Recognition & Accolades
AEDC Designates Mississippi County a Competitive Community
Mississippi County, AR was the 7th community in Arkansas to be designated as a Competitive Community.
The Competitive Community Initiative (CCI) is a program under the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
Receiving this designation means Mississippi County, AR is ready for economic development projects large and small. The economic development team has met all 4 criteria to receive this award. 1. There is a quality economic development organization 2. There is stable and secure funding for projects 3. There are shovel ready sites in the county 4. Arkansas Northeastern College has a premiere track record for workforce training
Entergy Certifies Site in Mississippi County
Mississippi County Economic Development and Entergy Arkansas announced completion of the utility’s Select Site certification for the Osceola Driver 130 industrial site, which sits on 130 acres near I-55, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railway, and the Mississippi River.
“The timeline for responding to prospects has shortened significantly,” said Clif Chitwood with Mississippi County Economic Development, “and going through the certification process helps to ensure that we have the site information necessary to respond quickly to inquiries.
“This site is well-suited for a manufacturer who wants to move products across the country or across the world, and the additional marketing that comes with certification provides our site with an advantage that not many in the state have,” Chitwood said.
Entergy Arkansas Director of Business and Economic Development Danny Games and Tandee White, community developer, were on hand to recognize Mississippi County for completing the comprehensive review and documentation process and to present a grant check to help offset some of the costs associated with the certification. Joining Games and White was Clint O’Neal, executive vice president of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission.
First Rate Economic Development Agency in the South
2020 Southern Business and Development Magazine recognized GREDF as a “First Rate Economic Development Agency in the South.” This county is the second-largest steel-making county in the U.S. Nucor Steel, Nucor Yamato Steel, Big River Steel and other steelmakers and suppliers employ thousands in this tiny county of less than 55,000 residents.
2019 Site Selection’s Big Muddy Cup
The Big Muddy Cup is awarded to the top metro or micropolitan area along the entire Mississippi River for total corporate facility projects per capita. With eight projects, the area just an hour from Memphis beats out former Big Muddy Cup winner Dubuque, Iowa.
ACT Work Ready Certification
ACT offers a performance-driven program WRC leadership teams use to initiate, deploy and drive carefully-tailored efforts that grow the number of counties certified as work ready communities. Quitman County is a certified Work Ready Community that is actively engaged in maintaining their status.