Video: There’s A New Economic Developer In Town

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI)-Winston county continues to recover from the deadly tornadoes from two years ago.

To help with those efforts, the county’s bringing in a new economic developer, Glen Haab.

“I think better days are on the horizon, I wouldn’t be here if the assets weren’t in place,” said Haab, executive director of the Winston County Economic Development District Partnership.

Haab said coming to Winston County was a no-brainer.

From an economic stand point, they already have all of the assets that are needed.

“They have a nice railroad that’s run by KCS, they have a nice four lane infrastructure that runs just outside of Winston County and outside of Louisville,” said Haab. “They actually have great utility infrastructure, they’re serviced by TVA, they also have different types of of telecommunications, fiber, things along that nature from an economic infrastructure point of view.”

Haab also credits the county for being a strong community college based area.

“I think East central plays an important role, not only are they an economic engine in this area, but they’re also a key catalyst in recruiting new industry to the area, but also keeping the existing industry that we do have,” he said.

Although Haab Likes what Winston County already has in place, he also acknowledges a few challenges facing the area.

“When the tornado came through, it destroyed a lot of homes, and of course, when the homes are destroyed you’ve got to build back the infrastructure regards to physical housing, so physical housing is a shortage right now in my opinion,” he said. “Looking for a house and finding a house to rent or to own, you’ll have to go through some of those growing pains.”

Haab plans to get through those growing pains. As of now, he says its too early for him to determine what his strategic plan is, however he does want to collaborate with the city and county and add to what’s already in place.
“I think that the city and the county already have plans in place to attribute some of these things in regards to working with the established plans, zoning issues, things of that nature,” said Haab. “What I’ve got to do is tap into it and see how I can help support the things they already have in place.”

Haab has six years of experience in the economic development field.

He is working with the city and county to develop specific goals for future development.