Vicksburg

Staying afloat in turbulent times

Photography by Matthew Wood

Despite the recent flooding, Vicksburg and Warren County seem to have no trouble riding the waves of change welcoming the largest chain manufacturer in North America, chain restaurants and other businesses, as well as the accompanying new jobs. The local real estate market is bustling, local businesses are reporting strong growth and large employers boast of low employee turnover.

Mike Smith of Staffing Solutions Ltd. reported a 40 percent increase in business from 2009 to 2010, the biggest growth he’s experienced, and a 15 percent increase so far this year. “It’s pretty good, two years’ growth like that,” he says.

While he provides industry-wide support, Smith says his niche is providing cafeteria and custodial workers for school districts, including the Vicksburg Warren School District and Madison County Schools, with more on the horizon.

“I’ve been told this area does not have enough qualified people,” he says. “Gee, I wonder how I’m able to find them.”

Smith started his business 11 years ago after attending a Vicksburg-Warren County Chamber of Commerce seminar on how to start a business. Now, every six months he sits down with the small business consultants at the Raymond Campus of Hinds Community College to review his strategy for the next six months. “I’m enjoying the success,” he says. “I’ve got it. I don’t want to lose it.”

Vicksburg Mayor Paul Winfield says the city is preparing to welcome a number of different chain restaurants, including Chick-Fil-A. Sales tax revenue for the past month is up $60,000 over the same month last year, even though overall the city is about ½ percent behind sales tax to date from last year, most of which Winfield attributes to the flooding.

Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Bill Seratt says the city is pacing about five percent ahead on hospitality tax collections, and 4.5 percent ahead in hotel occupancy. “We’re feeling pretty good about the whole thing,” Seratt says. “We’re very fortunate to have landed some large conventions, especially for this size market.”

Casino revenues are flat, but Seratt pointed out this is the same everywhere.

In the face of Warren County’s 11.1 percent unemployment rate, a new owner at the Vicksburg Mall is bringing in new business and family friendly weekend activities. Department store Belk just completed an $850,000 renovation and strip malls are welcoming national retail chains. The Vicksburg Factory Outlets are undergoing a multi-million dollar face lift.

“Those kinds of investments are really kind of a surprise in this market,” says chamber executive director Christi Kilroy. “I’m so pleased.”

Downtown continues to struggle in its efforts to attract businesses, due in no small part to the lingering Washington Street Bridge project. The area also lost its federal Hub Zone status due to 2010 census numbers, affecting 17 businesses. Overall, says Kilroy, businesses are doing okay but many are holding off on expansions and hiring.

The Port of Vicksburg is still in recovery mode, says Executive Director Wayne Mansfield, but it is operational and has seen a significant increase in activity over this point last year with 29,000 tons moving through the port last month. Mansfield says a lot of this activity comes from the areas industries: aluminum, steel coils, lumber, grains.

“We’re certainly excited to see that,” he says, noting he also expects an emphasis on water transportation in the coming years. The port is planning to open the bidding process for a road improvement project on Industrial Drive with MDOT funding, repairing erosion and damage exacerbated by the flood.

While the entire port facilities were underwater during the flood, the port’s industries were not. The port worked with those industries, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the city engineer to maintain an access road to the port. Mansfield lauded the industries, agencies and private individuals who pitched in to help prevent additional flood damage, many with money from their own pockets.

Ceres Research and Industrial Interplex welcomed Laclede Chain, the largest chain manufacturer in North America. “They’re a good fit for what we do here in Warren County,” says Mansfield, noting the company will create 45 to 50 new jobs.

A long-time employer, Tyson Foods in Vicksburg employs approximately 550 people. As a further processing facility, chicken comes to the plant in filets, then is prepared as determined by the customer.

The company is just as productive in the community, says HR Plant Manager Rose Bonner, as it has donated the most pounds of food to the Mississippi Food Network. It also held an event after the summer’s high waters benefiting flood victims, but open to the public. More than 3,000 plates of food were served. Bonner says other Tyson plants donated food for the event, including beef and pork products.

Tyson Foods boasts a low employee turnover rate of approximately 25 percent. “We are always trying to improve our turnover, but we do have a large group that has been here for years, 35 to 40 years,” Bonner says.

Real estate is another bright spot in Vicksburg, with Marianne May Jones of Coldwell Banker All Stars calling 2011 her best year ever. To date, she’s been involved with 38 total transactions this year, but in 13 she represented both the buyer and seller, bringing her total to 51

“Houses are moving in Vicksburg,” she says, attributing the interest to regular turnover at the three government entities in town, as well as hiring at the Grand Gulf nuclear plant in Port Gibson. Move-in ready houses priced up to $250,000 are selling, says May Jones. “I tell my sellers, if we price it right, we can have it sold in two months or less.”

Tourism continues to bring visitors to the area, especially those with an interest in U.S. history, the history of the South and, of course, the Civil War Sesquicentennial. In April 2012, Vicksburg’s pilgrimage, known as Tapestry, features presenters offering interpretations of different aspects of the siege of Vicksburg. The Vicksburg Military Park is also offering programs surrounding the anniversary.

One popular tourism stop is Vicksburg’s Old Court House Museum. “The last four months have been significantly up,” says Director Bubba Bolm, and he attributes some of that to the advertising from the CVB, including magazines, and radio and TV spots. “They’re out there hitting it pretty hard.” Interest is growing in the Civil War, and relic sales in the museum’s gift shop are on the rise. “People are wanting to buy a piece of history,” he says.

For visitors, the building itself is historically significant, built in 1858 at a cost of $80,000, surviving enemy occupation, tornadoes and floods. “So many famous things happened at this building,” says Bolm. Jefferson Davis gave his first political speech there, Ulysses S. Grant addressed his victorious troops, and while a number of presidents spoke on the grounds, Booker T. Washington drew the building’s biggest crowd

It was an active court house until around 1937 when a new facility was constructed across the street and it was left abandoned until Eva W. Davis founded the Vicksburg Warren County Historical Society to save and preserve the building. It now relies on the community for many of its exhibits, most recently a rocking churn and an 1840s Colt pistol. “The donations are meant to preserve the stories and the history of the community,” explains Bolm.

While Vicksburg remains rooted in the past, the city is also looking at improvements for a better future. Winfield reported the city is moving forward with a sports complex, having identified the land and is moving into the acquisition stage.

“I am excited and optimistic about Vicksburg’s future,” says the mayor. He and the city are prepared to do whatever is necessary to help the city’s economic growth, aided by its “excellent workforce.” DBJ