As logistics hubs go, the metro Memphis region stands among the nation’s busiest, attracting some 64 major logistics facility investments between 2020 and May 2026, according to Site Selection magazine’s Conway Projects Database.
What are the hidden logistics advantages of the tri-state Memphis area? In a word: Mississippi. Places such as Southaven and Olive Branch in DeSoto County and locations in neighboring Marshall County have been known for distribution center development for decades now. Their corner of the Magnolia State accounts for 21 of those Memphis metro area projects, including a 1,000-job facility from Amazon in Byhalia; a 250-job facility from Walmart in Olive Branch; and a 125-job investment from Hormel Foods in Southaven.
That North Mississippi all-star hub is just one small part of a Mississippi strategic advantage that includes deepwater ports on the Gulf, a multimodal freight network, the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway and the entire Mississippi River freight corridor that forms the state’s western boundary and features nodes in Greenville, Vicksburg and historic Natchez. The state’s logistics holster also includes a continuously improving highway network and portfolio of industrial sites.
The Springs Industrial Park BNSF Certified Site in Marshall County, 40 miles southeast of Memphis, in December 2025 welcomed the news from Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves that more than $8.5 million of $28.6 million coming from Mississippi Development Authority’s Site Development Grant Program was being directed toward the purchase of 1,110 acres, making the entire 1,200-acre site publicly owned.
Passage of House Bill 1938 during the 2026 Regular Session of the Mississippi Legislature meant funding was appropriated for two major expansion projects by the Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) on I-55 in Madison County and Highway 25 in Rankin County, expanding each corridor from four lanes to six lanes. The counties both lie adjacent to the state capital city of Jackson. And Madison County is home to the city of Canton, known for its massive Nissan plant. In a release, MDOT officials praised HB 1938 as a significant investment in Mississippi’s infrastructure and long-term economic competitiveness.
“This coming year, MDOT will enjoy the largest budget we’ve ever had with the authority to spend upwards of about $2.3 billion toward the advancement and enhancement of our transportation system across the state,” said MDOT Executive Director Brad White. “We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the Mississippi Legislature for their investment and commitment to transportation, as well as our congressional delegation through the federal funds that we get through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other grants.”
White further explained that the Mississippi Transportation Commission was “put in an unenviable position” a few years ago where capacity building was put on hold in order to devote all funds toward maintenance. “Thankfully, about six years ago when FHWA was reauthorized by Congress, thanks in large part to Sen. Roger Wicker, Mississippi was able to have an additional billion dollars made available to our state over that five-year authorization,” he said.
“Both of these projects are much needed,” said Mississippi Transportation Commission Chairman Willie Simmons, “and we are very pleased to be in the position where we are going from kicking the can down the road to actually preparing to let and build these projects in a manner that takes care of our communities — the business community, the emergency responders’ needs and all the individuals that travel these corridors.”
Corrugated products like this will be made at a new International Paper plant in Brandon, Mississippi, that benefits from a location on the CPKC Railway.
Photo courtesy of International Paper
That business community is growing and connectivity is key: In May 2026 International Paper broke ground for a new $225 million, 468,000-sq.-ft. corrugated packaging plant at East Metro Center in Brandon in Rankin County. “We are proud to partner with International Paper on their new box plant in Brandon, Mississippi, located on the CPKC Railway,” said CPKC Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing Coby Bullard, noting the railroad’s transnational network.
In March, MDOT and the MTC convened a meeting that featured the video participation of former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott to discuss the proposed I-69 project through Mississippi that was designated 35 years ago as a High Priority Corridor by the Intermodal Surface Transportation Act but continues to run into funding roadblocks. It’s coming back into the spotlight because of its intended role as a corridor between Mexico and Canada at a time when USMCA trade negotiations are underway. The 1,600-mile corridor from the Lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas to Port Huron, Michigan, is designed to support international and domestic trade, moving commerce from Mexico to Canada.
“If you’re interested in economic development in Mississippi, it begins with transportation,” said Lott at the meeting. “I’ve seen it happen — wherever you have an interstate, whether it’s Interstate 10 or 55, your business and economic development occurs along those highways. I’m a big advocate and supporter of Interstate 69.”
New federal funding opportunities for multistate Interstate construction could bring new momentum to the project, which MDOT leaders are reevaluating in order to complete the next phase from I-269 South to Highway 4 near Tunica.
“An interstate system through the Mississippi Delta could provide economic development opportunities well into the future,” said MDOT’s Brad White. “Linking major freight hubs to our state could provide business growth that region has never seen before.”
