A piece of property once used for large-scale recycling of rubber may soon be recycled for economic development purposes by the city of Vicksburg.

Tuesday, the Secretary of State’s Office announced the state had transferred 12.6 acres, once home to U.S. Rubber Reclaiming Inc., has to the city of Vicksburg. The transfer officially took place Dec. 4.

“The city of Vicksburg has done a tremendous job in attracting new businesses and has been an excellent partner with our Office over the years in returning parcels to the tax rolls,” Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said. “Under Mayor Flagg’s leadership and vision, I am confident this property will benefit the city of Vicksburg.”

The property is located on the west side of U.S. 61 South, at 200 Rubber Way. The building on the property was destroyed by a fire in 2006. 

The property was later purchased by a local developer for potential development but was later sold for back taxes.

The state of Mississippi acquired the property when no one claimed it during the county tax sale. The assessment will determine what environmental hazards are on the property.

To position this property for future development, Hosemann said, the city will need to develop a strategy in cooperation with the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to clean up the property, where a significant amount of accumulated rubber currently resides.

“I appreciate Secretary Hosemann’s efforts to arrange the transfer of this property to the city of Vicksburg,” Mayor George Flaggs Jr. said. “I have every confidence that it will be put to good use as we work to move Vicksburg forward.”

In April, before the property had been transferred, the Board of Mayor and Aldermen authorized PPM Consultants to perform a phase 1 environmental assessment of the property.

Tuesday, Flaggs said the property just adds to the list of properties the city has as an asset for economic development.

“Great piece for property for future growth of Vicksburg,” Flaggs said. “There are a number of ideas in place for that property, but the first step was making sure we were able to get it.”

Mississippi Code Annotated Section 29-1-21 provides for the intergovernmental transfer of tax-forfeited lands.