Mississippi Economic Development News – June 29, 2009

United Solutions, a manufacturer of plastic house wares, announced this week that it is expanding operations at its manufacturing facility in Sardis by adding a minimum of 20 jobs, equipment and infrastructure.
http://www.panolian.com/content.aspx?module=ContentItem&ID=138007&MemberID=1180  

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the selection of 11 organizations to receive $6.9 million in loans to spur economic development and create or save an estimated 465 jobs in rural communities. – … (2) counties in the Mississippi Delta… The funds go to community development or regional planning groups who then re-lend the money to local businesses. The loans must be used to create or retain jobs by starting or expanding businesses.
http://tinyurl.com/npks7f

In addition to Wednesday’s program, the Mississippi Development Authority is among those groups that have set up a Web site with information about the more than $71 million it will distribute. MDA money primarily will go to community development, energy and economic development and bond financing.
http://tinyurl.com/m837ew

Speaking in West Point Thursday, the director of Golden Triangle Regional Airport said “We’re a mirror of the local economy.”  … Over the past six years, he continued, more than $3 billion of new investment has come into the region, much of that occurring within the vicinity of the airport.
http://www.dailytimesleader.com/content/blogcategory/14/60

German Filmmakers to Focus on Vicksburg
http://tinyurl.com/ms5ea7

(Mayor-elect Parker)Wiseman has met multiple times with Greater Starkville Development Partnership CEO Jon Maynard and joined him on a trip to Jackson to meet with Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Gray Swoope and his staff to discuss development opportunities and challenges facing the city.
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/154440/60

Jackson County Economic Development Director George Freeland said the addition of the taxiway allows Northrop Grumman to complete more of the Fire Scout testing in Moss Point. This could create at least 16 more jobs at the center, Freeland said.
http://www.sunherald.com/local/story/1442408.html

Viking Range Corp.’s dishwasher plant is showing that not everything is down in this economy.  This morning the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce held another in a series of its Industry Breakfast Tours.  Beth Stevens, executive director of the chamber, said the tour …
http://tinyurl.com/n4c98u

The Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) celebrated achievements of Mississippi Main Street communities and member towns at a Blues Reception and Annual Awards Luncheon held (June 25) at the Old Capitol Inn. List of award winners:
http://msmain.pmhclients.com/images/uploads/2009_Mississippi_Main_Street_Awards.pdf

The TAP Alliance, an effort to join Tishomingo, Alcorn and Prentiss counties to cooperate on economic development projects, is founded on the principal that success in one area can benefit all.  Tishomingo County Development Foundation Executive Director Gary Matthews, says money does not recognize political boundaries, nor does the workforce.
http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp?S=10531937&nav=menu1344_2

The Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division announces that three Mississippi cities – Pascagoula, Vicksburg and Greenville – are ranked by Outdoor Life magazine in the top towns for hunters and anglers to live in its June/July 2009 issue.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20090603/NEWS01/90603020

As links in a chain provide support and stability, so can “business clusters” for the forest products industry, according to a new report by Mississippi State University’s (MSU’s) Forest and Wildlife Research Center. http://www.msbusiness.com/article.cfm?ID=8470

MEDC 2009 Summer Conference . July 22-24 . Beau Rivage . Biloxi
Sponsor deadline . July 1 . (for program listing)
Registration deadline . July 10
601-352-1909 . http://www.medc.ms/Conferences.html