Petal Band in Inauguration Parade

Petal Band to Represent Mississippi in Presidential Inauguration Parade

A special note from Deborah Reynolds, President of the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce:
(any replies should be sent to DACofC@aol.com )

The Petal Band has been invited to represent Mississippi in the Presidential Inauguration Parade on January 20. They are the only group invited from Mississippi.  The total cost for this trip will be about $75,000.  Unaware of this invitation at the time, the band depleted their funds when they performed in the Thanksgiving Day Parade in Philadelphia.  This is a historical moment in our country and an honor for our state to have one of a few chosen to attend. Out of 1,385 entries, only 60 were chosen to appear in the parade.  I would like to see the state economic entities embrace and support this trip. This will be an event shown around the world.  The band has 165 members and five staff.  These kids will represent Mississippi with the highest dignity.  They are a very disciplined group.  Any help would be great. They will leave on Sunday and return on Wednesday. 

Contributions may be made to the Petal Band account at any BancorpSouth Bank, to Petal High School, or they may be sent to my office at the address below. Make checks payable to Petal Band.

Thank you very much!

Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and watch for Mississippi’s own Petal Band in the Presidential Inauguration Parade on January 20!

Deborah Reynolds, IOM
DACofC@aol.com
President
Petal Area Chamber of Commerce
P. O. Box 421
712-B South Main Street
Petal, MS 39465
Ph: 601-583-3306
Fax: 601-583-3312
www.petalchamber.com

 

 

 

 

MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS 12.15.08

Mississippi Economic Development News – December 15, 2008

 

 

A former Hinds County administrator and top state economic development leader died Friday at his home.  Eugene McLemore was 66.

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20081213/NEWS/812130349/1001

 

Area legislatures addressed budget issues during the Mississippi Economic Development Council’s regional legislative forum held here at the historic train depot recently.

http://www.neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=297&ArticleID=17922&TM=65082.64

 

 

Jeff Lacey Named as President of M&F Bank.  He was Past President of the Kosciusko Attala Chamber of Commerce and the Past Chairman of the Kosciusko Attala County Economic Development Authority.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Jeff-Lacey-Named-President-MF/story.aspx?guid=%7B1737030A-640E-4169-8AC7-12654DAFEEB7%7D

 

Utah has offered nearly $33 million to Alliant Techsystems — its second-largest incentive package ever . … The company is weighing competing incentive offers from Utah, Mississippi, Ohio and the Carolinas and expects to make an announcement of where it will build its plant within a few months

http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_11198093

 

Louisiana’s Department of Economic Development is investing $635,000 in a consultant’s study aimed at helping the state draw more automotive manufacturing.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/36092819.html

 

Third District Congressman-elect Gregg Harper announced the members of his congressional staff for his Washington, D.C. office and District offices in Mississippi.

http://www.mcherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081212/NEWS/81212001

 

The MFA (Mississippi Furniture Association) has in recent months met with state officials, including the Mississippi Development Authority, state legislators and Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant to talk about incentives the group says would bring back jobs to the state.

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=283123&pub=1&div=News

 

“…all eyes are on the five (Meridian City) council members who will make what is a huge decision for Meridian. If the council nixes Threefoot, the equally controversial Lala downtown hotel is expected to go in its place.

http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_349001341.html

 

Recession-proof Rankin? – “There are no new projects that have come along recently,” said Larry Mobley, Rankin First Economic Development Authority’s assistant director. “I guess you could say we have been maintaining the status quo.”

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20081208/NEWS/812080332/1001/news

 

Horn Lake officials launch anti-blight campaign.  Jim Flanagan, president and chief executive officer of the DeSoto County Economic Development Council, said, “Horn Lake has turned a corner. There’s far more industrial and commercial interest in the city than there has been in the past.”

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/12/horn-lake-officials-fight-blight

 

Former Choctaw Tribal Chief Phillip M. Martin has signed a contract with a Brandon firm to publish his life story in time for the Choctaw Indian Fair in 2009.

http://www.neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=297&ArticleID=17921&TM=65082.64

MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS 12.08.08

Mississippi Economic Development News – Week of December 8, 2008

Six Southern states – Mississippi included – have marketing programs identifying some of their less populated counties, cities or towns as “certified retirement communities.” 
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jzBLIWeRNH_5ugOiryjoZ0pf9anwD94SP4BG1    

Riverbend development falls off the drawing board; Postponed by economic ills but officials optimistic       
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/dec/07/riverbend-falls-off-the-drawing-board 

(Gov. Haley Barbour) said he and Mississippi Development Authority employees met with a company in Germany. He wouldn’t say the name of the company or what type of jobs.
http://www.wapt.com/news/18198479/detail.html

Education was the keyword of the Mississippi Economic Council’s Marathon Tour session at the Southern Oaks in Hattiesburg this afternoon.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20081203/NEWS01/812030319

An emerging coalition of government, industry and environmental representatives has announced a new national agenda that outlines steps to fight erosion and encourage oil and gas development in the Gulf coast region.  They call it “America’s Energy Coast.” Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama are the focus.
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20081207/ARTICLES/812071001?Title=Interests_come_together_for__energy_coast__campaign

The October report on unemployment from the Mississippi Department of Employment Security showed Lamar County ranked third in the state among lowest unemployment rates with 4.8 percent. Rankin County has the lowest rate, 4.4 percent. Forrest County was ranked 11th with 5.9 percent.  In fact, Mississippi’s unemployment rate dropped slightly in October compared to the previous month, the MDES reported, from a seasonally adjusted 7.8 percent in September to 7.2 percent in October.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20081206/NEWS01/812060303

DeSoto Economic Development Council president Jim Flanagan said other tornado-damaged warehouses located in the city’s industrial area near the intersection of Stateline Road and Airways Boulevard have also recovered from the storms (last February).
http://desototimes.com/articles/2008/12/04/news/doc4937bccf27d3e130561256.txt

Free work force training to be offered – The Mississippi Corridor Consortium – comprising East Mississippi Community College, Itawamba Community College, Northeast Mississippi Community College and Northwest Mississippi Community College – rolled out a new training program to meet the needs of existing industry.
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=282872&pub=1&div=News

Carol Hardwick, Executive Director

Mississippi Economic Development Council, Inc. (MEDC)

P. O. Box 3721 . Jackson . MS . 39207 . 601-352-1909

carol@medc.ms . www.medc.ms

2009 Winter Conference . Feb. 4-6 . Hilton . Jackson

2009 Summer Conference . July 21-23 . Beau Rivage . Biloxi

MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS 12.01.08

MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT NEWS – December 1, 2008

 

TUPELO – What’s it worth to keep 1,200 jobs? For Tupelo and the state of Mississippi, more than $30 million in financial incentives and other programs.  On Monday, state and local economic development officials submitted their proposal to Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. officials in the company’s headquarters in Findlay, Ohio.

http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=282781&pub=1&div=News 

 

EUPORA – The Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration granted nearly $500,000 in economic development funds that will benefit 13 counties in Mississippi’s 1st District, Congressman Travis Childers announced Friday.

http://www.websterprogresstimes.com/articles/2008/11/26/news/news03.txt 

 

Mississippi’s two-year colleges rank fourth in the country.

http://www.wdam.com/Global/story.asp?S=9436528

 

JACKSON – State not good for business? Gray Swoope, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority, believes BHI likely geared the study toward factors that made Massachusetts No. 1 in this year’s study. “Businesses are moving south because of the operational business climates,” Swoope said. “When you see Alabama and Mississippi rank at the bottom of the list, to my eyes, I’m suspect of it.”

http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/index.php/site/comments/state_not_good_for_business_112608/ 

 

STARKVILLE – Effort under way to develop technology business in region.

http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/105133/60/

 

BILOXI – Lt. Governor Phil Bryant also told Rotarians to expect an economic development announcement soon involving USM. “Polymer science school is going to be involved in a great, dynamic economic development opportunity with General Electric. They want them to actually create a new product.”

http://www.wlox.com/Global/story.asp?S=9388191&nav=menu40_2

 

ACKERMAN – The Choctaw County Economic Development Foundation has begun its 2009 membership drive. While the Foundation has a solid base of loyal, dedicated members, it is seeking to expand its membership in order to become a stronger organization able to give back more to the community.

http://www.choctawplaindealer.com/articles/2008/11/26/news/news01.txt

 

LAUREL -   3G wireless now available in Laurel…  Mitch Stennett, president of the 344-member Jones County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Authority, said Cellular South’s investment in the region’s telecommunications infrastructure will reap long-term dividends for area businesses.

http://www.leadercall.com/features/local_story_325104801.html

 

LELAND SPEED OPTIMISTIC – … points out that the three pillars of the Jackson economy are health care, government and education. “You can’t find more recession proof legs to put on a stool.”  Health care spending will double over the next 10 years. The University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMC) is 10 percent of the entire Jackson economy, employing 8,000.

http://www.pressregister.com/articles/2008/11/28/opinion/doc49302f868f3f1697236164.txt