The big announcements just keep coming.

Just prior to Christmas, it was Amazon.

The latest is Corelle Brands.

And that follows others to the Chickasaw Trail Industrial Park, like Post, Cooper Tire, Volvo, Niagara Bottling, Carrier, McCormick, Exel, Rockwool, Carrier and ASICS.

Gov. Phil Bryant, in his eighth and final year as governor, made the Corelle announcement last Thursday morning via Twitter.

“Corelle Brands is opening a new facility in Marshall County, investing $27.7 million and creating 400 new jobs. We are happy to have them as a Mississippi business partner.”

A few years back, I think at a Parker Hannifin expansion announcement in Holly Springs, Governor Bryant remarked that he might as well open a satellite office in Marshall County because he’s spending so much time here.

He is wrapping up his two terms as governor.

And he’s had his photo in The South Reporter many times in those eight years.

Things are definitely happening in Marshall County, particularly in the northwest corner. It’s the hotbed for economic development not just in Mississippi, but far beyond.

I’ve heard it time and time again when it comes to business development – location, location, location. And this location is hard to beat.

• Direct access to four-lane highways/interstate – 72, 302,

269.

• Norfolk Southern Railway is adjacent.

• Connected by a heavy weight haul road with load capacity of 120,000 lbs.

• 10 miles from FedEx’s Hub.

• 27 miles from Memphis International Airport.

• 36 miles from Port of Memphis.

• New state-of-the-art Workforce Training Center.

These features are gamechangers for Marshall County.

It’s amazing how much the opening of Interstate 269 has increased traffic in just the past few months.

And its opening, as one Holly Springs businessman told me last week, has upped the traffic count a lot on the adjacent I-22.

But perhaps the biggest game changer when it comes to economic development is teamwork, at the local level and state level – not caring who gets the credit.

Justin Hall leads the Marshall County Development Authority and leads it well. He might be the busiest man in Marshall County. His plate is overflowing as our county continues to grab the economic development headlines. There’s no telling how many cell phone calls and e-mails he gets in a week’s time. Yet, he remains cool, collected and focused.

But he will be the first to tell you – it’s all about working together. It’s about Marshall County as a whole, Holly Springs, Byhalia, Potts Camp and every small community in between.

For too, too long, Marshall County has lagged behind in a lot of areas.

Grabbing the good news headlines when it comes to economic development can only spill over into more good news headlines in lots of other areas, like education, if this teamwork continues to take the forefront.

Buckle up. This ride is far from over.