Video: Proposed Industrial Park in Oktibbeha County Fails

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GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Mississippi – (PRESS RELEASE) In 2014 the Golden Triangle Development LINK, identified a 325+ acre tract of land located in the City of Starkville near the Hwy 25 and Hwy 82 intersection for development as the Innovation District Park.

Last year the city and county adopted resolutions to each fund up to $5 million toward the total estimated project budget of $10 million. These entities entered into an interlocal agreement whereby they each agreed to equally share the park development costs, with the county to acquire the property and city to fund the majority of the public infrastructure costs.

Headwaters, Inc., the environmental consulting firm retained to conduct due diligence on the proposed site, commenced work in the Fall of 2014 that included activities such as
environmental and cultural/historical assessments of the property.

“When you hear the term ‘shovel-ready,’ that refers to the fact that all due diligence has been completed and the site is ready for construction,” said Joe Max Higgins, CEO of the Golden Triangle Development LINK. This type of preliminary work is necessary for every development project.”

Recently the LINK was notified by Headwaters, Inc., that as a result of the findings, additional work would be needed with respect to possible cultural conditions on select portions of the property. This additional site investigation was authorized by the Board of Supervisors, and the associated field work commenced in early March.

In the initial stages of the additional field work, the cost estimate to make the site shovel-ready totaled approximately $400,000. However, after the additional site investigation and consultations of various cultural resources professionals, it was determined that significantly more work would be required with costs exceeding $1.7 million.

Thus, it has been determined that the cost to acquire, remediate and develop this site is beyond the amount of funds available to the city and county to complete the project. The LINK recommends to the city and county that all development efforts with respect to the proposed location cease and desist.

“By identifying these issues now, the LINK, the city and the county have avoided much bigger problems and significant project cost overruns later this year,” said Higgins.

Exploration of new property for a development of this scope and nature has already begun.