With the recent economic downfall, the Starkville community has shown definite signs that it is unwilling to remain in a state of economic stasis. According to John Rucker, the executive director of Oktibbeha Co. economic development, various factors make a business more or less attractive to incoming businesses.
“It is important to provide prospective corporations with a well-developed infrastructure that includes not only utilities and roads, as well as other forms of transportation,” Rucker said. “We are trying to develop these things within the Starkville community.”
Rucker also said that it is important that the community demonstrates a high quality of life and has a marketable work force with the tools and training to make their labor appealing to incoming businesses.
Starkville is showing its true colors within this area. Within the Northeast region of Mississippi, it has become the leader of the pack in growth and development among cities of its size with common characteristics. One factor that figures in Starkville’s appeal to prospective corporations is the university.
“The growth and development of the university, particularly the College of Engineering as well as the Research and Development Park, has figured prominently in certain businesses’ decisions to come to the community,” Rucker said. “Businesses recognize the tie between the community and the university, and the university and the growth of technology in the area. They are responding well to this mix.”
Right now, the economy of Starkville is growing at an 18.5 percent rate, a figure that is comparable to other similar cities within the region.
Currently, five different businesses are looking to enter the Starkville business sector within the next two to five years. Among these businesses are the Viking Range, a center for advanced vehicular design, and a center for incubating new businesses.
The Research and Development Park will also grow within this time frame as five new buildings are added. Despite the growth of business within Starkville over the past few years, some students are still not content.
“I wish that Starkville had more variety within the business sector,” Jenny Powell, junior, said. “Personally, I would like to see more boutiques and clothing department stores open within the area.”
“I think that they should bring more businesses to Starkville,” sophomore Miketa Davis said. “There’s not really much to do around here. I think that by providing something to do, the community would help people stay out of trouble.”
“Don’t expect too much too fast, especially in light of the recent terrorist attacks and their affect on the economy,” Rucker said. Though it’s true that Starkville won’t be hit as hard as some of the other cities within Mississippi, it will still be affected. Still, we’ve got to remember that Rome wasn’t built overnight.