Archive
MEDC Summer Conference
Our session on the “YP Impact” which was paneled by leaders of different young professional groups. They discussed the starting up of young professional groups in their communities. The panel mentioned the large turnouts for their initial events and attendance at current events. They mentioned how YP organizations do more than just social events, which included volunteering and helping host forums for the general public.
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Dr. Martha Saunders of the University of Southern Mississippi just addressed the conference. She showed the audience the universities new video that is being used to celebrate the centennial of the university. The video describes how the university started out as a teachers college and has now emerged into an intensive research university. Dr. Saunders discussed how Southern Miss has used research and innovation to create partnerships with General Electric and other companies. She further discussed how universities are leaders in outreach to the community.
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Mark James spoke about Technology in Economic and Community Development this morning. He began by talking about email etiquette and tips and tricks of using your email. He discussed new technologies that can be used by economic development and chamber officials that can make our offices run more smoothly and keep our contacts more updated. Products he discussed can take a PDF file and convert it to MS format or to a Flash display of a website. The card scanner can reduce the stack of business cards on your desk or TrustFax can allow faxes to be sent straight to your phone for instant access.
MEDC Conference
Mark James of ED Solutions was our last speaker today discussing “Using Social Media to Your Advantage.” He said that social media should increase efficiency, speed, and differentiation. Mark said his top 3 social networks were: Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn with ning and YouTube also being important. He explained how these tools can be used by economic development and chamber organizations. We encourage people to follow MEDC at medcinfo!
MEDC Conference
Kimberly Nastasi of the Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce addressed the conference this afternoon about “Closing the Generation Gap.” She described the 4 generations currently found in our business offices: Veterans, Baby Boomers, Generation X, and Generation Y. She discussed the differences in these generations and how they relate to the office. Kimberly described how technology has changed the workplace from Twitter to YouTube to Facebook.
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During lunch our speaker was Mark Henderson with Lazy Magnolia Brewing Company of Kiln, MS. He shared with conference attendees about starting the brewery in 2005 just months before Hurricane Katrina and after the storm the brewery housing Marines. He described their beer Southern Pecan that received 3rd place in the World Beer Cup in 2006. Mark then discussed the need for the company to expand into bottling after the stock market in 2008 led people to eat out less. Lazy Magnolia now has 5 fully marketed beers: Jefferson Stout, Reb Ale, Southern Gold, Indian Summer, and Southern Pecan. The brewery has expanded into 5 states and are currently meeting with business leaders in Nashville, TN and Tampa, FL to expand their markets. He proposed MS to rethink some of their current philosophies. He mentioned a stronger business environment, lower taxes, better infrastructure, and a more entreprenuerial attitude.
Mississippi Economic Development News – July 20, 2009
A new steel processing plant could bring a $15 million investment and eventually 50 jobs to Lowndes County, the company’s president and economic development officials said. Mississippi Steel Processing president Chip Gerber said Thursday the upstart company will begin construction of a 160,000-square-foot plant in September in the Golden Triangle Industrial Park.
http://tinyurl.com/nkcbj4
The Mississippi Development Authority will lead a delegation of Mississippi business leaders to the SEUS-CP second annual Conference next month. SEUS-CP, an alliance of southeastern states and Canadian provinces, will convene July 26-28 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada.
http://tinyurl.com/nzvrwm
The newly formed Mississippi Energy Policy Institute forged an initial slate of energy issues it feels are important Monday.
http://tinyurl.com/mhhgb6
“We’ve received notice from the DOE that they have agreed to negotiate a loan guarantee with Mississippi Gasification LLC, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Leucadia Corp. out of New York,” said George Freeland, director of Jackson County’s Economic Development Foundation.
http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/1475690.html
…Corrections Corporation of America hosted the official grand opening of the multi-million dollar Adams County Correctional Facility… But like (MDA Executive Director Gray) Swoope and others noted, that potential cannot be utilized unless teamwork between county, city and state representatives is firmly in place. http://tinyurl.com/kvdh7y
East Mississippi Community College President Dr. Rick Young says the free tuition allows free tuition to high school graduates in EMCC’s service area, and can cover up to four semesters. Young said it’s not only beneficial to students but also to business and economic development.
http://www.wtok.com/home/headlines/50899602.html
The newest Mississippi Blue Trail marker … honors one of Greenwood’s oldest African American neighborhoods.
http://tinyurl.com/m47ath
Trina George was recently named as Mississippi State Director for Rural Development at the United States Department of Agriculture. She was named to the post June 30 by President Barack Obama.
http://tinyurl.com/mh84zk
Neshoba County Fair political speaking ‘light menu’ still tasty – Lack of active election cycle cuts speaking slate back, but fireworks remain.
http://www.clarionledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009907190323
Local site prime for hybrid plant … Local Chamber of Commerce Director and Economic Development Authority Board member Lyn Arnold reports that presentations as well as negotiations with several industries, including but not limited to assorted auto manufacturers, have been ongoing for several years. Arnold noted that due to the competitive nature of economic development projects, secrecy is a top priority.
http://tinyurl.com/nuvb5l
Gov. Haley Barbour and members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation are applauding the U.S. Air Force’s decision to base its new Undergraduate Cyberspace Training unit at Keesler Air Force Base.
http://www.msbusiness.com/article.cfm?ID=8675
Carol Hardwick, Executive Director
Mississippi Economic Development Council, Inc.
P. O. Box 3721, Jackson, MS 39207
601-352-1909 | www.medc.ms
2009 Summer Conference July 22-24, 2009
Mississippi Economic Development News – July 13, 2009
Economic Development News for Week of July 13, 2009
An expanded state port will be a “gold mine” for Mississippi, Gov. Haley Barbour told a crowd gathered Thursday afternoon on the West Pier for a “ground making” ceremony. Barbour said the West Pier work is the beginning of a 25-year plan to expand the port into a “world-class maritime container port” that can compete when a widened Panama Canal opens in 2015 or 2016.
http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/1466219.html
Lt. Gov. Phil Bryant said Thursday night that Mississippi “refuses to participate in the recession” because of the state’s strong economic development and fiscal foresight. Bryant delivered this message at Horn Lake Chamber of Commerce’s annual membership banquet at the DeSoto Civic Center in Southaven.
http://tinyurl.com/nolevw
Advanced satellites being built today by Lockheed Martin all have a stamp – figurative if not literal – that says “made in South Mississippi.”
http://www.mscoastgeospatial.com/newsletterLMSTENNIS.html
Mississippi has received $16 million in energy plan funds from the federal government’s economic stimulus program to develop energy efficiency projects.
http://tinyurl.com/mfcc9b
Rite-Hite Corporation of Milwaukee, Wis., which develops, manufactures and sells loading dock safety systems and industrial door solutions, plans to relocate a manufacturing facility to Horn Lake, bringing more than 50 manufacturing jobs to the state.
http://www.msbusiness.com/article.cfm?ID=8600
Drainage and access construction around United Chair should be started soon. Calhoun Economic Development Association director Terry Fales told county supervisors Tuesday that the Appalachian Regional Commission had approved Bruce and the county’s grant for infrastructure funds.
http://www.monitorherald.com/articles/2009/07/10/news/news2.txt
More than 20 percent of the population in Greene County’s remote pine woods is on the government dole in some fashion, yet only a few miles away shipbuilders along the Gulf Coast are desperately trying to find qualified workers. “Our unemployment rate is 11.5 percent,” said Gabe Churchwell, Greene County’s part-time economic development director, “and more than 20 percent of the population is on welfare. . .
http://www.dailymail.com/ap/ApTopStories/200907080129
The long-awaited Kimberly-Clark access road moved another step closer to reality Tuesday as Alcorn County supervisors voted to seek a loan for the remainder of the county’s share of the project.
http://www.dailycorinthian.com/KC720708.htm
Some 65 civic leaders from Jackson, Miss., stepped off a bus today in front of the Shaw Center to start a two-day canvass trip of downtown Baton Rouge.
http://www.businessreport.com/archives/daily-report/2009/jul/09/1074/
Six months into his presidency Barack Obama still hasn’t nominated anyone to head the Delta Regional Authority, a disappointment to people fighting to improve the economically-depressed Mississippi Delta.
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/264019
The Mississippi Municipal League will hold its 78th annual conference at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum & Convention Center in Biloxi on Monday through Thursday. An estimated 3,000 municipal elected officials, municipal employees, state agency representatives, legislators, exhibitors and others are expected to attend this annual event.
http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/1468188.html
The Ellisville Public Library celebrated its grand opening Thursday after more than six years of planning and development. Mitch Stennett, who heads the Economic Development Authority of Jones County, said the library will be beneficial to residents of Ellisville and Jones County. He noted a love for books that began at a young age, when his mother was a school librarian.
http://www.leadercall.com/local/local_story_191105708.html
The MEDC 2009 Summer Conference starts next week! Register today! www.medc.ms
Carol Hardwick, Executive Director
Mississippi Economic Development Council, Inc.
P. O. Box 3721, Jackson, MS 39207
601-352-1909; fax 601-352-2061; www.medc.ms
Mississippi Economic Development News – July 6, 2009
Government and economic development officials in Mississippi will apply for a state grant to help a Texas company locate a new steel mill in western Lowndes County.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6506024.html
A $2.4 million state grant will be used by a General Electric Co. subsidiary and the University of Southern Mississippi for research on composite materials for an engine to power the Boeing 787 and 747-8 aircraft.
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/29/ap6598999.html
Jeff Waller, director of the center that serves 12 counties in southwest Mississippi, said he believes the main part of his job is making sure business owners and would-be business owners are equipped to handle the business challenges they will face. And he said the first step to that is creating a plan.
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2009/jun/28/small-business-development-center-helps-area-entre
Tulane University considering campus in downtown Madison
http://tinyurl.com/mfbpjz
(Gulfport Mayor) Schloegel outlined the main goals in a new strategic plan they developed: Enhance revenue through economic development, with a city emphasis on retail expansion; work with the state port and state Transportation Department to …
http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/1435573.html
His main concerns as a legislator, (newly elected Representative Wilbert) Jones said, will be economic development, forming consensus in the East Mississippi delegation, and procuring nationally competitive funding for education in Mississippi.
http://www.meridianstar.com/local/local_story_182012824.html
And its (Enerkem Inc.) U.S. subsidiary has plans to build a biofuels facility at a landfill site in Mississippi that would use similar urban biomass as well as residues from forest and agricultural operations.
http://tinyurl.com/km9oyz
Where other attempts have failed over the past five decades, an ambitious, broad new long-range plan to lift the Delta out of its persistent poverty — without government carrying the load — has emerged after three years from a commission headed by respected black leader Robert Clark.
http://tinyurl.com/ovjyro
Could the Mississippi Delta become America’s bamboo belt, the breadbasket of a new class of homegrown structural building components? New plantings are already being planned, according to Ed Johnson of the Delta Economic Development Center. He says that without the conference, …
http://tinyurl.com/mqakt3
Flowood will be home to about $22 million in new medical construction…The developments symbolize the health-care industry’s status as Rankin County’s largest employer, said Gale Martin, executive director of the county’s Chamber of Commerce. “Like any business, they cluster,” said Tom Troxler, executive director of Rankin First, the county’s economic development agency. “The medical (industry) is still growing.”
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090630/NEWS/906300344/1001
Choctaw County awarded an ARC-HEI grant for schools. Alan Bates, executive director of Choctaw County Economic Development Foundation, said the “goal is to have a higher percentage of students to go to college …
http://tinyurl.com/ookrxv
Alabama, Kansas, Mississippi, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Oklahoma and Indiana rounded out the top nine (states for oil and gas investment).
http://www.durangotelegraph.com/telegraph.php?inc=/09-07-02/quick.htm
Judson Thigpen, director of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, said he was happy to hear the news of the rehiring at the (Faurecia Cleveland) plant.
http://tinyurl.com/pmm4c9
North Mississippi gets National Heritage Area designation.
http://www.knoe.com/Global/story.asp?S=10130594
The goal of the publication is to educate potential customers about the innovative and cost effective solutions geospatial technologies can provide to industry and government. This includes decision makers in a variety of private businesses as well as economic development organizations, and all levels of government, but cities and counties in particular.
http://www.directionsmag.com/press.releases/index.php?duty=Show&id=34383
Don’t miss early registration for the MEDC Summer Conference. Fax your registration form in to MEDC before July 11 to avoid the higher registration fee. If you have already registered, your name will on the List of Registrants at Conferences at www.medc.ms.
Carol Hardwick, Executive Director
Mississippi Economic Development Council, Inc. (MEDC)
P O. Box 3721, Jackson, MS 39207
ph-601-352-1909 . fax-601-352-2061 . carol@medc.ms . www.medc.ms
2009 Summer Conference . July 22-24 . Beau Rivage . Biloxi
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