Hattiesburg, Miss. (May 7, 2025) — Cooperative Energy, together with the 11 Member distribution cooperatives it serves, announced today the award of a Cooperative Competes grant to the Scott County Board of Supervisors for the proactive site readiness of a newly identified industrial site along Interstate 20 near the Town of Lake, Mississippi.
The $50,000 Cooperative Competes grant will assist with a portion of the local funding match required for the Mississippi Site Development Grant Program, for which $250,000 was awarded in 2024. Total grant funds will be spent to complete proactive environmental due diligence studies to assess the feasibility of industrial development on the site. Studies funded by the grant include a Phase I Environmental Assessment, a Geotechnical Survey, an ALTA Survey, a Wetlands Delineation Report, and a Cultural Resources Survey.
The Lake MS I-20 Site is approximately 578 acres along Interstate 20 in Scott County. Located midway between Jackson and Meridian, Mississippi, the property represents the potential for industrial development within the service territory of Southern Pine Electric. All utilities are adjacent to the property and the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Southern Railway operates a mainline rail line north of the property. For additional information about the site, visit https://cooperativeenergy.com/economic-development/available-properties/
“The Cooperative Competes grant is a vital investment in Scott County’s future, helping us take proactive steps to evaluate this site for industrial development,” said Newt Ishee, Mid Mississippi Development District executive director. “With its strategic location along Interstate 20 and access to key infrastructure, this property has tremendous potential to attract new industries and create jobs. We appreciate Cooperative Energy’s commitment to strengthening communities like ours.”
The Cooperative Competes initiative is aimed at increasing community competitiveness and encouraging economic growth. A component of the initiative allows economic development organizations to apply for grant funds to support industrial property, workforce, or community development efforts throughout Mississippi. These funds are provided jointly by Cooperative Energy’s 11 Member distribution cooperatives.
For more information about Cooperative Competes visit www.cooperativeenergy.com/economic-development-cooperative-competes/
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About Cooperative Energy
Cooperative Energy generates and transmits electricity to 11 Member-owned electric distribution cooperatives. Known as the Power of 12, Cooperative Energy and its Member cooperatives work together to provide safe, reliable and affordable power from the Mississippi Delta to the Coast. The 11 electric cooperatives own and maintain more than 58,000 miles of distribution lines and provide service to more than half a million Mississippians throughout 55 counties.