When PeopleShores needed more space as a result of the COVID pandemic, Coahoma Community College stepped forward and offered a place to go and grow.
PeopleShores, a technology company that provides digital services to high tech business operations across the globe, will be using space at the Mike and Pauline Lewis Building next to the Cutrer Mansion for at least six months.
CCC manages the buildings at 109 Clark Street and adjacent to the Clarksdale landmark through a partnership. The building is also wired for a variety of audio/video and computer classroom needs which fits perfectly with PeopleShores technology needs.
The CCC board approved PeopleShores using space at the building during Monday’s meeting.
“They’re using part of the Lewis Building because they had a need to bring on more employees and they couldn’t safely social distance in their current location,” said CCC president Dr. Valmadge Towner. “So, they’re using some of the space there temporarily up to six months.”
PeopleShores is currently located at 1540 Desoto Ave., where the Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce was before moving downtown. They often had up to 50 people in a room and had to plan carefully and schedule work among employees to meet the company’s social distancing requirements.
Towner said the Mike and Pauline Lewis Building was an ideal location because it has a lot of open space.
“It’s like a classroom,” Towner said. “Where they are out on (Highway 49), the old Chamber building, they are already packed there. They couldn’t social distance their employees.
“They are a support firm for companies across the country,” Towner added. “They are simply able to use an area in the Lewis Building. Employees are able to go there and social distance and are able to work away from the other locations.”
Towner said the agreement will be reviewed in July.
“We’ll review it then, but they’re using it because of the need for the business to expand,” Towner said.
“We’ll do it six months at a time. They’ll know if the amount of business will still be at the level it is or it may even be more.”
Towner said, if PeopleShores’ business expands, it is possible the company will need more space for employees.
