Water, sewer project clears a hurdle

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
August 3, 2002
A pre-application for a grant to fund water and sewer service at Lauderdale County's new industrial park has been cleared by a federal agency, officials said Friday.
With approval of the pre-application, the Economic Development Administration has now "invited" local officials to submit a formal grant application for $1.7 million in federal funds to be matched by $1.7 million from the city of Meridian. Local economic development officials say the addition of water and sewer service to the industrial park on Interstate 20/59 is crucial to attracting new industries to the park.
While the grant itself has not yet been approved, the project has taken a major step through the federal process  a good sign, officials said.
The Meridian City Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to authorize Mayor John Robert Smith to file the application with the EDA office in Atlanta. The council is expected to approve the move.
The first pre-application was turned down in January due to a lack of what EDA officials said was "important information."
More information needed
In a letter addressed to Smith and Craig Hitt, president of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, Atlanta EDA Regional Director William Day Jr. listed seven additional pieces of information needed in the application.
Among those were a copy of the master plan for the industrial park, explanation of the economic impact in jobs and private investment expected and environmental requirements for floodplain/wetlands impact.
The letter also stated that the invitation for the application was "by no means an indication of an approval," but Wienecke said it is a good sign.
Key step in recruiting industry
Local economic development officials say news of the approved pre-application has helped leaders market the new industrial park as recently as this past week.
Wade Jones, president of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp., said economic developers hosted site location consultants this past week in Philadelphia.
Jones said he could not name the companies the consultants represented. He did, however, say that the prospective industries included automotive companies.
Time factor
And, Jones said, it's important to automobile suppliers that industrial parks be ready for operation for 2003.
With time being a major factor, the deadline for the new joint city-county application is August 30. Wienecke said a final decision on the application will be made before the current fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.
Hitt said he, Smith, members of the East Central Planning and Development District and members of the EMBDC met a week ago to discuss the application.