Councilmembers are on the verge of striking out once again with another potential multi-million dollar economic development deal after several elected officials failed to attend a special-called meeting of the Grenada City Council Friday morning.
The topic of conversation: A Letter of Interest to be presented to Academy Sports + Outdoors early next week.
According to officials, the issue at hand is whether or not to offer the large retail chain that sells sporting goods and outdoor recreation products incentives to consider Grenada for its next Mississippi store. At the same time – 38 miles north of Grenada just off Interstate 55 in Batesville – Academy executives were celebrating the Grand Opening of its newest store.
According to Greater Grenada Partnership CEO Matthew Harrison, he met with City Manager Dr. Trina George at City Hall earlier this week to discuss the potential of Academy Sports + Outdoors locating in Grenada. He said that the two discussed the potential of the large retailer building on 10 acres of the vacant city-owned property adjacent to the multi-million dollar Kirk Auto Group Sport Complex located just off Interstate 55 on Paper Mill Road. He had initially been approached by members of the Grenada Tourism Commission Board of Directors two weeks earlier requesting that he meet with city officials on behalf of Tourism and GGP’s shared retail consultant after learning that some city officials were interested in commercial development for the property.
“The Greater Grenada Partnership has presented the City of Grenada with a significant retail opportunity to attract Academy Sports + Outdoors as a potential anchor for the new Sports Complex property — representing roughly $12 million in private investment, averaging $23 million in sales and potentially generating an estimated $460,000 in new annual tax revenue,” Harrison said after the lengthy meeting.
Harrison said that he also discussed with Dr. George the need for the city to write a prospecting letter for him to provide to the consultant, who is scheduled to meet with Academy representatives Tuesday. While the letter was promptly provided, it did not offer any incentives to entice Academy officials to move Grenada up on their list of potential communities.
“While the City is not making a formal incentive offer at this time, we are eager to collaborate with your representatives to explore opportunities that could support a successful site location,” Dr. George wrote in the letter signed Oct. 28, 2025. “Our focus will be on facilitating coordination, infrastructure planning, and a smooth development process to ensure that Grenada presents the most competitive and attractive option for your project.”
The letter, according to Harrison, is not aggressive enough.
“While the City did send a letter expressing general interest, the Greater Grenada Partnership and its retail consultant had provided specific recommendations for a defined incentive proposal that would make Grenada competitive,” Harrison said. “Those recommendations were not included and the letter ultimately did not contain a clear offer or incentive framework outlining what the City was willing to do to secure this major retail investment. Unfortunately, without a defined offer, the City makes it much more difficult to compete effectively for consideration.”
When Mayor Charles H. Latham – who is in favor of incentivizing Academy – learned of the meeting and subsequent letter Thursday, he sprang into action. With differing opinions among Councilmembers, Mayor Latham called for the special meeting in hopes of ironing out the details. His efforts fell on deaf ears.
After nine minutes, Mayor Latham was forced to cancel the meeting due to the lack of a quorum. Those in attendance for the meeting with Mayor Latham were Councilman Warren B. Cox (Ward 1), Councilwoman Lori Chavis (Ward 6) and Councilman Ronald J. Merriman (Ward 7) as well as Dr. George. City Attorney Mary Brown was in attendance via telephone.
Absent were Councilman Lewis Johnson (Ward 3), Councilman Fredreick “Pete” Wilson (Ward 2), Councilman Eric Harris (Ward 5) and Councilman Michael Smith (Ward 4).
The City issued no notification to The Star or its citizens of the 11 a.m. meeting. The City’s website did not include a notice of the meeting, a notice was not posted on the front door of City Hall and no emails were received by The Star.
With no quorum, discussion among the Councilmembers present – who were eager to work together to compose another letter – was unable to commence, leaving questions and concerns about how to secure Academy Sport + Outdoors on the table. Without defined incentives, Harrison fears that the City will be passed over on this economic development deal offering significant potential for the City of Grenada.
