Golden Triangle (Mississippi)

The area's economic development potential is anchored by the presence of Mississippi State University, Columbus Air Force Base, and associated spin-off industries in research, high-tech manufacturing, aerospace, transportation, and education.

Columbus was able to succeed due to its historical importance as a port on the Tombigbee River that made the city attractive to industry.

It suffered the closing of a Sara Lee meat-processing plant in 2007 that cost 1000 jobs, equivalent to "a tenth of the town's population.

"[8] The local jurisdictions and counties have joined together in 2012 to support an economic development authority to recruit industry to the area.

The consortium was based on an "annual operating budget of $2.5 million, 70 percent of which will come from public entities in the three counties that make up the Golden Triangle.

Since the early 21st century, several manufacturing companies have located at the Golden Triangle Industrial Park in Lowndes County, leading to a resurgence in the Columbus area.