New industry set to bloom in county

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 7, 2000

Everything should soon be &uot;coming up orchids&uot; in Adams&160;County.

An orchid company, Stewart Orchids, of Carpinteria, Calif., plans to locate its corporate headquarters and an orchid-growing facility in Adams&160;County and initially employ about 20 people.

The Adams&160;County Board of Supervisors made the announcement during its regular meeting Monday.

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&uot;We’re really pleased to give you some good news today,&uot;&160;said Board President Virginia Salmon.

Stewart Orchids, one of America’s largest and oldest full service orchid nurseries, is operated by president and CEO Steve McNerney and his wife, Mary Joe McNerney.

Steve McNerney said the company plans to begin construction immediately on 10 acres of the county’s Foster Mound property. The project should be completed by summer and represents the first industry to locate at the 200-acre Foster Mound site.

&uot;We will continue to specialize in breeding, growing and merchandising of high quality orchid hybrids,&uot; McNerney said. &uot;But with an increased emphasis on products suited for independent retail nurseries, as well as the mass marketers of plants.&uot;

Stewart Orchids got its start in Santa Monica, Calif., in 1908 under the name of Armacost and Royston.

Supervisor Darryl Grennell said the company should benefit the county’s beauty as well as future growth in botanical industries.

&uot;I think its going to be an asset to this community, that’s going to open the door for similar types of companies to come in here,&uot; he said.

The Board of Supervisors, Britton & Koontz First National Bank, the Natchez-Adams&160;County Economic Development Authority and Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District all assisted in the project.

&uot;I have enjoyed working with our local agencies in positioning such a reputable firm as Stewart Orchids,&uot; Salmon said. &uot;We are very fortunate to locate such a prestigious firm as the first industry in our industrial park.&uot;

A $160,187 grant from the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community will fund infrastructure for the site.

County officials have been working on this project for the past year.

&uot;I’m very pleased and very excited to say we got it done,&uot;&160;said Wally Kirk, Chairman of the Natchez-Adams&160;County EDA.

&uot;We have every reason to believe that Stewart Orchids will make an impressive financial impact on the economy of the Natchez-Adams County area.&uot;