Why Monroe County?

Monroe County, located in Northeast Mississippi, is halfway between and only 20 miles from Tupelo, MS and Columbus, MS. With its close proximity to Memphis, Tennessee, Birmingham, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi; access to large markets and transportation is quick and easy.

Monroe County is well located and poised for future economic growth due to these very important factors:

Aberdeen Visitors Bureau
  • Located on the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway which connects the Port of Mobile and the Gulf of Mexico to the Tennessee River Valley.
  • Located on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad mainline, halfway between Memphis, Tennessee and Birmingham, Alabama.
  • Offers one of the largest prospective industrial sites (over 1,400 acres) with water and rail transportation located on the Tennessee Tombigbee Waterway
  • Close to two state universities and a community college.
  • Located within 35 minutes of the Toyota Wellspring Plant
  • An educated and well trained workforce
  • A rural area that has not outgrown its infrastructure: schools, roads, services
  • A great quality of life when compared to congested, metropolitan areas
  • Very cooperative public officials that work together for the benefit of all citizens

Economic Development Highlights for 2008 and 2009

Some of the most noteworthy and exciting economic development events included:

  • RTI International has cleared the site next to Tronox in Hamilton. However, due to the economy, it has just put on hold for 12 months its plans to build the $200 million plant which will employ 200. Plant will produce titanium sponge material that will be used in the new Boeing 727, US Airbus, and military aircraft.
  • Monroe Gas Storage, a Denver, CO company invested $175 million, in 2008, on pipeline and equipment to store natural gas underground and to connect to Texas Eastern and Tennessee pipelines.
  • Steel Development Company is planning to build a $175 million steel rebar production plant that will employ 200 with an average pay of $50,000-60,000/yr. Some of original investors started SeverCorr in Columbus. Investors are from many states, New York, and Europe. Site has been cleared and prepared at the Amory Port Industrial Park on Waterway Drive. Company expects to start the 18 month construction process in Fall 2009.
  • Birdsong Peanuts bought the Triton Boat plant at Prairie from the City of Aberdeen and the County for $1.5 million. A family owned peanut processor from Virginia that serves a 100 mile radius as a buying point and drying warehouse for peanuts. Employs 25.
    • Heritage Inns and Suites
  • Heritage Inn & Suites, a Missouri company owned by two couples opened a 47 room hotel next to Riverbirch in Amory, Dec, 2008. A $2.5 million project that employs 15.
  • A new Walgreens Pharmacy opened in Amory in May 2009; a $2.5 million project that employs 20.
  • A new Womens’ Center at Gilmore Memorial Regional Medical Center, Amory; a $18.5 million project that opened Summer 2009.
  • A new Dollar Tree Store opened in Amory in June 2009.
  • A new Sherwin Williams store opened in Amory in May 2009.
  • A 55 job expansion at Holley Performance Products, Aberdeen in January 2009.

Economy Diversity

As is reflected in the above projects they include a very diverse group of industries including:

  • Healthcare
  • Steel
  • Metals
  • Agricultural
  • Hotel
  • Energy/Fuel