A quick look around will tell anyone this is the season to plant.
We've had our cold weather and yes, the rain has slowed most farmers down, but the Sun shines a little longer and stronger each day and the green has come on strong. Even city folk can look around and see it is spring and that means it is the time to plant.
The same holds true for economic development.
We've had our share of a cold economic news over the past two years. But the warmth of a strong industrial base, tilled and planted years ago, is shining a little longer and the “green” of those payrolls is showing.
We are pleased to hear hints of more economic development news in the region and continue to hear rumblings of possible development in empty store fronts. We need to promote Clarksdale as the Delta’s Rising Star and blessed with a solid economic base. Yes, the tourists have gone away for a season, but this is the birthplace of the Blues and that will never change – they will be back.
Farmers will tell you planting is hard work, you can’t focus on just one thing and you can't miss one day. There is soil to be tilled, seed to be set and weeds to be fought.
Again, economic development is no different.
Coahoma County needs to always be busy preparing property for our next project. We need to develop partnerships across The Delta and demand funds from Jackson and Washington to help us ready our town and our region for new businesses and industry.
Movers and shakers in this community need to regularly sit down with existing industry executives and cultivate those relationships, so those industries gladly call on city and county government when it comes time to grow. Statistics show 80-percent of the new jobs in any community come from an existing industry that has decided to expand.
And we all need to work on those “weeds” and the greed that can kill any economic development project.
Clarksdale and Coahoma County have good people who know how to form partnerships, provide community support, plan, prepare and promote.
It's time to plant!
We will all benefit when the harvest comes.
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