The increase in economic development in Warren County has been a hot button topic for quite a while, and the news this week that a new project will be coming to the Ceres Industrial Park was very welcome.

Love’s Travel Stop, which has 14 locations in Mississippi, plans to build a travel stop complex at the industrial park, which is a $10 million investment and is expected to employ up to 50 people.

The development was made possible after the Warren County Board of Supervisors and the Port Commission agreed on the sale of 20 acres of land at the industrial park for the project.

With thousands of tractor-trailers traveling along Interstate 20 each day, it’s a natural fit for a travel stop in our vicinity.

“A Love’s Travel Center would be a great addition to the Ceres Industrial Park, as it will accomplish a number of positive things for the park and for economic development,” Pablo Diaz, Warren County’s economic development director, said following the announcement. “First, we are excited about the 50 jobs that will be added to our community and the associated investment that this project will bring to Warren County. Second, this facility will attract more people to get off the interstate and shop in Warren County, while also providing additional food and shopping options to current employees working at Ceres. And third, we believe this development will set a new pace of activity at the industrial park that will help us create more jobs and attract further investment to Warren County.”

The community and officials have been disappointed more development has not occurred at the industrial park since its inception three decades ago, so perhaps this new project will give the facility a shot in the arm and attract future development.

We applaud our local officials for working together to make this project a possibility and look forward to the economic benefits it could bring.