The Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC) announced February 4 that the North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority has been awarded its 2015 Community Economic Development Award.
The Railroad Authority is a seven-county alliance (including Panola) created to oppose abandonment of the   rail line that runs through the counties in North Mississippi.
Efforts by the NCMRRA saved the railroad, preserved jobs and fostered economic development, the MEDC said.
The award recognizes exceptional contributions of communities in Mississippi for business retention and expansion, business recruitment, community development and community involvement.
Sonny Simmons of Batesville serves on the NCMRRA executive board and was on hand to receive the award last week.
In June 2009, a 180-mile portion of the Canadian National Railroad (from DeSoto County to Madison County) was sold to a short line operator whose parent company’s primary business involved the salvage and resale of rail materials.
By 2011 the new owner announced plans to abandon and scrap the line, jeopardizing more than 10,000 jobs and over $1 billion in personal income to the State of Mississippi, the MEDC said.
 With the support of MDA and MDOT, the counties of Tate, Panola, Grenada, Montgomery, Holmes, Yalobusha, and Carroll created the North Central Mississippi Regional Railroad Authority (NCMRRA) to oppose abandonment and eliminate the threat of closure and its negative impact on the region’s economy.??
The authority, with support of state and federal legislators, stalled abandonment procedures for four years and worked with citizens and leaders across North Central Mississippi to garner support from the Mississippi Legislature to issue bonds to support acquisition of the line.
In April 2014, the Mississippi House and Senate approved a $30 million bond package to be used for the purchase of the line, thus securing a key transportation corridor for the state, protecting existing jobs, and ensuring future economic development opportunities.
In July 2015, the NCMRRA acquired the rail line and signed a 15-year lease agreement with Iowa Pacific, the country’s third largest short line operator, to operate the line.
In December 2015, Iowa Pacific operated its Polar Express Train Ride from Batesville, serving 56,000 passengers during a six-week holiday period.
The company has announced plans for a “dinner train” later in the spring, and plans to return to Batesville with the Polar Express Train Ride next November and December.