Economic Development News Week of November 23, 2009
The company will produce the composite components at its composite manufacturing center of excellence in Iuka, Mississippi. At peak production, ATK could produce up to 25 miles of A350 XWB composite components per month.
Five businesses held grand openings here (in Petal) Friday. Deborah Reynolds, president of the Petal Area Chamber of Commerce, said the solid financial news comes in part due to small businesses. “These openings are a tremendous impact,” she said. “Our small business community is what keeps us going, and the work they’re doing is why we see the same steady sales tax figures.”
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20091116/NEWS01/911160313
Stark Aerospace held the grand opening celebration of its new facility in Columbus yesterday. Stark Aerospace is a subsidiary of IAI North America, the U.S. subsidiary of Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. (IAI).
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2009/11/stark-aerospace-cuts-ribbon/
Pepsi bottlers, elected officials and economic development leaders yesterday celebrated the opening of a state-of-the-art Pepsi South bottling facility here that will produce 350,000 cases of Pepsi and Dr Pepper products per week. The 236,000 square foot plant is located in the Forrest County Industrial Park, and is the only soft drink production facility in the area.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2009/11/pepsi-plant-officially-in-operation/
Advance Mississippi has released its latest issue brief, which provides an in-depth look at nuclear energy.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2009/11/advance-mississippi-releases-report/
The head of the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District is confident U.S. 80 – one of Jackson’s most troubled commercial areas – can be saved. “This is a gigantic sector plan to try to take a part of the city of Jackson that is depressed and bring it back,” said Clarke Holmes, CEO of the development district. “This is city planning 101.”
http://tinyurl.com/yg7sowx
Brookhaven — Lincoln County business leaders are accelerating plans to develop a 400-acre business park acquired last year solely with local funds.
http://tinyurl.com/yzx6chm
Tim Mood, vice president of economic development for the Electric Power Associations of Mississippi, said Brookhaven and Lincoln County have always managed to have strong local leadership, period. “Look at some of the individuals in the past that have contributed to the local economic development process: Charleigh Ford, Doug Sullivan, Tillmon Bishop, Bill Sones, Chandler Russ and many others,” he said. “That excellence continues today with Mayor Massengill and Cliff Brumfield, a pro-business board of supervisors and IDF board carrying the torch.”
http://tinyurl.com/yhrss7x
In a time when some major automakers are transitioning, business as usual is more than welcome at the Nissan manufacturing plant.
http://tinyurl.com/yky4nj8
“I have a positive feeling about the outlook for our economy,” said Barron, who was in Jackson recently to speak at a forum sponsored by the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. “We’re seeing economic growth and spending but consumers will still be challenged because of unemployment rates.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2009/11/barron-sees-positives-in-economy/
Facing growing budget constraints, Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour wants to save money by cutting the state’s public universities from eight to five.
http://tinyurl.com/yzbj9xz
Federal regulators Thursday authorized Entergy Corp.’s utilities in Mississippi and Arkansas to leave a multistate agreement, a move expected to eventually save money for electric customers in Arkansas.
http://tinyurl.com/yfjv9ej
The Jones County Economic Development Authority Board of Director’s unanimously voted to provide a letter of support for Mississippi Power Company’s Kemper County Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Project and passed a resolution of support for the State Port in Gulfport
http://www.leadercall.com/local/local_story_324105830.html
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MEDC Scholarship Application Period Open through Nov. 30
MEDC is now taking applications for scholarships for 2010 courses – Attend national professional development courses (EDI, CDI, IOM and New South) in 2010 and let MEDC pay your tuition. Apply now for your scholarship – go to www.medc.ms and click on Professional Development for an application – funded by MEDC, MDA, Mississippi Power Company and Tennessee Valley Authority. Application deadline is November 30.
Carol Hardwick, Executive Director
Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC)
P. O. Box 3721, Jackson, MS 39207
www.medc.ms
MEDC 2010 Winter Conference . February 3-5 . Hilton . Jackson
MEDC 2010 Summer Conference . July 21-23 . Beau Rivage . Biloxi
MEDC is Mississippi’s professional association of economic development and chamber of commerce professionals.
