Roses and Thorns Unveiled: Starkville Mayor’s Praiseworthy Sacrifice and Aurora Flight Sciences’ Ambitious Expansion
Starkville, Mississippi – As part of the annual event, ‘Roses and Thorns’, several laudable steps taken by local corporations and city officials came to the forefront. The highlights included the commendable sacrifice of a pay raise by Starkville Mayor Lynn Spruill and the Board of Aldermen, along with the ambitious expansion plans of the Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation.
Mayor Lynn Spruill’s Sacrifice: Necessary to Protect the City
At the city’s latest meeting, Mayor Lynn Spruill and the Board of Aldermen discovered a shortfall of approximately $140,000 in the requested budget for the city’s police department. The missing funds were mainly due to the need for 10 new surveillance cameras and a new hire to monitor them. In response, city officials passionately opted to skip their pay raises, providing an additional $10,000 towards engendering the safety of the city.
While $10,000 may not significantly fill the budget deficit, this move by Mayor Spruill and the city’s Board of Aldermen sets an exemplary principle. The officials’ will to prioritize their city’s needs over their personal gains is indeed eulogizable. As the city’s part-time representatives, they have made evident that their focus lies primarily in the betterment of the city rather than in financial remuneration.
Aurora Flight Sciences: Building towards a Better Future
On a commercial front, Aurora Flight Sciences Corporation has projected an impressive expansion plan. The company envisages investing $43 million for refurbishing one building and constructing another from scratch. This expansion will catapult the corporation’s employment statistics by more than half, adding 63 full-time jobs to the existing 117, totaling 180 employees.
To aid the company, the Lowndes County Board of Supervisors has generously approved a 10-year ad valorem tax exemption. Aurora, being a valuable part of the city’s industrial base since 2017, was acquired by Airbus in the same year. Since then, the company has constantly aimed at increasing its production capabilities.
The planned extension encompasses rehabilitation of a 40,000 square foot building and construction of a new 50,000 square foot establishment. While new industrial and manufacturing setups allure considerable attention, expansion of existing companies like Aurora serves as a substantial catalyst for local economic development. Aurora’s growth also symbolizes Lowndes County’s conducive business environment, encouraging other businesses to consider setting up operations here.
The continuous expansion of industrial and manufacturing corporations not only boost the local economy but also provide job opportunities, contribute to tax revenues, and foster community development.
