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NATCHEZ – Efforts to clean up and develop the former International Paper site in Adams County received a boost on Wednesday as Gov. Tate Reeves announced approval of a $3.554 million grant.

The grant, specifically designated as a Select Site – Site Development Grant for the Mississippi River Industrial Complex, signifies a strategic investment in creating project-ready sites to attract private sector investment and drive job creation in Adams County.

The award is part of more than $110 million in grants announced Wednesday by the governor. The majority of grant approvals, totaling over $97 million, will be invested into projects that will further strengthen Mississippi’s economy through site development, infrastructure improvements, and workforce training support. This massive investment will help expand infrastructure capabilities at sites across the state and better position Mississippi to secure even more record-breaking private sector investment. Funding for these projects is available through the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC), Delta Regional Authority (DRA), RESTORE Act, GOMESA, and Southeast Crescent Regional Commission (SCRC).

“Mississippi’s economic development results have been historic and unprecedented,” Reeves said. “We’ve secured billions in new private sector investment and created thousands of jobs across the state. The funding we announced today will go a long way toward continuing Mississippi’s economic momentum and will help create more high-paying job opportunities for Mississippians across the state.”

Chandler Russ, executive director of Natchez, Inc., expressed gratitude for the state’s support and leadership, highlighting the grant’s pivotal role in advancing industrial park development and workforce initiatives in Adams County. “This funding bolsters our commitment to driving economic growth and creating high-paying jobs for the residents of Adams County. The future industrial investments and job opportunities will have far-reaching economic benefits for the entire region,” Russ said.

Echoing Russ’s sentiments, Kevin Wilson, president of the Adams County Board of Supervisors, recognized the collaborative efforts that have made this grant possible. “Adams County deeply appreciates the ongoing partnership with Governor Reeves, MDA, the Mississippi Legislature, and our local delegation. Through strategic planning and collective action, we are transforming Adams County into a vibrant hub for residential, professional, and recreational activities,” Wilson said.

Over the past three years, Adams County has received a total of $5.7 million in site development grants, reflecting a sustained commitment to enhancing industrial parks and catalyzing industry recruitment efforts. These investments aim to cultivate a competitive landscape that attracts new industries, fosters innovation, and generates high-quality employment opportunities for the community.

 “The dedication to economic development and site enhancement in Natchez and Adams County is truly commendable,” Russ said. “As we witness the tangible outcomes of our collective endeavors, we are poised to showcase a more economically competitive region that will thrive through strategic partnerships and long-term vision.”

The Select Site Grant Program, a cornerstone initiative at MDA, remains instrumental in advancing site development across Mississippi and empowering local communities to realize their economic potential. The continued collaboration between public and private stakeholders underscores a shared commitment to prosperity and progress in the region.

MDA is awarding $3.292 million for this project, and the remainder of the grant will come from in-kind and financial support from Southwest EPA and cooperative energy.

Russ said the county seeks to rehabilitate the site of the former paper mill and then sell or lease it to industrial users who will help create investment and high-paying jobs in the area.

Created in 2021, the Select Sites program, which is invitation-only, was designed to increase the number of highly competitive industrial sites available to meet the needs of prospective companies. The Premier Sites program is designed for properties that have a minimum of 100 acres and have distinguishing site location attributes, such as being in high-demand locations and offering intermodal and/or port access. The Ready Sites program is designed for properties that have a minimum of 20 highly developable acres that are site-work ready within six months or can have utilities on site within 12 months.

• Site Development Grant Program – Select Site Grants
  • East Metro Center Industrial Park – Rankin County – $2,360,803 to extend water and sewer lines.
  • MS River Energy Complex – Adams County – $3,292,000 to clear and level 140 acres.
  • MS River Inland Port Complex Megasite – Warren County – $10,483,796 to conduct wetlands mitigation as required by the site’s U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit.
  • Springs Industrial Park – Marshall County – $486,000 to conduct a transmission line scoping study to determine the necessary route for running power to the site.
  • Gateway Industrial Park – Pike County – $1,114,875 to clear trees, conduct grading to improve ingress, add signage and complete site due diligence.
  • Stennis Technology Park – Hancock County – $3,000,000 to grub, grade and construct two building pads, design and construct access roads, extend water and sewer lines and make drainage improvements.
  • Martintown North Industrial Park – Union County – $1,711,000 to construct a 300,000-square-foot building pad in Martintown North Industrial Park.
  • I-59 South Industrial Site – Jones County – $828,500 to extend water lines into the site, rehabilitate an existing 1,000,000-gallon water tank and improve an access road.
  • Eagle One Mega Site – Forrest and Lamar Counties – $2,430,000 to conduct the necessary engineering to pursue a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit for the site.
  • Pearl River County Industrial Park – Pearl River County – $1,438,650 to construct a water tank and relocate power lines.
• Site Development Grant Program – Premier Site Grants
  • Harry A. Martin North Lee Industrial Complex – Lee County – $250,000 to construct a 100,000-square-foot expandable building pad.
  • Bailey-Morrison Site – Rankin County – $250,000 to clear and grub, forestry mow, construct a preliminary access road and complete a geotechnical investigation.
  • Northwest Industrial Park – Hinds County – $150,000 to conduct site due diligence and clear and grub.
  • Coldwater Site – Tate County – $212,560 to conduct a water and wastewater capacity study and pre-engineering for water and wastewater improvements, relocate a fiber line and clear, grub, grade and fill selected areas of the site.
  • Greene County Rail Site – Greene County – $250,000 to clear and grub 125 acres.
  • North Ripley Industrial Park – Tippah County – $250,000 to purchase an access road right of way, conduct roadway surveying and design and engineering and conduct a geotechnical investigation.
  • Leake County Business Park – Leake County – $250,000 to grade the site.
  • Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park – Leflore County – $200,600 to develop a master plan for the park and conduct site due diligence.
  • Wynndale Industrial Center – Hinds County – up to $250,000 to conduct pre-engineering for a rail spur and concept mapping, as well as site due diligence.
• Site Development Grant Program – Ready Site Grants
  • Cleveland Municipal Airport – Bolivar County – $50,000 to construct a building pad.
  • Lamar County Industrial Park – Lamar County – $50,000 to conduct a geotechnical investigation and an ALTA survey, as well as clear and grub.
  • Highway 45 Weyerhaeuser Site – Kemper County – $50,000 to conduct site due diligence and concept mapping, clear and grub and construct a building pad.

Governor Reeves also approved $7,815,655 in ARC funding recommendations that will be used for site development, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The projects include:

• Kemper County Site Development – Kemper County – $400,000 for site development on a 40-acre industrial site off Highway 45.
• East Bank Port Rail Extension – Lowndes County – $500,000 to extend current rail by 6,700 linear feet to the end of the East Bank Port property.
• Starkville Road Wastewater Improvements – Oktibbeha County – $750,000 to update the wastewater system and replace the sewer force main that serves North Star Industrial Park.
• MSU Research Technology Building Construction – Oktibbeha County – $1,500,000 to construct a building adjacent to Thad Cochran Research Park.
• Corinth Parkway Access Road – Alcorn County – $600,000 to improve and expand South Parkway Road.
• Martintown North Industrial Park – Union County – $1,711,000 to install a water well to complement the forthcoming elevated water tower in the Martintown North Industrial Park.
• MSU Advanced Composite Institute Stitching Equipment – Oktibbeha County – $600,000 to support the build out and tech transferability of blended wing technology in the aerospace industry.
• Noxubee School CTE – Noxubee County – $800,000 to build out an industrial maintenance training program.
• Kemper County School HVAC – Kemper County – $32,795 for HVAC equipment at the John C. Stennis CTE Center to provide training to students on HVAC repair, installation and maintenance.
• Chickasaw CTE Expansion – Chickasaw County – $921,860 to expand CTE in Houston by constructing a 2,850-square-foot facility, adding classroom space for 10 welding stations.

Additionally, Governor Reeves approved $3,679,557 in DRA funding that will also be used for site development, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The projects include:

• Cleveland Airport Drainage Improvements – Bolivar County – $408,000 to improve the drainage in Northwest Cleveland, specifically at the Cleveland Municipal Airport, and to allow for the development of the North Airport Industrial Site.
• Cemetery Road Improvements – Carroll County – $339,024 for the rehabilitation of Cemetery Road and Mary Street, which provides access to North Carrollton Industrial Park.
• Mize Sewer Lagoon Improvements – Smith County – $281,750 to complete necessary improvements to the sewer lagoon.
• Montrose Water Improvements – Jasper County – $343,784 to replace approximately 4,700 feet of small diameter pipe in the water system with new 6-inch PE and PVC pipes, connect the existing customers to the new piping, and abandon the old pipes.
• Highway 51 Intersection Improvements – Pike County – $607,603 to reconstruct the intersection of Pearl River Avenue and Locust Street (Highway 44).
• AC Waterline Replacement Phase III – Smith County – $239,976 to replace approximately 2,500 linear feet of asbestos cement water line with PVC pipe on County Road 528 in the vicinity of County Roads 139, 538E, and 150A; to connect the existing customers to the new piping; and to abandon the old asbestos cement pipe.
• County Road 430 Improvements – Carroll County – $500,000 to rehabilitate County Road 430, include leveling and overlaying approximately 1.5 miles of the road.
• Town of Tunica Water System Repair – Tunica County – $509,000 for water system improvements.
• Simulator for Employment Reentry – Bolivar, Carroll, Holmes, Issaquena, Washington, and Yazoo Counties – $450,420 to MAGCOR to provide one fully equipped DRA Simulators Integrated Mobile Unit to teach NCCER Core, NCCER Welding Level 1, NCCER Heavy Equipment Operator, and DOT-approved Commercial Driver’s License training classes at six regional correctional facilities.

Governor Reeves also approved $28,426,244 in RESTORE Act funding that will be used for site development, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The projects include:

• Project Seaway Rail Truck (SRT) Bulkhead – Harrison County – $2,750,000 for construction of an intermodal transload site.
• Kapalama Road Sewer Infrastructure – Hancock County – $1,650,000 for improvements to meet current and future sewer needs.
• Highway 63/Escatawpa Gas Pipeline Installation – Jackson County – $1,650,000 for installation of a new natural gas line.
• Port of Gulfport Expansion East Pier – Harrison County – $1,210,000 for engineering and design of the east pier expansion containment.
• Trent Lott Airport – Jackson County – $1,100,000 for apron and taxiway improvements.
• MS Cyber Center – Harrison County – $6,600,000 to support the construction of the Mississippi Cyber and Technology Center.
• Pearl River Community College (PRCC) Hydrographic Technicians – Hancock and Pearl River Counties – $1,925,000 to provide a career development pathway from Hancock County Career and Technical Center to PRCC for hydrographic science instruction.
• Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) Program – Coahoma, Copiah, Newton, Kemper, Hinds, Holmes, Itawamba, Jones, Lauderdale, Pearl River, Pike, Prentiss, Sunflower, Stone, & Tate Counties – $7,141,244 to develop a workforce training program to support the growing AI and technology fields.
• Jackson County Port Authority Bulkhead Expansion – Jackson County – $4,400,000 to support a 500-foot-long renovation of outfitting bulkhead and associated dredging to support increased capacity.

Additionally, Governor Reeves approved $1,984,316 in SCRC funding that will also be used for site development, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The projects include:

• Nicholson Water & Sewer Expansion and Upgrade – Pearl River County – $446,888 to the Nicholson Water and Sewer Association to extend water and sewer infrastructure along the I-59 corridor.
• Intersection Improvements and Turn Lane/Signalization Installation – Clarke County – $500,000 for infrastructure improvements in Clarke County.
• I-59/Sycamore Intersection Improvements and Frontage Road – Pearl River County –$500,000 to Pearl River County for the Sycamore Road Intersection and Frontage Road project.
• Poplarville-Pearl River County Airport Advancement Plan – Pearl River County – $50,000 to Pearl River County for the development of a strategic advancement plan for the Poplarville/Pearl River County Airport.
• Highway 489 Pump Station Rehabilitation – Newton & Scott Counties – $175,428 for the rehabilitation of the Highway 489 pump station.
• Ole Miss Coastal Business Growth Accelerator – George, Harrison, Stone, Hancock, Jackson and Pearl River Counties – $312,000 to the Mississippi Small Business Development Center (MS-SBDC) for a two-year initiative to support small businesses in Stone, George, Harrison, Pearl River, Hancock, and Jackson Counties.

Governor Reeves also approved $25,712,924 in GOMESA funding that will be used for site development, workforce development, and infrastructure improvements. The projects include:

• Center City Infrastructure Improvements – Hancock County – $4,000,000 to extend sewer and water systems to Waveland’s “City Center” district.
• Working Waterfront Marina Expansion Phase II – Harrison County – $2,500,000 to the City of D’Iberville for engineering, design and partial construction of the city’s marina expansion along the Back Bay of Biloxi.
• Washington Avenue and Front Beach Utility Improvements – Jackson County – $1,200,000 to the City of Ocean Springs to improve water and sewer infrastructure and to elevate the roadway between Front Beach Drive and Lafontaine.
• Martin Bluff and Hickory Hills Sewer Improvements (Gautier) – Jackson County – $2,701,150 to expand the sewer system.
• Poticaw Road Sewer Extension – Jackson County – $1,200,000 to the Jackson County Utility Authority for installing approximately 6,000 linear feet of infrastructure and placing a lift station at the Highway 57/Poticaw Road Intersection to Paige Bayou Road.
• Sewer System Improvements Phase III (Diamondhead Water/Sewer District) – Hancock County – $1,000,000 for the rehabilitation and repair of approximately six miles of sewer main as well as the attached services located in Sewer Basin 3.
• Asbestos Water Pipe Replacement (Hancock County Water/Sewer District) – Hancock County – $1,000,000 to replace five miles of 12″ and 8″ asbestos cement pipe with 12″ PVC.
• Highway 603 Sewer Expansion (Kiln Utility and Fire District) – Hancock County – $2,452,575 to enhance existing sewer infrastructure by expanding the sewer service from Highway 43 to Cuevas Town Road.
• Front Beach Bulkhead (Ocean Springs) – Jackson County – $1,600,000 to the City of Ocean Springs to complete design and permitting for the Front Beach Bulkhead project, with the bulkhead and living shoreline components to be the first phase of construction.
• Mitigation of Hurricane Impacts on Mississippi Gulf Coast Municipal Harbors – Hancock, Harrison, Jackson Counties – $2,370,376 to Hancock, Harrison, and Jackson Counties to map harbors and update maps over five years.
• Marine Aquaculture Demonstration Center for Economic Development – Jackson County – $3,163,823 to help foster business in South Mississippi by operating aquaculture businesses in different seafood industries.
• Gulfport Wastewater Treatment Plan Upgrades – Harrison County – $1,725,000 for wastewater system improvements.
• MS Coastal Map Revision Project – Hancock, Harrison, Jackson Counties – $800,000 to assist with finishing the project.

Governor Reeves also approved $13,193,587 in additional grants. The projects include:

• ARC: MS School for Math and Science Lab – Lowndes County – $300,000 to update the chemistry lab at MSMS.
• GOMESA: Riverfront Coastal River Protection (Moss Point) – Jackson County – $3,750,000 to help provide coastal protection, conservation, restoration, hurricane protection and infrastructure for coastal wetlands.
• GOMESA: Storm Water Park (Moss Point) – Jackson County – $118,500 to enhance stormwater parks, mitigate flooding, and reduce non-point source (NPS) pollution into Bayou Casotte.
• GOMESA: Fixed Lab Equipment (Mississippi State University) – Jackson County – $865,000 to support the purchase of fixed equipment to complete the analytical and biosafety laboratory capabilities.
• GOMESA: Using Brood Stock Reefs to Enhance Oyster Production (The Nature Conservancy) – Hancock, Harrison, Jackson Counties – $1,000,000 to build a high vertical relief oyster reef on a commercially leased water bottom.
• GOMESA: Dolphin & Sea Turtle Hospital and Enhancement of Rehabilitation Facilities at Institute of Marine Mammal Studies (IMMS) – Harrison County – $1,000,000 to construct a permanent and enhanced dolphin and sea turtle hospital.
• RESTORE: Mississippi Sound Estuary Program (MSEP) – Coastwide – $1,100,000 to inform the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP).
• RESTORE: Living Shoreline Technical Assistance – Coastwide – $1,100,000 to provide expertise and resources encouraging waterfront property owners to conserve and restore intertidal habitat within their riparian rights zone.
• RESTORE: Addition of Interactive Exhibit – Harrison County – $1,100,000 to the Mississippi Aquarium for education and tourism.
• RESTORE: Speckled Trout Enhancement Program – Harrison County – $1,100,000 to support the restoration and long-term sustainability of the Spotted Seatrout.
• RESTORE: Downtown ADA Boardwalk (Bay St. Louis) – Hancock County – $1,100,000 for construction of an ADA-compliant boardwalk connecting the municipal harbor, beach access, and downtown businesses.
• SCRC: Sue Ellen Recreation Center Rehabilitation (Moss Point) – Jackson County – $252,500 for the rehabilitation of the Sue Ellen Recreation Center.
• SCRC: Burnside Park Improvements – Neshoba County – $312,000 to Neshoba County for the construction of public restrooms in Burnside Park.
• SCRC: Saving Wechsler School, 1951 Addition (Meridian) – Lauderdale County – $95,587 to renovate the 1951 addition of the Wechsler School.

A map showing the projects can be found here.