickson, of the architectural design firm Dickson & Associates, feels the area is still seeing slow growth, not a decline. “I’d say that business is slower than a year ago, but I believe we’re coming off a long spell of unprecedented growth, and that business is really at more normal levels now,” he explains.
Dickson’s firm works on a number of school, community college and hospital projects, and is currently working on the final phase of the renovation of the Coahoma County Courthouse.
He mentions what many in Clarksdale consider one of the most positive factors influencing the area’s growth—a spirit of teamwork. “Our community and our community officials have a positive attitude about working together,” he says.
CPA Jamie Gaston of Gaston & Watts echoes this sentiment. “Everyone seems to be working together now, unlike a few years ago, when every group seemed to have its own initiative,” says Gaston. A lifetime resident and past president of the Chamber of Commerce, whose firm manages a number of agriculture-based accounts, he agrees that farmers are hurting at present. “Farming is down, because prices are so low,” he says. “So much here depends on the farming economy.” He adds, however, that projects like the Aquila power plant show that a significant amount of money is coming into Coahoma County.
A large part of that money is represented by over $300 million in deposits in Coahoma County banks, one of the factors that led to the opening of a new banking institution in Clarksdale, Covenant Bank. Willis Frazer is the CEO of the bank, which opened in the fall of 2000. Frazer says that he has been very pleased with the support of the community. “Both loans and deposits have grown at a nice rate,” he reports. “I feel that our customers like having a bank owned by local people for the benefit of local people.”
Working with various types of local customers gives him a broad perspective on the area’s business climate. “Clarksdale is holding its own in the business community,” he says, but concurs that improvement in the farming sector is crucial. “This summer and fall are critical for our ag industry. Farmers need good crops and good prices for them.”
As would be expected, the most serious concerns about the continuing crisis in farming are expressed by businesses that are most closely involved with farmers.
Van Crook is manager of Sayle Oil Co.’s Clarksdale operation. Sayle Oil distributes gasoline, diesel, and propane products to residential and industrial customers, and farmers make up a large part of their client base. “Farming has definitely slowed a lot,” says Crook,” and since it’s a big part of our business, we’ve had to cut back.”
“I think this situation will continue until we get some government help,” he adds. “Prices will have to go back up.”
Pete Dunn is president of Dunn, Marley and Harris, an insurance agency which specializes in insuring farmers. “We’re in a precarious situation after several years of bad weather and short crops,” says Dunn. “Commodity prices are historically low.”
He continues, “Farmers don’t mind working hard, getting up early and putting in long hours—when they can get a fair price for their crops,” he says. “But right now prices are where they were in the Sixties, although the costs associated with producing crops are dramatically higher. Also, we’re in a world market now, having to compete with cheap labor and higher subsidies in other countries.”
“There is still a lot of worry in the farm market,” agrees local attorney Nat McMullen. “The farm policies of the next few years may very well make or break our farmers.” However, he sees a lot of positive developments in Clarksdale, and mentions additional factors that work in the area’s favor.
“Our proximity to Memphis, the coming completion of the four-lane Highway 61, and the proposed Interstate 69 through the Clarksdale area can all provide a lot of growth and make Clarksdale a residential and industrial alternative to Memphis, if quality of life issues are adequately addressed.”
The area of greatest opportunity right now, says McMullen, may be in a different sector altogether—tourism. “People are getting behind tourism as a viable industry,” he explains. “It can’t replace ag or manufacturing, but it can be a significant factor for our economy.”
While tourism may not be the savior of the local economy, it is certainly the sector seeing a lot of major, high-profile investment. In particular, the development of Blues Alley in downtown Clarksdale is a major force in promoting the area’s musical heritage. Blues Alley boasts the Delta Blues Museum and two businesses with a Hollywood connection—the Madidi restaurant and the Ground Zero Blues Club.
Madidi is co-owned by Clarksdale attorney Bill Luckett and renowned actor Morgan Freeman, who resides in Charleston, MS when not pursuing acting projects. Ground Zero is owned by Freeman, Luckett and Howard Stovall, who is also the executive director of the Blues Foundation.
Bill Luckett explains, “Morgan Freeman and I have known one another for some years. We would frequently meet for dinner at fine dining establishments around the Delta, and I wanted to have something like that locally.” Luckett started into the project on his own, then Freeman indicated that he would like to be a part of it. The initial result was Madidi, a fine dining restaurant featuring French technique cuisine, which opened in November, 2000.
Madidi is an atmosphere of white linen, fresh flowers, rich woods, and original artwork, with an extensive bar and wine list. In contrast, Ground Zero, which opened in May of this year, is designed to look like a typical “juke joint”, with pool tables, Christmas lights, and neon beer signs.
“This is a large investment which is still growing in terms of customers,” says Bill Luckett. “We knew we had to attract people from outside Clarksdale to fully support us. And we’re starting to bring in people from great distances.” Madidi has had very favorable reviews in major publications, he adds, and Ground Zero is attracting people from around the world, because of the growing interest in Delta blues.
As a long-time resident who maintains a law practice in Clarksdale as well as Memphis, Luckett sees a lot of good things happening in Coahoma County. “It’s a good, safe place to live,” he says, “and Clarksdale is on the ball!”
Coahoma County continues to move ahead in many ways, although hindered by the current state of its primary industry. However, Ron Hudson of the Chamber echoes the opinion of many when he states, “All the good things that have been happening in the county far outweigh the negatives.” DBJ