Cleveland Overview

Cleveland firmly ensconced as Hub of the Delta

City gearing up for a new $10 million plant

By Molly Matthews, DBJ Contributing Writer

CLEVELAND - Located midway between Memphis and

Vicksburg on Hwy. 61, Cleveland is considered the Hub

of the Mississippi Delta.

Already recognized as one of the 100 best small towns

in America, Cleveland is located near the geographical

center of rich alluvial plains formed between the

Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers and is the focal point

for three federal highways and one state highway.

Because of the expansion of the casino industry, Hwy.

61 has become one of the most heavily traveled

highways in the state. When construction of the

highway-railroad bridge across the Mississippi River

at Rosedale is complete and transportation routes are

opened to the entire western U.S., Cleveland’s economy

is expected to boom.

Mayor Martin King, who has been the town’s leader

since 1969, said the future is bright. Unlike many

towns in the Mississippi Delta, Cleveland has

demonstrated significant population and retail growth,

a trend expected to continue.

"Cleveland is experiencing a healthy economy at this

time and prospects for the future look promising,"

King said. "This opinion is based on constant, steady

and healthy growth attested to by increased issuance

of building permits, openings of new stores and low

unemployment figures."

Cleveland’s single largest employer, Delta State

University, adds 4,000 students to the local economy

when school is in session.

King said it’s fortunate that Delta State University

is located in Cleveland.

"Not only is it our largest and most prized industry,

with 4,000-plus students, faculty and staff, but our

citizens benefit from the intellectual and cultural

offerings, and the active part they play in

contributing to our quality of life," Martin said.

Less than five years ago, Delta State University

completed a $9 million fine arts and performing center

with a 1,200 seat multi-tiered auditorium, comparable

only to similar facilities in Memphis and Jackson. The

university’s football team plays in a 10,000-seat

stadium and a 4,000 seat coliseum hosts the school’s

other sporting events.

Bob Reed, general manager for Atlanta-based Cives

Steel Company in Rosedale, makers of fabricated

structural steel with a 170-employee payroll, said DSU

provided training programs for initial hires.

"We’re happy with the workforce in Cleveland," Reed

said. "Good people have been sent our way. Cives’

decision to come to the port of Rosedale was a good

move."

Tourists flock to Cleveland, thanks to special events.

During the 1996 Dixie Boys World Series, about 15,000

visitors stayed in the area. About 25,000 more

visitors make a trek to Cleveland for annual events

such as Octoberfest, the Crosstie Festival, the

Southern Home Ideas Expo and Delta Council’s annual

meeting. Last year, 67,000 attended 193 events at

DSU’s performing arts center.

Thanks to the constant influx of visitors, the 50-room

Comfort Inn, opened in 1992, consistently maintains an

occupancy rate of more than 90%. Hampton Inn has

recently opened. KC’s a four star restaurant, rated by

the Commercial Appeal and the Clarion Ledger, is

regarded by food and wine experts as the finest

restaurant in Mississippi.

According to an economic impact study by the

Mississippi Statewide Airports Study, The Cleveland

Municipal Airport serves as an economic catalyst for

the area. The airport accounts for 44 full-time jobs

with total earnings of more than $1 million. Total

economic activity, including direct, indirect and

multiplier impacts are considered, is estimated at

$3.4 million annually.

Even though the U.S. Census listed Cleveland’s

population at 15,384, it did not include DSU or the

2,500 or so residents just outside the city limits to

the south and east of town. Within a 20-mile radius,

there is an estimated population of approximately

70,000 in the trade area, according to the

Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce.

Sales tax collections in Cleveland have increased an

average of 15% over the last several years, due to

increases in employment at DSU and the creation of

more than 1,500 new industrial jobs.

Gilbert Woods, executive vice president of the

Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, said the

economy is better than average because of established

industries and current industrial construction. Royal

Vendors, a $10 million soft drink machine

manufacturing plant with approximately 130,000 square

feet, will initially employ 100 workers.

"When construction of their plant is complete and

Royal Vendors has all employees on board, it will be a

real shot in the arm to the economy," Wood said.

Royal Vendors decided to locate in Cleveland for

several reasons, said plant manager Mike Easley.

"There was a whole lot of initiative on the local

community’s part to recruit vendors over a period of a

few years," Easley said. "Several factors, including

the availability of labor, training from local

community colleges and other incentives played a key

role in why we located in Cleveland."

During the next three years, Royal Vendors could

employ up to 400 workers, he said.

"We’ve been really pleased with the enthusiasm that

the whole community has shown in response to people

wanting to work for Royal Vendors," he said. "We’re

planning our first production run around October."

Donny Miller, plant manager for 1,000-employee Baxter

Healthcare, makers of medical products, said the

Cleveland location was the first plant located outside

the Deerfield, Ill. home base.

"That was 50 years ago in March," said Miller. "You

couldn’t ask for a better group of workers. We’ve

called on Delta State to help us with training for

management, computers, team building and problem

solving. We’ve called on other community colleges for

technical training, such as electrical or schematics.

With expansions we’ve had, we’ve benefited from

incentives from the county and state. We obviously

love it here."

"Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson Foods, a poultry

processing plant provides 500 workers with jobs," said

plant manager Kevin Boyd.

"Huntley, Ill.-based Duo-Fast, makers of collated nails

and staples, has a payroll of 470 employees," said

Harold Friedlund, plant manager.

The father of current president Jim Tims founded

Quality Steel Corp. in Cleveland almost 43 years ago.

The family business, with almost 100 employees,

manufactures domestic propane tanks.

Harry Myers, president of Needle Specialty Products

Co., makers of surgical and medical instruments and

needle products, said approximately 126 employees are

on payroll.

Joe Janoush, chief financial officer of JANTRAN, said

the 135 employees that work at the ship and

boat-operating company come from Arkansas, Louisiana,

Oklahoma and Mississippi.

"When the business was first founded, we were well

received by the port commission, who provided us with

harbor service for the new port," Janoush said. "We

have a good working relationship and we have a good

employee workforce."