Press Releases

Tecumseh Products Company, a refrigeration and air conditioning products manufacturer, is upgrading its facility in Lee County. The project is a corporate investment of more than $3.4 million and will support 135 jobs.

Exxel Outdoors, a brand leader dedicated to creating high-quality products for outdoor recreation, commercial uses and the U.S. military, is relocating its national warehousing and distribution center from Reno, Nevada, to Tupelo. The project represents a corporate investment of more than $2 million and will create at least 40 jobs.

Amazon.com, Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) Amazon announced plans to expand its investment in Mississippi by opening a new delivery station in Lee County. This new facility will be approximately 96,000 square feet located within the Turner Industrial Park in Saltillo, Mississippi. Launch plans for this delivery station are in the very early stages, with renovations to the existing building scheduled to start in the coming weeks.

Liebherr, one of the largest manufacturers of construction equipment in the world, is locating distribution and manufacturing operations in Lee County. The project represents a corporate investment of $176 million and will create at least 180 jobs by 2026. The company potentially will invest up to $238.4 million and create up to 342 jobs to support its new operations. 

Ashley Furniture Industries, the largest manufacturer of home furnishings in the world, has plans to expand operations in two of its existing locations in Lee County. The project represents a corporate investment of approximately $80 million in facilities and equipment and will create at least 500 new jobs.

Custom blue jean manufacturer Blue Delta Jeans Company is expanding at its location in Lee County. The project is a $1,500,000 corporate investment and will retain 55 jobs.

The Tupelo region has been named to Site Selection magazine’s list of most active micropolitan areas for corporate facility investments in 2023. Tupelo ranked seventh in the nation among the 538 micropolitan areas designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget. Since 2005, this is the 14th time the Tupelo region has been named to the list.  

Providing the people of Lee County with the best and most efficient county services is of utmost importance to me, and I believe it is the duty of your Lee County Board of Supervisors. Lee County has a proven history of good service and we have continued that trend this year. Many talented individuals work behind the scenes with the Board, and I would like to thank and recognize them for all they do for Lee County.

A $4 million federal Economic Development Initiative grant, made available through the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, was recently awarded to the Sand Creek Wastewater Authority (SCWA). SCWA services wastewater treatment to residents in Lee County. This funding award comes in large part from support by Lee County’s federal leadership to help offset wastewater service costs.  

Jackson, Miss. (June 13, 2023) – Unmanned aerial systems designer and manufacturer Hush Aerospace is locating operations in Tupelo. The project represents a corporate investment of $13.975 million and will create 80 jobs. Hush Aerospace will establish a state-of-the-art facility for the assembly, manufacturing, testing and evaluation of UAS in Tupelo.

KALAMAZOO, Michigan – Consultant Connect, a consulting agency designed to bridge the gap between economic developers and site consultants, announces its 2023 list of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers. The economic development professionals selected for this list were nominated by their colleagues in both the economic development and site location consulting industries for excellent practices, innovation and success in building the communities they serve.

The Tupelo region has been named to Site Selection magazine’s list of most active micropolitan areas for new and expanding facilities in 2022. Tupelo ranked ninth in the nation among the 543 micropolitan areas designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget. Since 2005, this is the 13th time the Tupelo region has been named to the list.   

It has been an honor serving the great citizens of Lee County for the past 23 years. Witnessing first-hand the growth and prosperity which has occurred through the years has been profoundly rewarding. I am pleased to highlight some of the significant achievements during my tenure on the Lee County Board of Supervisors and this past year 2022.

The sudden and unfortunate layoff Tuesday, November 22, of 1,000 United/Lane employees shook the area. The Community Development Foundation (CDF) responded quickly and started planning a regional job fair to create immediate job opportunities for those affected to restart their careers and provide for their families. 

The Community Development Foundation closed its year May 1, and it was my pleasure to have served as Chairman this past program year. It was year two of a global pandemic where we found ourselves dealing with isolation, separation, and COVID-19 surges. But I believe this year will be remembered most by how our community remained unified and stayed the course of community achievement and economic development despite the disruptions.

Tupelo, Miss. (March 7, 2022)- The Tupelo region has been named to Site Selection magazine’s list of most active micropolitan areas for new and expanding facilities in 2021. Tupelo ranked second in the nation among the 551 micropolitan areas designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget. Since 2005, this is the twelfth time the Tupelo region has been named to the list.

Presented by the Community Development Foundation (CDF) for the fifth year in a row, IGNITE 2022 will take place Thursday, January 13, at The Orchard (1379 N Coley Rd., Tupelo). Offering both a morning and afternoon session, IGNITE is a half-day leadership summit featuring speakers who will inspire attendees to lead and create desired change within their organizations and communities.

Sandman Bedding, manufacturer of bedding and mattresses, is locating operations in Belden. The project is a $2.3 million corporate investment and will create 25 jobs.

David P. Rumbarger, Jr., CEcD FM, President & CEO of the Community Development Foundation, received the Jeffrey A. Finkle Organizational Leadership Award from the International Economic Development Council (IEDC).

Community Development Foundation (CDF), the agency charged with providing chamber of commerce, economic development and planning and property management services for Tupelo/Lee County, Mississippi, is excited to announce the launching of a rebrand. The change comes after an almost two-year evaluation of how the CDF branding and materials could better reflect how CDF impacts the community.

Carmigo, a new software company, is locating its headquarters in Tupelo. The project will create 50 jobs. Carmigo is an online vehicle marketplace connecting individual sellers with dealers in a one-day auction. The company builds listings for individuals looking to sell a vehicle and then posts them in the marketplace where dealers compete with one another.

Waste Management, the leading provider of comprehensive waste management in North America, is adding 330 remote workplace opportunities in Mississippi. WM will invest approximately $660,000 in the project, or $2,000 per job, for equipment and workstations, which will enable employees to work from a remote location.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems  is increasing its manufacturing capacity in Shannon to accommodate the addition of three national security components/technologies manufacturing projects for the U.S. Dept. of Defense. The project is a $39.5 million corporate investment and will create 125 jobs.

Jackson, Miss. (Aug. 3, 2020) – Ashley Furniture Industries, Inc. is expanding operations at its facilities in Verona and Saltillo. The expansions represent a combined corporate investment of $22 million and will create a total of 130 jobs across the two facilities.

The Tupelo Redevelopment Agency (TRA) and the City of Tupelo are excited about the opportunity to partner with the Thrash Group, LLC, a hotel development group based in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on a boutique hotel in downtown Tupelo. The Thrash Group is a national boutique hotel developer with current projects in Austin, Texas; Golden, Colorado; Lexington, Kentucky; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Tupelo, Miss. (May 1, 2020) – With social distancing still in effect, the Community Development Foundation (CDF) will virtually host its annual meeting this year via social media. Typically held the first Thursday in May, CDF’s annual meeting and open house event has historically been an opportunity for all CDF members to gather and enjoy an evening of food and fellowship while networking with other members. The annual meeting portion of the event is required per the by-laws of CDF as it officially marks the passing of the gavel from the outgoing CDF board of directors’ chairman to the incoming chairman. It is also the time when the new CDF board of directors is announced, and accomplishments of the past year are reviewed.

The health and wellbeing of CDF members and businesses are of the utmost importance. CDF is committed to promoting a positive business climate in Tupelo-Lee County. As the Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread, we encourage businesses to utilize the resources linked below to help develop plans to address this issue and keep employees healthy.

Tupelo, Miss. (March 2, 2020)- The Tupelo region has been named to Site Selection magazine’s list of most active micropolitan areas for new and expanding facilities in 2019. Tupelo ranked second in the nation among the 551 micropolitan areas designated by the United States Office of Management and Budget. Since 2005, this is the eleventh time the Tupelo region has been named to the list. Site Selection also named Tupelo as Mississippi’s Micropolitan of the Decade, finishing inside the top 10 for the seventh year in a row.

Tupelo, Miss. (Jan. 28, 2020) – Polyurethane foam manufacturer Innocor is increasing production at its two facilities in Baldwyn. The expansion marks a $4.1 million corporate investment and will create 90 jobs.

A sold-out crowd with 720 tickets distributed, community leaders from all over Mississippi and parts of Alabama, Tennessee and Texas, gathered at The Orchard today to attend the Community Development Foundation’s (CDF) one-day leadership conference, IGNITE.

Success in economic development is the goal of every community and it comes from well thought out strategy and purposeful execution. The Community Development Foundation (CDF) has spent the past decade developing infrastructure, land, buildings and people in order to reach success and growth for Tupelo/Lee County.

Employees of Community Development Foundation member organizations now have more reason than ever to think about enrolling at the University of Mississippi’s Tupelo campus.  CDF and Ole Miss announced Friday a scholarship partnership that would provide additional financial aid for those individuals seeking to begin or continue their education.

Tupelo, Miss. (Aug. 22, 2019) –BancorpSouth Bank (NYSE: BXS) is increasing capacity at its Jackson Street Campus in Tupelo to accommodate the company’s rapid growth. The project, a more than $15-million corporate investment, will create 100 jobs.

Beginning in May of 2021, Tupelo, Mississippi, will be graduating high school seniors that will also have completed a two year Associates College degree.  In conjunction with the Marchbanks Tuition Guarantee program and this new Middle College opportunity, the talent in Tupelo, Mississippi, will be set apart and ready for the opportunities of the future.

Tupelo, Miss. (May 7, 2019) – Engineering services company, Hyperion Technology Group, Inc., is expanding operations in Tupelo and making a corporate investment of $500,000 that will create 25 jobs.  “We are excited about Hyperion’s expansion and the continued growth of this local company. These high-paying, high-tech jobs will be a great boost for our local economy,” said Tupelo Mayor Jason Shelton.

General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems is increasing its manufacturing capacity in Shannon to accommodate the addition of a new product line. The project is a $50-million corporate investment and will create 75 jobs over five years. The expansion was announced during the 2019 International Homeland Defense and Security Summit Gov. Phil Bryant is hosting in Biloxi.

The Tupelo region has been named to Site Selection magazine’s list of most active micropolitan areas for new and existing industries in 2018. Tupelo ranked fifth in the nation among the 575-micropolitan areas designated by the United States Census Bureau. Since 2005, this is the tenth time the Tupelo region has been named to the list.

Tupelo, Miss. (Jan. 17, 2019)– A sold out crowd of over 700 community leaders from all over Mississippi and parts of Alabama and Tennessee, gathered at the Orchard today to attend the Community Development Foundation’s (CDF) one-day leadership summit, IGNITE. 

Sutter Street Manufacturing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of specialty home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma, Inc., is expanding its upholstered furniture manufacturing operations by opening a facility in Baldwyn, Miss., in Lee County. The project will result in the creation of 350 jobs over five years..

We always want the news to be great when talking about our home Tupelo and North Mississippi. Earlier this week, an article appeared in the New York Times outlining its interpretation of national political elections on local economies. The article contained misleading information about Tupelo; consequently, misrepresenting our current economic reality. This response is not to justify or take a political position, but to the data presented in the article.