Grenada Star
Housing on Deck: Knight Development poised to help Grenada County grow
By Adam Prestridge - Publisher
If you build it, they will come. That's exactly what the Greater Grenada Partnership (GGP) is banking on after adding Knight Development to its lineup of strategic players poised to help Grenada County continue to grow for decades to come.
After five years of industrial growth — including Milwaukee Tool's $60 million, 500,000-square-foot accessories facility located along Interstate 55 in Grenada County; the $4 billion SouthPoint Mississippi Industrial Park, anchored by 15 industrial buildings planned by the Hollingsworth Companies, and multiple expansions by several Grenada-based industries — the GGP's next priority is housing for the thousands of current and future workers.
Recently selected by the GGP to serve as a development partner for a phased workforce housing initiative across Grenada County, Knight Development — a multi-family and workforce housing developer — is tasked with solving the region's shortage of quality housing problem. The GGP announced Monday that its board of directors had formally selected the Ridgeland-based company following competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process launched by the Partnership tasking it with what it refers to as the “most pressing constraints on growth.”
“Housing is the single greatest constraint on the next chapter of growth in Grenada County, and this partnership is about meeting that challenge head-on,” GGP President and CEO Matthew Harrison said. “Knight Development brought forward a researched, phased and realistic plan that gives us both an immediate response to workforce demand and a foundation for long-term community stability.”
According to Harrison, a recent third-party housing study spearheaded by the GGP confirmed a need for at least 2,983 new housing units in Grenada County by 2030, driven by ongoing industrial growth across the region. Knight Development's selection marks a decisive step in the Partnership's strategy to ensure housing supply keeps pace with employer demand.
“We are honored to be selected as Grenada's housing development partner,” Knight Development CEO Holly Knight said. “The Greater Grenada Partnership recognizes that workforce housing is essential infrastructure for economic growth. Their leadership has created a vision that supports employers, strengthens families and positions the Grenada corridor for long-term success. Our goal is to deliver thoughtfully designed residences featuring modern amenities, building a community that residents look forward to coming home to every day while providing local employers with the housing needed to attract, retain and grow a talented workforce.”
Furthermore, Gov. Tate Reeves shared his delight with all of the positives in growth being generated in Grenada County.
“When a community is adding thousands of new housing units, it's a sign that people want to live, work and build their future there,” he said. “There are a lot of good things happening in Grenada County, and this project will help build on that momentum. Expanding workforce housing will strengthen the community, support continued economic growth and help attract even more private sector investment to the region.”
U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith, chair for the Senate Transportation-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee was also complimentary of the GGP's efforts in growth.
“The Greater Grenada Partnership, along with city and county leaders, deserves to be commended for their methodical approach to meeting the growing housing needs for a growing region,” she said. “More workers, more jobs and more housing represent a very welcome signal of sustained growth, and I look forward to continuing to work with local leaders to improve the quality of life in this area.”
According to Harrison, the initiative addresses a workforce challenge at a regional employment center that draws from a 10-county labor market of more than 250,000 residents. More than 5,000 people commute into Grenada County for work each day, according to U.S. Census Bureau commuting data — meaning a majority of the jobs in the county are filled by people who live somewhere else.
“For too long, our young people and our workforce have had to look elsewhere for a place to live. This is about giving people a reason to stay, put down roots and build their lives right here in Grenada,” Grenada County Board of Supervisors President Chad Bridges said.
Harrison concurred.
“Greater Grenada has become a place where people come to work,” Harrison added. “This initiative is about making it a place where they can also afford to live, with the potential to welcome several thousand new residents and help working families put down roots where the jobs are being created.”
The ripple effects, according to Harrison, extend well beyond the front door. New rooftops and a larger daytime population strengthen the case for the grocery, dining, retail and service businesses that residents have long wanted to see, helping recapture spending that currently leaves the community.
“New residential construction also broadens the local tax base that supports schools, roads and public services,” Harrison continued. “In short, housing is the foundation that turns record industrial recruitment into lasting, community-wide prosperity.”
Knight Development's proposal outlines a phased strategy designed to balance urgency with durable, long-term planning. An initial phase focuses on the rapid delivery of one- and two-bedroom workforce housing to respond quickly to immediate employer needs, followed by a second phase of three- and four-bedroom family housing to support long-term retention.
“Every new home is a family that shops here, banks here and invests in this community. This initiative strengthens our tax base and our Main Street at the same time — that's how you build a stronger local economy for everyone,” Keith Mitchell, chairman for Greater Grenada Foundation for Economic Development, said.
Knight's plan also emphasizes an amenity-rich, walkable neighborhood environment — with central green space, pedestrian connectivity and shared community amenities — and is designed to be delivered within a five-year horizon.
“Grenada County is competing for jobs and investment at a level we haven't seen in a generation, and housing is what makes that growth real for our families,” GGP chairwoman Sherrie Jones said. “Partnering with an experienced team like Knight Development lets us act on that need with the seriousness it deserves.”
What's on deck next for the GGP?
According to Harrison, with the partner selection complete, GGP and Knight Development will begin work on site evaluation, due diligence and development planning. Additional details regarding project sites, design and timing will be shared as the partnership advances.
While work is just beginning, the foundation for residential growth has been laid. As homes begin to rise, the county is expected to welcome thousands of new residents and see new jobs, investment and retail growth.