Tupelo
The City of Tupelo is a municipal government in Tupelo, Mississippi, delivering resident and business services through ~10 wholly-owned departments including Tupelo Water & Light (utility), Tupelo Transit, Police, Fire (7 stations), Public Works, Development Services, Parks & Recreation, and Municipal Court.
- Company typePublic
- Founded1905
- HeadquartersTupelo, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Tupelo does
The City of Tupelo is a municipal government entity and political subdivision of the State of Mississippi, operating from City Hall at 71 East Troy St. in Tupelo, MS. It delivers a comprehensive portfolio of resident and business services through approximately ten wholly-owned operating departments, including Tupelo Water & Light (a municipal utility providing electricity, water, sewer, and garbage under Tennessee Valley Authority regulatory oversight), Tupelo Transit (curb-to-curb public transit), the Tupelo Police Department, the Tupelo Fire Department (seven stations citywide), Public Works (maintaining 343 miles of streets plus a municipal tree farm nurturing ~1,800 saplings), Development Services (permitting, zoning, code enforcement, and GIS mapping), Parks & Recreation (including the Tupelo Aquatic Facility), Municipal Court, Finance, and Human Resources.
The city's technology stack is built on commercial off-the-shelf platforms rather than proprietary systems: Utility Nexus powers online utility billing and service restoration; ADP Workforce Now handles payroll, HR, and recruitment; ArcGIS delivers the public-facing interactive zoning, flood, and ward mapping; PowerDMS supports police policy management; Municipal Online Payments processes court fines; and the Code Red emergency alert system (jointly operated with Lee County EMA) provides severe weather and public safety notifications. An online bidding portal (Plan House / Central Bidding) digitizes procurement, and Microsoft Office 365 supports internal communications.
Tupelo's revenue mechanics are diversified across six streams typical of mid-size U.S. municipalities: property taxes collected by Lee County, recurring utility service charges (residential and commercial power, water, sewer, garbage), one-time privilege and solicitor licenses, municipal court fines and fees, permitting and development fees, and per-trip public transit fares ($2 one-way / $4 round-trip). Customers are concentrated in two segments — city residents and commercial/industrial businesses — both captive within Tupelo's jurisdictional boundaries. The city has been recognized as an All-America City at least five times by the National Civic League. Mayor Todd Jordan, the city's 29th mayor, was elected in June 2021 and leads the seven-member elected City Council.
Tupelo firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tupelo
- Legal name
- City of Tupelo
- Website
- https://tupeloms.gov
- Company type
- Public
- Founded year
- 1905
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The City of Tupelo is a municipal government in Tupelo, Mississippi, delivering resident and business services through ~10 wholly-owned departments including Tupelo Water & Light (utility), Tupelo Transit, Police, Fire (7 stations), Public Works, Development Services, Parks & Recreation, and Municipal Court.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tupelo industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Municipal Government Services
- NAICS
- Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Sewage Treatment Facilities (22132), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (922), Administration of Housing Programs, Urban Planning, and Community Development (9251), Urban Transit Systems (48511), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629)
- SIC
- Water Supply (4941), Refuse Systems (4953), Local & Suburban Transit & Interurban Hwy Passenger Trans (4100), Sanitary Services (4950), Hazardous Waste Management (4955)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mayor/City Manager & General Administration (BPAIACAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF), Solid Waste & Recycling Services Administration (BPAIACAH), Gravity Sewer Collection Networks (Sanitary Sewers) (EUANACAA), Lift Station & Pump Station Operations & Maintenance (BPALAMAI)
Keywords
Where Tupelo is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tupelo
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices14 records
Markets served
Tupelo business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Property Taxes: City of Tupelo property taxes collected by Lee County Tax Assessor and Tax Collector
- Utility Services Revenue: Revenue from Tupelo Water & Light providing residential and commercial power, water, sewer, and garbage collection services
- Privilege Licenses: Business privilege licenses allowing persons to do business in the city for profit; also transient vendor and solicitor licenses
- Municipal Court Fines and Fees: Fines collected from municipal court for violations of city ordinances including traffic violations and code violations
- Permitting and Development Fees: Fees collected for various construction permits, rental certificates, rezoning applications, and development services
- Public Transit Fares: Transit fares collected for curb-to-curb transportation service: $2.00 one-way and $4.00 round-trip
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard transit fare for all riders |
| Usage-based | Monthly | Residential and commercial utility services |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Firefighter recruitment |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Utility service connection/deposit |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Service restoration fees |
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Tupelo product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The City of Tupelo is a municipal government providing essential public services to residents and businesses within city limits. Its core offerings include municipal utilities (electricity, water, sewer, and garbage collection through Tupelo Water & Light), public safety (police and fire services), public transportation (curb-to-curb transit), parks and recreation, permitting and development services, public works/street maintenance, and municipal court operations. Services are delivered through departmental offices, online portals, and physical infrastructure distributed across the city.
Product overview
Tupelo (City of Tupelo, Mississippi) operates as a municipal government providing public services through a departmental structure. The city's offerings include core utility services (Tupelo Water & Light), public transportation (Tupelo Transit), public safety (Police and Fire Departments), infrastructure (Public Works), parks and recreation, and judicial services (Municipal Court). Supporting these core operations are digital platforms including online utility billing, GIS mapping, emergency alert systems (Code Red), crime statistics reporting, and procurement portals. The Development Services department handles permitting, zoning, and code enforcement through various application processes. These services function as an integrated municipal service ecosystem rather than a unified software product.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tupelo Water & Light: Municipal utility department providing water, electricity, and garbage services to residents and commercial customers.
- Tupelo Transit
- Tupelo Aquatic Facility
Products and services
- Tupelo Water & Light Municipal utility service providing electricity, water, sewer, and garbage services to residential and commercial customers. Operates under TVA partnership with Comprehensive Service Programs for commercial customers. Service area limited to Tupelo city boundaries.
- Tupelo Transit Public transportation system offering curb-to-curb on-demand service Monday through Friday, 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., with $2 one-way and $4 round-trip fares. Guaranteed seating available with 48-hour advance request by calling 662-269-3735.
- Development Services Department overseeing permitting, building inspections, planning and zoning, GIS mapping, code enforcement, and community development. Processes residential and commercial construction permits, rental certifications, rezoning applications, and tax abatement applications. Permit applications may be submitted via email to [email protected] or in person on the third floor of City Hall.
- Parks & Recreation Municipal parks and recreation department providing sports programs, park rentals, summer day camp, therapeutic recreation, and access to the Tupelo Aquatic Facility.
- Police Department Law enforcement services including community-oriented policing, crime statistics reporting (weekly reports and archive), Citizens Review Board, Crime Stoppers program, and citizen action requests. Operates 911 and non-emergency E-911 lines.
- Fire Department
Quantifiable outcome
- Lowest power rates in the country for residential customers
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Tupelo
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tupelo technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature4 records
Tupelo partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA)coreTVA provides regulatory oversight for Tupelo Water & Light's power rates and service practices. Through the Comprehensive Service Program, TVA supports commercial customers with various benefits. TVA oversees the ratepayer complaint resolution process for issues not resolved at the local level.
- TVA Complaint Resolution ProcesscoreTVA's Complaint Resolution Process provides regulatory oversight and an escalation pathway for customers who have issues or complaints that cannot be resolved directly with Tupelo Water & Light.
- FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)minorFEMA flood zone mapping referenced for property development and flood insurance awareness through FloodSmart.gov partnership.
- Tupelo Convention and Visitor's BureauminorPartnership for community events promotion and tourism. Referenced for community calendar and event information at www.tupelo.net/events/
- Tupelo 360minorCommunity calendar and information platform partnership at tupelo360.com for community events and engagement.
- Community Development Foundation (CDF)minorReferenced as resource for economic development and community growth information at www.cdf.org.
- Downtown Tupelo Main Street AssociationminorPartnership for downtown development and revitalization efforts at www.tupelomainstreet.com.
- United WayminorPartnership providing community assistance resources. United Way Help Guides available for residents in need of assistance.
- Lee County EMA (Emergency Management Agency)coreJoint emergency alert system (Code Red) and emergency management coordination. Lee County EMA phone: (662) 432-2953.
- NFPA (National Fire Protection Association)minorPartnership for fire safety education materials and safety tips. NFPA provides home fire safety, candle safety, heating safety, and holiday safety resources.
- U.S. Fire Administration (FEMA)minorFederal fire prevention education resources linked through Community Risk Reduction program at fire department.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Tupelo competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- City of Meridian, Mississippi: Sister Mississippi municipal government of comparable population (~38K) operating a full suite of departments (utilities, public safety, transit, public works, development services). Meridian's service mix and departmental structure closely mirror Tupelo's, making it the most directly comparable peer.
- City of Oxford, Mississippi: Mississippi municipal government (~25K residents, anchored by University of Mississippi) operating utilities, public works, police, fire, transit, and development services. Comparable departmental structure and revenue mix to Tupelo, with similar reliance on TVA-regulated power and property tax base.
- City of Starkville, Mississippi: Mississippi municipal government (~25K, home of Mississippi State University) providing parallel municipal services — utilities, public safety, transit, public works, parks, development services. Direct structural peer to Tupelo with a similar collegiate/economic-base profile.
- City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi: Larger Mississippi municipal government (~48K) operating a similar full-service municipal portfolio including utilities, transit, police, fire, public works, and development services. Direct comparable for scaled municipal operations in the same regulatory/state environment.
- City of Columbus, Mississippi: Mississippi municipal government (~24K) operating parallel departments — utilities, public safety, public works, transit, parks, development services, and municipal court. Comparable governmental structure and revenue mix within the same state regulatory framework.
- City of Corinth, Mississippi: Smaller Mississippi municipal government (~14K) providing utilities, public safety, public works, and development services. Comparable service portfolio and operating model in the same Tennessee Valley/Mississippi regulatory environment as Tupelo.
- City of Laurel, Mississippi: Mississippi municipal government (~18K) operating utilities, police, fire, public works, parks and recreation, and development services. Comparable mid-size municipal service structure within the same state.
- City of New Albany, Mississippi: Smaller Mississippi municipal government (~8K) operating utilities, public safety, public works, and development services. Direct structural peer offering the same categories of municipal services within the same state regulatory framework.
- City of Pontotoc, Mississippi: Small Mississippi municipal government (~6K) operating utilities, police, fire, public works, and development services. Comparable smaller-scale municipal operating model with similar revenue stream mix (utilities, permits, fees).
- City of Southaven, Mississippi: Larger Mississippi municipal government (~55K, part of Memphis metro) operating a full-service municipal portfolio. Direct comparable for the scale and structure of mid-size Mississippi city government operations.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tupelo social profiles
Digital presenceTupelo financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tupelo leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
Tupelo subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
Tupelo funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tupelo M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tupelo
What does Tupelo do?
The City of Tupelo is a municipal government providing essential public services to residents and businesses within city limits. Its core offerings include municipal utilities (electricity, water, sewer, and garbage collection through Tupelo Water & Light), public safety (police and fire services), public transportation (curb-to-curb transit), parks and recreation, permitting and development services, public works/street maintenance, and municipal court operations. Services are delivered through departmental offices, online portals, and physical infrastructure distributed across the city.
Is Tupelo a public or private company?
Tupelo is a public company. It is classified as public and is currently operating.
When was Tupelo founded?
Tupelo was founded in 1905. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Tupelo based?
Tupelo is headquartered in Tupelo, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tupelo make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Property Taxes are the primary driver. The others are utility Services Revenue, privilege Licenses, municipal Court Fines and Fees, permitting and Development Fees and public Transit Fares.
Who are Tupelo's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are City of Meridian, Mississippi, City of Oxford, Mississippi, City of Starkville, Mississippi, City of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, City of Columbus, Mississippi, City of Corinth, Mississippi, City of Laurel, Mississippi, City of New Albany, Mississippi, City of Pontotoc, Mississippi and City of Southaven, Mississippi.
Does Tupelo have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tupelo.
What industry is Tupelo in?
Tupelo's product category is Municipal Government Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIACAA, Mayor/City Manager & General Administration, with a secondary code of BPAIACAF, Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities). Its NAICS code is 2213 and its SIC code is 4941.