PONTOTOC, Miss. (WTVA) -- Chickasaw, Pontotoc and Union counties are joining forces.
They've hired economic developer Josh West to attract businesses and jobs to those areas.
One thing, he says, that those counties have in common is the link to Highway 15, which runs from New Albany to Houston.
An alliance was formed in 2009 with Pontotoc and Union counties.
This month, Chickasaw County joined in.
"Of course, our main goal, is more, better jobs for the region, for the counties we serve. We feel like Chickasaw County provides us the opportunity to improve our services," said West.
The veteran economic developer says that since 2009 he's seen success, particularly at places like Southern Motion in Pontotoc County.
Now he hopes to duplicate that in the counties of Pontotoc, Union and Chickasaw.
West says he was hired back in 2009 by Pontotoc and Union counties when the recruitment of Toyota Manufacturing in Blue Springs was underway.
He adds that the Pontotoc, Union and Lee Alliance, which helped bring the project to fruition, is an example for others to follow.
He says adding Chickasaw County to the new alliance has given him money to hire new staff and expand the geographical limits of where potential businesses can locate.
Houston Mayor Stacey Parker says he's hopeful the alliance will bring jobs to his town and area, even if it's not on the scale of a Toyota Manufacturing.
"With this situation here, it can do nothing but help us from an industrial recruitment side of it joining with Pontotoc County and Union County," said Parker.
West says his focus will be to continue to recruit the furniture industry and to seek ways to diversify the industrial base.
Pontotoc County, Chickasaw County — which includes leaders from both Houston and Okolona — and Union County have a renewable agreement with West, who works for Three Rivers Planning and Development District.
The county is paying $40,000 while each city is pitching in $20,000.
