Yazoo County received some good news this week with about $4.4 million dollars worth of local project funds arriving from the state legislation.
Sam Martin, lobbyist for the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors, provided a legislative update during Monday’s county meeting that included the local projects funds, levee system improvement and the creation of the Yazoo Economic Alliance.
“Our Yazoo County delegation of Senators Briggs Hopson, Joseph Thomas, and House members Kevin Ford, Bryant Clark, and Timaka James-Jones did an incredible job advocating for their constituents this year,” Martin said. “We are very thankful for a successful 2026 Session.”
The Legislature adopted Senate Bill 2189 that provided various local projects throughout the state. The bill is before Gov. Tate Reeves for his consideration. Unless the Governor vetoes or line-item vetoes the Bill, the projects are set to be funded.
Locally, county leaders welcomed the bill with excitement for what it could mean for Yazoo County’s economic potential, particularly along the I-55 corridor.
The Yazoo County Economic Development District is set to receive $1,000,000 to assist in paying costs associated with the purchase of land for a Mega Site on I-55 for the Vaughn Industrial Park.
“We greatly appreciate the legislature’s commitment to investing in our community through funding for property acquisition and economic development,” said Supervisor Joseph Thomas Jr. “This kind of forward-thinking support gives us the opportunity to attract new businesses, create jobs, and build a stronger future for our area. With this partnership between state and local leadership, we are well-positioned to make meaningful, long-term progress that benefits everyone in the community.”
The Yazoo County Board of Supervisors will receive $3,000,000 to assist in paying costs associated with the Lake George Bridge Replacement Project.
“The county has already received about $6,000,000 for that project, making it $9,000,000 total,” Martin added.
Martin said officials told him the bridge project should begin this summer.
Bentonia will receive $400,000 to assist in paying costs associated with rebuilding or purchasing a building and retrofitting for the purpose of a fire station. A devastating fire destroyed the Bentonia fire station in April of 2025.
Satartia will receive $50,000 to assist in paying costs associated with the purchase of a police car.
House Bill 1041, which was signed by Gov. Reeves, also authorized the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct levee systems along the Yazoo River.
“This project will help protect 123,000 acres of agricultural land and Delta communities from flooding when the Mississippi River rises and backs up the Yazoo River,” said Lt. Governor Delbert Hoseman, in a previous interview. “Flooding has been an ongoing challenge in this part of our state, so this project is long overdue. We are glad to help move this forward.”
The bill grants broad authority to the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission to construct and directly manage all phases of a major levee system project, including design, pre-construction, environmental mitigation, and right-of-way acquisitions for a levee system bordering portions of the Yazoo River, within Yazoo County.
Martin said the engineering analysis should begin within the next five months to a year before bidding and construction begin. At some point, he added the maintenance of the 48-mile levee may fall upon the Corps of Engineers. He added that this project is not directly related to the project commonly referred to as the "Yazoo Backwater Pumps," but is still extremely important to the prevention of flooding in this area.
House Bill 4130 and Senate Bill 3408 were also introduced to authorize the county to establish the Yazoo Economic Alliance as an economic and industrial development authority. Senators Briggs Hopson and Joseph Thomas and House members Kevin Ford, Bryant Clark, and Timaka James-Jones were vital in the passage of this matter.
