A need for federal funding to expand the runway at the municipal airport was expressed to Neshoba County's congressional delegation by Mayor James A. Young on his second visit to Washington in just weeks.
Young updated the delegation and others on the ongoing negotiations with two industrial prospects he said are interested in locating in Philadelphia and a plan to expand the runway by 3,000 feet.
As previously reported in the Democrat, one industry could attract 500 to 700 jobs and involve a coatings operation in the former U.S. Motors building.
Another would create about 500 jobs over a five-year period, although the specifics of that project have not been revealed.
"We have a two to three-year window to put these projects together," Young said.
"The impact would be great if we could get one of them. Having both of them here would mean a good injection of capital into our area."
The airport was a priority of the previous administration and most recently underwent more than $200,000 in improvements.
Young met personally with Sen. Roger Wicker, Rep. Gregg Harper, Rep. Bennie Thompson and Rep. Travis Childers.
He met with one of Sen. Thad Cochran's key staffers.
Officials from the Mississippi Development Authority, the U.S. Economic Development Administration and David Vowell, the county's head economic developer, are working with the industrial prospects interested in the area, Young said.
"We are excited about these prospects," he said. "It just seems like it is moving slowly in my eyes. There are so many needs out there, so many looking for jobs."
Miko Beasley Denson joined the mayor for some of the talks with congressional leaders as he was in Washington for the White House Tribal Nations Conference. (See story, page 1A)
"We just made it known that we have companies looking to come here and we are needing to expand our airport runway by 3,000 feet as a possible drawing tool for these entities," Young said.
Congressional leaders were very receptive, he said, agreeing that "jobs, jobs, jobs" should be the priority.
The mayor asked the state's delegation to write letters to MDA voicing their support of the two proposed industrial projects in Philadelphia.
During his meeting with Rep. Bennie Thompson, Young said he also cited a need for a new rescue vehicle for the city fire department.
Thompson is chairman of the Homeland Security Committee.
"We're trying to get the inside track on the Homeland Security's next funding cycle," Young said. "The new rescue vehicle, estimated to cost about $341,000, is needed to transport our Jaws of Life and other extrication equipment."
Fire Chief Pierce Clark said the current rescue truck, a 1997 model, is not capable of transporting all of the department's technological gear.
"The rescue truck is basically a large tool box on wheels," he said. "The current truck was designed for the type of rescue work we were doing in the 1990s, which was primarily automobile extrication."
The truck is no longer capable of transporting all the technological rescue equipment and gear the department now utilizes, he said.
This includes rescue equipment for such things as a structural collapse, hazardous material and confined space, among many others.
"The rescue truck would have every piece of equipment we may possibly need on the fire ground or in a rescue or recovery situation such as a drowning," Clark said. "We have a lot of gear but we have to transport some of it on trailers."
Last month Young was in Washington at a sustainable communities summit and ended up meeting with one of President Obama's top economic development advisors following a White House visit.
