Columbus-Lowndes Development Link Surpasses Initial Goal

The Columbus-Lowndes Development LINK announced that the initial goal of $2,025,000.00 for "The Trust" campaign is rapidly on its way to being a fond memory as the sum of $2,111,000.00 was revealed at the monthly "Business After Hours," last Thursday, May 8, 2008. The announcement drew cheers from the crowd of over two hundred who gathered on the patio of local Mexican restaurant, Tampico Bay.

Originally, the sum of $2,106,000.00 was announced, but the crowd reached a fevered pitch as local businessman Mr. Mark Smith handed Mr. Bobby Harper, "The Trust" Campaign Chair, an additional check of $5000.00. A founding Trust Investor and LINK member, Mr. Smith (The CPI Group, Inc.), proclaimed, "We believe so much in what "The Trust" can, will, and has already done for our community that we are already making good on our commitment for 2009."

The Capital Campaign, brainchild of LINK Chamber of Commerce Vice-President, Ms. Melissa Cook, is a major five-year economic development strategy to ensure and enable the Columbus, Lowndes County, MS., region to grow and prosper. Entitled "The Trust," this funding project is a four track strategy with a totaled projected goal of $2,025,000.00 created in conjunction with a Public/Private Sector Partnership. "The Trust" campaign had set the goal of $2,025,000.00 and target date of April 30, 2008, as a reasonable amount and time that could be reached for setting the pace of fundraising efforts for the campaign and its team of support staff.

When asked her thoughts on the effects "The Trust" has on the community, Melissa Cook, Vice-President of the Chamber for the Link responded, "The Trust affords the Columbus Lowndes Development LINK the luxury of being able to provide services and programs that, from a financial position, we were not able to offer before. You will see us hiring new employees for specific purposes, implementing new programs and materials, recruiting with new state-of-the-art tools - using everything in our arsenal to ensure the continued success for Columbus and Lowndes County."

The LINK has achieved substantial results during the past five years, with over $3 billion in new capital investments, and numerous awards and distinctions. This includes the world's most technically advanced mini steel mill, the newest helicopter manufacturing plant, and a new state of the art diesel engine plant. It is easy to see why Columbus-Lowndes County has been recognized as the number one economic and job producing region in Mississippi. Columbus-Lowndes County has also been given the distinction of being the number two micro-politan area for capital investment in the southern states. Joe Max Higgins, President and CEO of the LINK has been named one of the "Top 10 People Who Made A Difference" in the Winter 2008 edition of "Southern Business and Development."

The LINK relies on the public sector for about 75% of its funding. Future opportunities for the area will require additional funds. The LINK's Board of Directors and staff outlined the "The Trust" program in the hopes that the private sector would take heed, and join the public sector in this partnership. With the expected monies, the joint venture will create 1500 new Primary jobs, 870 new Indirect jobs, $78,861,150.00 in new Annual Payrolls, $60,328,780.00 in new Net Personal Consumption Expenditures, and increase the Annual Wage Rate to $36,258.00

The strategic initiative for "The Trust" includes the following:

New Business Investment Attraction
Business Assistance and Expansion
Community Development-Government Affairs/BRAC Program
Program Support
Management and Investor Relations
The motto of the LINK's Economic Division is "we use an incremental approach to achieve exponential results," The motto for "The Trust" is "the future is now." Together, the partnership is directing Columbus-Lowndes County in how to take control of its economic destiny and capitalize on opportunities. With the support of the public, and now private, sector behind it, all of Columbus-Lowndes County is assured of its place in the future, not only in the Northeastern region of the state of Mississippi, but both nationally and internationally as well.

To learn more about the LINK and its' members, visit www.cldlink.org