Mississippi Economic Development News – Week of February 1, 2010

The MEDC Legislative Breakfast is Wednesday morning, February 3, at 7:30 at Galloway United Methodist Church at 305 North Congress.  It is open to all MEDC members.  A shuttle will leave the Hilton at 7:00 a.m. and return after the breakfast. Be sure to contact your legislators and invite them to meet you there.  Marshall Ramsey will present “Mississippi – Captured in Cartoons.”

Don’t forget that the Mississippi Development Authority budget hearing in the House Appropriation Subcommittee will be Tuesday, February 2, at 1:30 in Room 201A of the State Capitol.  Their funding affects all MEDC members.  Let’s all show our support for MDA by attending.

The 2010 MEDC Winter Conference “REINVENTING, RENEWING, REFOCUSING DURING CHALLENGING TIMES” starts this Wednesday at 1:00 at the Hilton.

Shuqualak Lumber, one of the largest producers of yellow pine in the Southeast, is expanding its operations by adding a new wood shaving mill.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/01/shuqualak-lumber-adding-mill/

Community Development Foundation CEO David Rumbarger said he sensed economic recovery on the minds of both manufacturers and buyers.
http://nems360.com/pages/full_story/push?article-EDITORIAL-+Shades+of+recovery%20&id=5659144&instance=lead_story_left_column

Gov. Haley Barbour strongly supports workforce training and now our legislators have expressed their support by providing funds.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20100127/OPINION/1270302

If you are going out soliciting and trying to get a prospect to come to Harrison County, Mississippi, or wherever, allowing that to get into the public could hinder your efforts to lure that industry into the area.
http://www.gulflive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/national-101/1264709783144870.xml&storylist=miss_news

As the Jackson area looks to stage a significant economic recovery in 2010, its well-established medical sector could mark a way forward, speakers said Wednesday during the Greater Jackson Chamber partnership’s annual meeting.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100128/BIZ/1280336/-1/NLETTER01/Recovery-major-challenge-for-2010?source=nletter-NEWS-JacksonMS-controlsubjectlinetest

Starkville officials strategize on vital improvements.
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/196461/

(Biloxi Mayor A. J.) Holloway said there is plenty of good news as the city continues to rebuild from Katrina and launches a new campaign for economic development.
http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/1902530.html

(Duane) Bullard added, “Five Star has been renovating the offices and building to suit their needs while transferring all production to the Five Star production process. . . . The plant should see the addition of at least 25 new hires over the next couple of years.”
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/01/rockwater-gulf-coast-lands-buyer/

The report’s most important recommendation, Walley said, is the creation of a citizen-driven Delta Strategic Compact to facilitate fundamental change in the Delta. It could be modeled, he said, after the CREATE Foundation in Northeast Mississippi.
http://gwcommonwealth.com/articles/2010/01/26/news/top_stories/01262010news02.txt

Expanding broadband Internet service into rural and poor communities affects everything from medical to economic development plans, speakers said Friday morning during a hearing at Jackson State University.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100130/BIZ/1300334/-1/Nletter01/Internet-access-limited-for-rural-poor?source=nletter-NEWS-JacksonMS-weekendsubjectlinetest

With so much bad economic news, Benjie Barham, director of business development at the Hinds County Economic Development District and coalition board president, said the new dealership is a relief.
http://tinyurl.com/ybcjnql

Southern District Public Service Commissioner Leonard Bentz requests anyone wanting to enter a writer public comment into the public record concerning Mississippi Power Co.’s proposed IGCC plant in Kemper County do so no later than 9 a.m. Feb. 5.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/02/comment-deadline-set-for-igcc-plant/

The Economic Development News is a weekly service provided to members of the Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC), Mississippi’s state association of economic development and chamber of commerce professionals – www.medc.ms

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.