employers. This pivot ensures resilience, even if an individual company faces challenges. Premier employers like Peco Foods, a chicken manufacturing facility, initially committed to 300 jobs but now employ over 1,000. Similarly, Yokohama Tire, which produces commercial tires for 18-wheelers, pledged 500 jobs in its first phase and now also employs over 1,000 individuals, demonstrating substantial local investment. Beyond these giants, Southern Ionics, an international chemical plant headquartered in West Point, and both retail and industrial marketing efforts. “And I’d be remiss if I didn’t say that myself and all five members of our City Council, our Board of Selectmen, act as ambassadors all the time,” Mayor Bobo notes. West Point’s leaders actively promote the city’s quality of life and opportunities, making annual trips to Washington, D.C., and Jackson, Mississippi, to engage with state and federal delegations and present the city’s needs and future aspirations. Aside from its unique promotional avenues, West Point is also known for demonstrating remarkable fiscal responsibility, often undertaking significant infrastructure developments without burdening its taxpayers. Over the last four years, the city has embarked on an ambitious street paving initiative, allocating approximately $7 to $8 million for citywide improvements, which are equitably distributed across its five wards, and beautifying the downtown area with new crosswalks. Beyond streets, West Point has also comprehensively expanded its sewer and water capacity through a holistic approach, leveraging city funds and partnerships with state and federal delegations, including the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). Lastly, the city recently completed a safety initiative involving the installation of street cameras at major intersections for the police department, as well as the replacement of all old halogen streetlights with energy-efficient LEDs, thereby improving nighttime visibility and reducing costs. As a notable achievement, the city has accomplished all of this without increasing taxes; in fact, it recently lowered its millage assessment by 1 mill. A GROWING ECONOMIC CORE CHARGING TOWARD TOMORROW West Point’s incredible economic stability is rooted in a highly diversified manufacturing base, which has moved away from its past reliance on a few large 7 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 07 WEST POINT, MS
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTI5MjAx