Ellisville, MS – This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Alumni of the Year is Jones College Alumnus Josh Nowell. The Outstanding Alumni of the Year recognizes the accomplishments and service of former students who have exhibited exceptional service and brought honor to the College.
A lifelong resident of Laurel, Mississippi, Joshua “Josh” Nowell is a businessman, entrepreneur, and community developer whose passion for historic preservation and small-town revitalization has helped transform his hometown into a destination for visitors from across the country.
A 2001 graduate of Northeast Jones High School, Nowell earned his associate degree from Jones College in 2003 before continuing his education at the University of Mississippi, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2006.
Following college, Nowell and his wife, Emily, established a team of oil and gas consulting and land service professionals, working with landowners and exploration companies throughout the country. Their travels to small towns across America deepened Nowell’s appreciation for the history, character and potential of his hometown, inspiring the couple to invest in Laurel’s future.
In 2014, Josh and Emily purchased and restored their first historic building in downtown Laurel, marking the beginning of their efforts to preserve the city’s architectural heritage and revitalize the downtown district.
Two years later, the couple partnered with longtime friends Ben and Erin Napier and Jim and Mallorie Rasberry to reopen Laurel Mercantile Co., a historic hometown store dedicated to celebrating American-made goods and craftsmanship. Their partnership continued to grow with the addition of Scotsman General Store in 2018, Scotsman Manufacturing in 2021, and the Scent Library in 2022.
Nowell’s contributions to Laurel’s revitalization have also been featured on HGTV’s Home Town and Home Town: Inn This Together, where viewers have followed the group’s efforts to restore historic properties and bring new opportunities to the community.
Most recently, Nowell and his business partners transformed downtown Laurel’s historic Kress building into The Heirloom, a boutique hotel featured in Home Town: Inn This Together. He also co-hosts The Heirloom Podcast alongside business partner Jim Rasberry.
Through his business ventures and community involvement, Nowell remains dedicated to preserving Laurel’s history while creating opportunities for economic growth and future development. His commitment to historic preservation, American-made craftsmanship, and small-town revitalization reflects his belief that communities can embrace progress while honoring the traditions and character that make them unique.
Nowell and his wife, Emily, reside in Laurel with their four children.