Pike County may be full of small towns but big things are happening in growth and development in those communities.

Brundidge Mayor Jimmy Ramage, Goshen Mayor Jack Waller and Planning and Zoning Administrator for the City of Troy Melissa Sanders joined the ladies at Female Factor Wednesday to discuss “The State of the County.”

Ramage opened the program, discussing industrial life flourishing in Brundidge.

“The City of Brundidge today is a $20 million business, which is unusual for a town with less than 2,100 people,” he said. “We have been very fortunate, for a town our size, to have industry.”

Brundidge will welcome its third food industry, Magnolia Vegetable Processors, opening in the fall. “Our town is looking good,” Ramage said. “We are proud of the third industry we are about to add.”

The audience had questions concerning the new restaurant coming to Brundidge, as the city council approved its liquor license Tuesday night. Ramage said the restaurant will be an upscale restaurant and the opening day will hopefully be Labor Day.

Waller focused on Goshen schools, how they’ve approved and how they are continuing to grow. “It looks like a whole different place in the school section,” he said. “We are proud of it.”

Goshen has added a new gym and has renovated the softball field at the high school, allowing the teams to have a better place to play and practice. “Our girls sports can compete with anybody in the state,” Waller said.

He also discussed the Agriscience Academy, allowing students to use computers to communicate and take classes from teachers at universities such as Auburn University as well as incorporating hands-on experiences through a greenhouse program.

“I’m impressed with how the students are adapting and learning through the programs,” Waller said. “We’re proud of our schools. We’re having students come from Troy to enroll in Goshen, when usually it’s the other way around.”

Sanders, in place of Troy Mayor Jason Reeves, spoke to the ladies at Female Factor about the Publix development, as well as other advancements that the City of Troy is putting into action.

She announced that the city has just been awarded a $400,000 grant in federal funds through the Transportation Alternatives Program for a multi-use path along the Enzor Road connector road, that is part of the roadwork coming along with the Publix development.

“This will be a great addition to our city for pedestrians and bicyclists,” Sanders said. “We believe it’s going to be a great project for the City of Troy.” She also explained that the new roads would allow for more access for emergency vehicles.

Sanders announced that the ground breaking for the Publix development is targeted for January 2016, and the development will draw in more than a dozen retail stores; however, she could not name any specific stores yet.

In addition to the grant for the roadwork, Troy has also received a $150,000 grant for recycling research. Sanders emphasized that recycling is free for Troy; however, Troy is unable to recycle glass products.

Also in store for Troy is a sidewalk project for Downtown Troy, improving the sidewalks while also adding more green space and much-needed shade trees.

Female Factor, sponsored by Troy Regional Medical Center, among other local sponsors, holds a meeting the second Wednesday of each month at noon in the Studio in Downtown Troy.