Busy year for economic development expected in Clinton

By Randy Bell

Clinton can expect new businesses and continuing work on a major project near Mississippi College as it eyes economic development in 2024. And it will also see the launch of a new regional concept known as Connect West, aimed at opening up more of western Hinds County to development.

Mayor Phil Fisher says the membership of Connect West will be based on contributions and will operate with a decision-making committee, which will hire an economic development director to manage the group’s efforts.

“It’ll be taken completely out of the City’s hands,” Fisher says, so that the director can operate with more stability and isn’t subject to the four-year election cycles, which can create turnover.

The establishment of Connect West has been delayed as it awaited its designation as a 501(c) non-profit organization. The mayor says approval was received in late November, and those who pledged money to fund the group have been notified.

“There are various levels of participation,” Fisher notes. The top tier requires a $10,000 contribution. “There are other levels of membership, and more businesses and individuals are needed to give Clinton the best chance of continued growth, at a contribution level [with] which they are comfortable.”

Fisher says, once the money is collected, an economic development director can be brought on board.

The mayor expects much of the new development in the years to come to take place near the nineteen-mile-long pipeline that’s being built to carry treated wastewater from Clinton, Raymond and Bolton to the Big Black River, maintaining the future viability of Clinton’s sewage treatment system and enabling continued residential, commercial and industrial projects in the city.

“The idea is, wherever [a project] goes, it’s good for all of us, instead of everybody fighting over [it].” Fisher believes the pipeline will be “a huge economic magnet,” with companies locating along its route so their wastewater needs can be served by tying into the pipeline.

Western Hinds County is well positioned to attract continued economic development. It already has an interstate highway and a rail line passing through it and is close to the Port of Vicksburg.

Fisher says, with the wastewater pipeline being built, the only missing piece is connecting Norrell Road to John Bell Williams Airport in Raymond to add an aviation component. He believes it’s a package few communities will be able to offer.

“Nobody will be able to touch this area for the assets,” the mayor says.

Also in 2024, Clintonians can expect to see more visible signs that an upscale mixed-use development project is taking shape across Highway 80 from Mississippi College. Known informally as the 80/20 Project and also nicknamed “The Village at Mississippi College,” the focus now is on installing the infrastructure on the land, which is owned by MC and local developers. Streets will be built, water and sewer lines buried and drainage systems installed while work continues to finalize the list of future tenants including restaurants, retailers, a hotel and a grocery.

Elsewhere in the city, more commercial development is expected.

“We have three large businesses looking at Clinton,” Fisher says. “I am under a non-disclosure agreement, so I cannot reveal the names or types of businesses. We also have two restaurants developing their plans.”

Ward 3 Alderman Robert Chapman says he welcomes any sort of retail establishments that might be interested in locating in the city. And while he says bigger stores like Target “would be a great thing to have here,” he also wants to focus on smaller boutiques and restaurants “to maximize the uniqueness of Clinton.” Chapman says the regional concept of economic development “gives us a little more bang for our buck” and “allows us to have a broader reach” in attracting companies to the city.

Ward 1 Alderwoman Karen Godfrey says the 80/20 Project is the key to Clinton’s future economic development.

“That’s our best bet to be getting some good things coming here—retail, restaurants and the whole bit,” said Godfrey.

Alderman James Lott, who represents Ward 6, points out that the City hasn’t had an economic development director in over a year. Daniel Lang resigned to take a similar position in Flowood in September of 2022, and there’s been no rush to replace him, pending the formation of the Connect West organization.

“We’ve kind of put thoughts about economic development on the back burner,” Lott says. “I’m looking forward to a full-time person who can focus on that and bring things forward for us to vote on.”

Ward 2 Alderman Jim Martin says, “One of the things we’ve noticed over the years is that economic development follows economic development. So, when something new comes in, [other businesses] are saying, ‘I’d like to be a neighbor to that.’”

“For many years, we were really limited by not having space for anything new to come in, said Martin. “[But], with the development of Hampstead Boulevard, it opened up a lot of land and opportunity out there.”

Martin admits that area hasn’t developed as quickly as the City had hoped. He’s confident the 80/20 Project will be a “kickstarter” for economic growth in Clinton.

“We’re looking forward to seeing that fill up,” he says. “And I think when that starts taking off, then there’ll be some more interest in the Hampstead Boulevard property, as well.”

Alderwoman-at-Large Ricki Garrett says Clinton needs a “visionary plan” for its future growth.

“Economic developers want to be part of a clearly defined plan,” she says. “We have to be proactive, not reactive. Developers also want to work with an administration that is welcoming and easy to worth with,” suggesting that hasn’t always been the case in Clinton.

The mayor says he won’t respond to such general criticism without specific statements to back it up.

The Clinton Chamber of Commerce says it welcomed thirty-five new businesses in 2023 and hosted eighteen ribbon-cuttings. The Chamber currently counts 392 members, with small businesses making up the largest share.

“We have plans to keep growing our membership and hopefully implement some new ideas that will help our current members make use of their membership in promoting their businesses to [the] community,” Chamber Executive Director Anna Nutt says. “We know there is a lot of growth happening in Clinton and are excited about things like the 80/20 Project and how they will start to shape Clinton.”

Nutt is planning a recruitment effort in 2024 targeting businesses that are not Chamber members.

The new year will bring more construction in Clinton subdivisions, and Fisher says he is counting on the new economic development director to attract more homebuilders.

“There is a shortage of housing available for purchase,” the mayor says, noting that thirty-two rooftops were added through November of this year, following the construction of forty-seven homes in Clinton in 2022.

A draft concept plan for The Village at Mississippi College is shown, with the inset photo providing an example of what the streets and parking might look like, now that a utility easement variance has been granted.