Panola County has had a relatively good year economically, probably the best since the Great Recession…and the future is promising.

Annual sales tax revenues collected within the county have finally surpassed those collected in the banner year of 2007, a high water mark during the long recovery.

Both county and the City of Batesville’s planning commissioners have had much more lengthy agendas than in the past few years with existing companies and businesses wanting to expand and new ones wanting to locate.

Sales tax revenues have shown a slow but consistent increase in Batesville and a steady level flow in other municipalities. Several new businesses have expressed interest in building in the Batesville 6-55 corridor.

Some of the local factories are running overtime, employing workers from the trade area and beyond while some Panolians are finding nearby employment in counties to the north, south and east.

The Town of Como’s board is putting together the pieces to make that town economically viable while concerned citizens are touting its economic and artistic  assets.

The Town of Sardis has new energy under the leadership of Billy Russell who is making progress with removing debt and unneeded assets while promoting his town to retailers as well industrial prospects.

The county’s two school districts, North Panola and South Panola, are or will be under new leadership with a clear mandate for academic improvement to be priority number one.
Arguably no other factor will have a greater impact on Panola’s future.