Tupelo has been named an “All America City” three times by the National Civic League. Tupelo/ Lee County is consistently ranked as one of the top counties in Mississippi for personal income, retail sales, total employment, and business activity. Tupelo/Lee County is home to the largest base of manufacturing employees in Mississippi. Economic development activity is plentiful, as Site Selection magazine has ranked Tupelo/Lee County in the top five micropolitan areas for new and expanded industries in the nation for the past three years running.
As a regional retail, financial, and medical hub for Northeast Mississippi, Tupelo/Lee County was recently ranked the 2nd Top Micropolitan in the nation for new and expanding industries by Site Selection Magazine. The community and surrounding region has placed a tremendous emphasis on customized workforce training for our industries through the University of Mississippi's Advanced Education Center and Itawamba Community College in Tupelo. Also located within an hour's drive of the community are the two major education and research institutions: Mississippi State University and the University of Mississippi.
The number one manufacturing county in the State of Mississippi, Tupelo/Lee County serves over 220 manufacturing and distribution operations including: MTD Products, Cooper Tire and Rubber Company, Lane Furniture, Sara Lee Foods, and Day-Brite/Capri/Omega. A labor force of over 276,000 exists within a 60-mile radius of Tupelo, as well as a total manufacturing workforce of over 77,000. More than 30% of employees in
