Folks who live, work and even visit our little neck of the woods are well aware that growth is constant in Lafayette County. It seems a new store or development appears every day.

Local investment and economic expansion are positive signs for communities because of the inherent quality of life improvements they represent. In light of this, financial technology company SmartAsset recently completed its second annual study on counties receiving the greatest amount of investment in their local economies and to no one’s surprise, Lafayette County is among the leaders in Mississippi.

Lafayette County and other top places in Mississippi were ranked due to their performance across four categories: business establishment growth, GDP growth, new building permits and municipal bond investment.

According to the study, Lafayette County has an income investment index of 48.68, just behind top-ranked Hinds County at 54.21. Nationally, Lafayette County came in at No. 68, while Hinds County was No. 41.

Lafayette County has a business establishment growth of 5.4 percent, a GDP growth of $18 million and municipal bond investment of $4,620 per capita.

But the most striking part of the study indicates Lafayette County has been issuing 29 building permits per 1,000 homes, which is tops in the state.

Our community is truly blessed.