Poplarville, Miss. (April 23, 2025) — Economic development efforts in Pearl River County are poised for success with the completion of a specialized strategic plan and a recently awarded Cooperative Competes grant.
In late 2024, the Pearl River County economic development division initiated a Comprehensive Incentives Study with partners at VisionFirst Advisors. The study outcome will be a guidebook for offering local incentives to economic development projects. Furthermore, the strategic plan process will foster education and commitment of local stakeholders on how to most effectively and efficiently leverage incentive resources to encourage healthy economic growth.
The strategic plan is made possible with funding support from partners like Coast Electric through the Cooperative Competes program. The $5,000 Cooperative Competes grant will help offset the costs of the strategy.
“Strategic planning is essential to ensuring Pearl River County remains competitive for new investment and job creation,” said Lindsay Ward, Pearl River County economic development director. “The Cooperative Competes grant allows us to take a proactive approach in developing a clear, well-informed incentives strategy that will guide our economic development efforts for years to come. We appreciate the support of Cooperative Energy and Coast Electric in helping us strengthen our ability to attract and retain businesses that benefit our community.”
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.