Shopping can be seen as an investment.

It’s an investment on the consumer’s part because they are investing hard earned money in whatever item they’re buying.

They want it to be worth the cost, and able to withstand multiple uses.

Commerce is an investment on the seller’s behalf for other obvious reasons. If people don’t like what they’re selling or their customer service, they lose out on profits.

This week the giant online retailer Amazon made a large investment in Mobile, Ala.; a $30 million investment to be exact.

The sorting and shipping center will open later this year and employ more than 360 part-time employees and more than 1,000 seasonally.

That’s quite an investment in Alabama, one that Mississippi residents should be jealous of.

This is exactly the type of investment we need in Pearl River County.

As a central location in South Mississippi, with rail lines and major highways, locating distribution centers in this area would benefit both parties.

For the past several months, county leaders have discussed plans to establish an economic development council.

Once that is established, these are the investments that the future executive director needs to fight for.

Our community needs investments like this to provide residents with opportunities to increase their skills, and incomes, by working for a national company that’s held a competitive edge for a number of years.

When it comes down to it, these investments are really what’s going to make a difference in our local economy.