An Industry Overview

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Profile Data for Jones County in partnership with LocationOne.com

From our previous experiences with the timber boom and bust of the late Nineteenth Century, and petroleum advances and retreats in the late Twentieth Century, we’ve learned a valuable lesson – we must strongly encourage industrial diversity and partnerships.

And, that’s exactly what we’ve done. As a result, we have not one but three strong industry groups in Jones County – and a fourth well on its way to maturity.

Here, then, is an overview of our principal industry groups.

Poultry

Three poultry processors operate in Jones County -

Southern Hens, Wayne Farms (a subsidiary of ContiGroup) and Sanderson Farms, one of the top five poultry processors in the country. Between them they employee over 2,300 people and have enjoyed an expansion boom over the last few years.

Not only is this industry a top employer, it encourages entrepreneurship within the region. Individual poultry growers throughout South Mississippi have a vital livelihood thanks to these processors with operations located in Jones County.

Manufacturing

Jones County is home to a number of manufacturers that impact several industries and consumers, and supply over 5,000 jobs. Manufacturers include:

Howard Industries -

one of the world’s largest producers of transformers, ballasts and other electrical equipment, and Jones County’s largest employer. In recent years, Howard has entered the PC market with specialized desktops, servers and laptops.

Masonite Corporation -

the Laurel-based manufacturing plant continues to produce the processed board from wood chips developed by William Mason in the 1920s. In recent years, the company has expanded into other products, including interior and exterior doors.

Howse Implements -

Founded in 1964, Howse Implements is one of the largest manufacturers of rotary cutters and other implements used in agricultural operations. The company’s products are sold throughout the United States and in over thirty foreign countries.

Laurel Machine and Foundry -

LMF supplies a full line of metal products and vessels to various industries, especially oil and gas. The company celebrated their centennial in 2004.

Thermo-Kool -

this home-grown company manufacturers a brand of walk-in coolers and freezers. Thermo-Kool walk-ins are prevalent throughout the United States and in many foreign countries.

The Essmueller Company -

this company produces turnhead distributors, bucket elevators and round bottom drag-flight conveyors for the animal feed industry. Originally founded in St. Louis, Missouri, the company’s entire highly automated operation is now located inJones County.

Petroleum

As the second-highest oil-producing county in the state – over 280 active wells – you can imagine how vital the petroleum industry is to Jones County. For several generations this particular industry cluster – drilling companies, service and equipment providers and distributors – has formed a large employment base and profit center for affiliate companies large and small.

And, the future continues to be bright as field production and services companies like Halliburton and Schlumberger and large-scale distributors like Massco and Keithco Petroleum continue to grow and expand.

Technology

Community and state leaders have partnered together over the last several years to “incubate” a fourth industrial sector in JonesCounty – high technology. These efforts are now producing tangible economic growth.

The most obvious sign:

the recently opened Howard Technology Park in Ellisville. The park itself is a model of cutting edge technology and utility management: the entire 504-acre site has been outfitted with fiber optic cable and a specialized electrical, gas and telephone infrastructure. HTP has two anchoring points that will encourage industry clustering: Howard Computers’ new 150,000-square foot production facility now near completion; and the Southpoint Advanced Technology Center, a $6 million facility developed by Jones County Junior College to provide customized high tech training to regional businesses, and incubator space for startups.

Leaders project this sector will hold its own with Jones County’s other industrial powerhouses in just a few years, with new jobs that equal or surpass the manufacturing sector’s 5,000-plus jobs.