Video: Golden Triangle Chasing $2 Billion in Investments

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GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) — Companies representing more than $2 billion  in potential investments are looking at the Golden Triangle.

But Golden Triangle Link CEO Joe Higgins and Gov. Phil Bryant told hundreds of area business leaders at the Link’s  luncheon today much work remains before the deals are closed.

“We are looking at the infrastructure, the plans, the companies financial capabilities, all the things a good bank would do to make sure we have our plans in place,” Bryant said. “And we’ve still got to sell them on us being the right place for them.”

The companies include a start-up aluminum company American Specialty Alloys that could bring 800 jobs to Lowndes County west of Golden Triangle Regional Airport. Other companies are looking at a new 300-acre high-tech industrial park being developed in Starkville along Highways 25 and 182.

Bryant says it’s just part of trend that has put the state on the nation’s job creation map. Last year, the state was fifth in how fast in permitted new companies, had wage growth 16 percent above the national average and was sixth lowest in the cost of doing business.

“CNBC named us the comeback state,” Bryant said, noting the national attention the state is getting.

“Y’all (the Golden Triangle) are the model. No one is doing economic development better than you are in the state,” Bryant told the crowd.

Bryant said he is confident the Legislature will continue to find the resources to improve work force training programs across the state, especially at community colleges like East Mississippi Community College which hopes to start construction late next year on a high-tech training center called a “communiversity.” The $38 million project is planned at the entrance to the industrial park and airport complex.

Area counties have committed local tax support to the project and the Legislature is expected next year to provide more bond funding.