Brookhaven, Lincoln County and Chamber of Commerce officialshave begun acquiring land for what will be the community’s newindustrial park.

The $1.32 million purchase of 101.63 acres closed Thursdayafternoon, officials said. The acreage was in three sections ownedby two entities.

“The transfer of property in the first three tracts iscomplete,” said Chancery Clerk Tillmon Bishop, a member of anAlliance overseeing industrial park activities. “The large tractwill be done, based on the contract, in about three weeks.”

The remaining tract, totaling about 310 acres, is in twosections.

The total land purchase project will be $3.850 million, with thecost also including expenses covering a site selection study,appraisal and other aspects of the project.

“The benefits of this purchase will be higher-paying jobs fromhigher-technology driven industries,” said Cliff Brumfield,executive vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce.

In years past, Brumfield said, economic development officialswere able to purchase less expensive land in remote areas. However,for industry recruitment today, land needs to be near majorthoroughfares and in close proximity to strong police and fireprotection.

“Just as the Nissan plant in Canton was an investment forMississippi, so too is purchase of this industrial park land for ustoday,” Brumfield said.

The land is being purchased using a combination of revenue frombond issues passed by supervisors and aldermen, city economicdevelopment funds and money from the private Vision Partnershipcampaign conducted several years ago. The city and county are eachcovering 43.5 percent of the costs and the chamber is responsiblefor the remaining 13 percent.

The property is located south of the railroad on the west end ofBrookway Boulevard. Bishop said it will have access to rail serviceand four-lane roads and will be in the center of southwestMississippi.

“It should be a fairly attractive piece of property toprospects,” Bishop said.

With the community’s current park virtually at capacity, the newpark is needed for continued economic development efforts.

“You can’t attract any industries without and industrial park,”said Mayor Bob Massengill and fellow Alliance member. “Theacquiring of this land is the first step.”

Massengill said plans call for the land to be made accessible inorder to be more attractive to industry.

“We all know infrastructure has to be in place to attractindustry,” the mayor said.

Massengill said officials will pursue grants and other fundingsources to pay for needed infrastructure. One of the first itemswill be a water tower to improve low water pressure concerns forthe park and surrounding land.

“This will serve not only the industrial park, but that entirearea,” Massengill said.

The mayor indicated, though, that results will not beimmediate.

“It’s a long-term project, but it’s going to make the futurebrighter for generations to come,” Massengill said.