Positive economic signs continue to appear in Brookhaven andLincoln County with two expansions and a new distribution businessin line for the community.

Brookhaven aldermen last week approved industrial land sales forone of the expansions and the new distribution business. Officialsare optimistic that a five-acre land sale for the second expansioncan be done as soon as the city finalizes its purchase of a 40-acretract near the current industrial park.

One sale involves 10 acres for Cortez Byrd’s timber-relatedoperation, a project estimated at around $750,000. The second salewas to Seacoast Manufacturing and Vending, a Tallahassee,Fla.-based school supply distributor, for it to open anapproximately $200,000 operation.

Sola Fide officials are looking for an additional five acres toexpand the company’s warehouse and distribution services. Thatproject is estimated at $500,000.

Both the Byrd and Sola Fide projects have received $250,000Mississippi Development Authority grants, which is a sign of theconfidence state officials have in helping develop the localeconomy.

The two expansion projects are expected to provide 30 new jobsfor the community while the school supply operation will mean fivejobs. Chamber of commerce officials hope the projects can get underway within the next 45 days or soon thereafter.

Attracting new industry and jobs is always a good sign, but itis especially noteworthy when existing business and industry opt toexpand. That is an indication of past success and evidence ofbusiness leaders’ hopes for continued growth.