Congress approved this week the General Services Administration to purchase the land and design the new facility. Greenville Mayor Errick Simmons thanked President Barack Obama and Sens. The proposal was pushed through by Roger Wicker, Thad Cochran, and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson. “The new federal building in Greenville is a catalyst for economic development. In a statement, the federal money injection of $40 million will help revitalize and revive our downtown …” Simmons. “This courthouse is a great example of how federal and local partnerships work.” The U.S. The Marshals Service gave Greenville’s federal courthouse, which was built in 1958, a rating 14 out of 100. This makes it one of the most secure in the country. It has been rerouted almost all Greenville’s criminal cases to Oxford’s federal courtshouse. David Crews, a court clerk in the Northern District, stated that “(the lack of security has definitely had an effect on the traffic at the courthouse.” In August. The new courthouse will open in 2021. The 62,000-square-foot building will also house the U.S. Marshals Service. The U.S. Marshals Service is the U.S. Attorneys, the Federal Public Defender’s office and the U.S. Probation Services Office. Crews said that these cases, as well as the lawyers, judges and witnesses attached to them, will most likely return to the old courthouse once it is completed. The new courthouse will have separate elevators for prisoners and holding cells close to courtrooms, as well as separate entrances and hallways that are reserved for judges. Simmons stated that the courthouse is an important part of a continuing effort to bring back businesses to downtown Greenville. Local developer Bill Boykin will open Lofts at 517 in the spring. It is a historic renovation of the downtown Sears building. The plans include 16 hotel suites and 12 condominiums as well as a retail space, craft brewery, and restaurant. Another developer plans to invest $1.2 million in downtown Rodeway Inn’s transformation into a Cabot Lodge. This three-star hotel chain will be located at Cabot Lodge. Simmons stated that successful cities have strong downtowns. “There’s an increase of morale due to this courthouse, there is an increase of community pride, I believe, with any money being injected into an area.” Greenville’s pride in its community was challenged last month when a local African American Church was set on fire and the words “Vote Trump” were spray painted on its sides. National headlines were made of the incident and the FBI started investigating the FBI as a hate crime. They cited a tendency among white nationalists to use the name of the president-elect to justify their cause. Police had not yet found a suspect or motive for the fire as of Friday. Simmons stated that the town is moving forward in the interim. Simmons said that the people are united here and work together. Simmons stated that race relations are positive. People are saying that Greenville is moving. “We’re following your community.”