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Mississippi Economic Development News Week of December 6, 2010
Mississippi Economic Development News – Week of December 6, 2010
MEDC Member-to-Member Seminar –
“Coopertition” – The New Strategy for Working Together
Speakers: MDA Executive Director Gray Swoope and Neal Wade, senior vice president of economic development for The St. Joe Company in St. Joe, Florida, and former executive director of the Alabama Development Office
Date: Tuesday, December 14, 11:30 – 1:00
Location: River Hills Club, Jackson, MS
The presentation: Promises to engage and inspire attendees regarding ways we can work together – even with sometimes unlikely partners – to cooperate to attract business to a region and then to compete to close the deal.
Advance registration is $30 (includes lunch). After December 9, registration is $40.
Register online at www.medc.ms. Non-members are welcome!
Officials from Ershigs, Inc., supplier of high-quality, engineered fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) products for the power, mining, chemical, pulp, paper and waste water industries, have announced the company is expanding its operations in Iuka, Miss., and will be constructing a new facility at the Tri-State Commerce Park. The expansion will create 52 new jobs.
http://www.tradeandindustrydev.com/region/mississippi/news/ms-ershigs-inc-expanding-operations-iuka-project-create-52-new-jobs-4616
Officials with Toyota Boshoku will resume hiring and installing equipment at its north Mississippi plant where it will manufacture seats and other interior materials for the 2012 Corolla. The company expects to hire more than 60 workers by the end of year and 250 more by the time production starts in the fall of 2011.
http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-ms-toyota-boshoku,0,6811721.story
Developers believe they can bring new life to the Old Town area of Olive Branch by building new loft-style apartments.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/11/olive-branch-downtown-may-get-lofts/
ENSTOR has announced expanded storage capacities at two of its U.S. gas storage facilities: Caledonia in Lowndes County, Mississippi, and Grama Ridge in Lea County, New Mexico.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/11/miss-gas-storage-facility-to-expand/
The greater Hattiesburg area is set to prosper in 2011, according to Area Development Partnership President Chad Newell. Newell said labor statistics show the Pine Belt gained 1,000 new jobs between September 2009 and September 2010 and locally companies have spent $277.8 million in capital investments. He said there were 35 announced projects in the Hattiesburg area.
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20101204/NEWS01/12040314
Danielle Winningham has been promoted to Manager of Business Development at the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation.
http://meridianstar.com/local/x862971982/Winningham-promoted-at-EMBDC
Change is certain in the world of economic development and technology taking a starring role these days. No one typifies that change more than Greg Word, manager of technical/graphic services for the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association (NMIDA).
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/12/technology-taking-over/
For the fourth time since the fiscal year began July 1, state revenue collections have exceeded estimates.
NEMS360.com – State meets revenue estimate again in November
Blue Springs Toyota plant getting ready to roll.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20101201/BIZ/12010323/-1/nletter01/Blue-Springs-Toyota-plant-getting-ready-to-roll?source=nletter-news
The White House is serving Gulf shrimp and Florida stone crabs at the many holiday parties the president and first lady are hosting.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/12/white-house-serving-gulf-seafood/
The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) has extended the application deadline for its pilot Entrepreneur Training Program to December 17, 2010. The nine-month, intensive training program will provide entrepreneurs and small businesses in 19 qualifying counties in the Mississippi Delta, northeast Mississippi and southwest Mississippi with the tools needed to launch, operate and grow a successful business.
http://www.mississippi.org/index.php?id=83
Career opportunities in economic development in Mississippi are on the website at www.medc.ms at Professional Development.
Mark your calendars:
MEDC 2011 Winter Conference – February 2 – 4 at the Hilton in Jackson
“Community and Economic Development is a Marathon”
Watch for your brochure in the mail.
MEDC calendar:
Member-to-Member Seminar . December 14 . Jackson
2011 MEDC Winter Conference . February 2 – 4 . Jackson
2011 MEDC Summer Conference . July 13 – 15 . Biloxi
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, CAE, Executive Director
Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC)
P. O. Box 3721, Jackson, MS 39207
www.medc.ms . 601.352.1909
Mississippi Economic Development News – Week of February 15, 2010
Mississippi Economic Development News – Week of February 15, 2010
Delta city (Tunica) getting first major airline
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/02/delta-city-getting-first-major-airline/
Townhouse Home Furnishings, a stationary furniture manufacturer located in Monroe County, is adding a new access road and undertaking other infrastructure improvements in order to accommodate future growth. Additionally, Jamco Furniture Industries, an upholstered furniture manufacturer located in Tishomingo, is expanding its facility in order to accommodate an increase in production.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/02/townhouse-jamco-to-expand/
Manufacturer Parker Hannifin has announced an expansion in Batesville that will add 50 jobs.
http://www.sunherald.com/218/story/1936921.html
On Feb. 5 the state Public Service Commission wrapped up its week-long resource hearings for a proposed $2.5-billion clean coal plant in Kemper County with a public forum at which more than 40 speakers were divided evenly on support or opposition to the plant.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/02/kemper-coal-plant-hearings-wrap-up/
Education-business link helping to build good workforce across the state – When Severstal Columbus opened its doors in Aug. 2007, only 10 percent of its 545 employees had experience in the steel industry.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/02/juco-partnerships-are-good-business/
“That’s a $20-million payroll and 114 acres in the middle of my city,” said Joe Max Higgins, CEO of the Link. Such passion for the university, Higgins said, comes with his job. “I’m fired up,” he said. “Economic opportunity is my job, and I would not be doing this if I was not passionate about it.”
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2010/02/merger-economics/
With an eye toward working in unity, local officials met Monday with Mississippi State University representatives, intending to craft short-term priorities and longer-term vision in coming weeks.
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/198426/1/
10 Reasons to Feel Better About Last Year – from MDA E-news
http://pressroom.mississippi.org/enews/02_02_10enews.pdf
Economic development groups from North Mississippi, West Tennessee and East Arkansas have joined forces to revise an extensive workforce study
http://www.calhouncountyjournal.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2214:workforce-study-to-identify-job-opportunities&catid=1:latest-news
The Jackson County Port Authority will provide $35,000 for a study on creating a rail line linking east-central Mississippi to coastal ports.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100210/NEWS/100210012/-1/Nletter03/Study-to-look-at-rail-line-to-Miss.-Coast?source=nletter-nletter-news
The Secretary of State’s office on Wednesday morning said it’s transferring 50 parcels of land held for nonpayment of taxes to the city of Jackson for redevelopment.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100210/NEWS/100210022/-1/Nletter03/Land-transfer-may-help-Jackson-fight-blight?source=nletter-nletter-news
Mississippi officials are optimistic about Toyota plant
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20100214/BIZ/2140332/1005/biz/Mississippi-officials-optimistic-about-Toyota-plant
A federal grant to bring a business incubator downtown and provide jobs training is being sought by the Community Development Partnership.
http://www.neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=297&ArticleID=20408
CDC: People in sunny states happiest – The state-by-state list from happiest to least cheery ranks Mississippi as number 7.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-12-18-happiest-states_N.htm?csp=usat.me
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 Regional Chamber Workshop . March 23 . Tupelo
MEDC Member-to-Member Seminar . April 13 . Jackson
MEDC 2010 Summer Conference . July 21-23 . Beau Rivage . Biloxi
Economic Development News Week of December 14, 2009
Great Southern Wood Preserving Inc. is moving at break-neck speed to open a pair of facilities in the heart of Brookhaven and hire 15 to 20 employees by Feb. 1… “When you have a prospect of that kind of notoriety, that’s the kind of industry we want in Lincoln County,” said Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Cliff Brumfield.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20394107&BRD=1377&PAG=461&dept_id=172922&rfi=6
In a letter, Barbour informed the Mississippi Legislature that Severstal repaid a $10 million loan for infrastructure development to the state four years ahead of schedule.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2009/12/severstal-makes-early-loan-pay-back/
Tim Mood, VP of Economic Development, Electric Power Associations of Mississippi, was awarded the 2009 Rural Economic Development Leadership Award by Awards Chairman Dennis Mingyar.
In terms of estimated number of new jobs created, Harrison County ranks first with 1,774, followed by Tishomingo County (725 jobs) and Adams County (445 jobs). In 2009, Hinds County led the state in the number of new and expanded facilities announced at 32. Rankin County was second with 18 and Forrest County and Harrison County both had 15.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2009/12/recession-cuts-projects-by-more-than-half/
In the first meeting to discuss the creation of a private funding source for local economic development, the group loosely dubbed, “Natchez Now” met at Regions Bank with a little more than 50 people present.
http://www.natchezdemocrat.com/news/2009/dec/10/business-owners-talk-private-economic-development-/
The White House announced the president’s plans to nominate Marilyn A. Brown for one of two vacant seats on the nine-member Tennessee Valley Authority board.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hSAfykJ65dLgtGN0MULu9vQJTe0QD9CGP51O0
People wanting to start a business or generate more profit in an existing one can participate in a seminar series the Mississippi State University Extension Service is providing through an entrepreneurial network.
http://msbusiness.com/blog/2009/12/extension-to-offer-nxlevel-program/
MEDC 2010 Winter Conference . February 3-5 . Hilton . Jackson
“Reinventing Renewing Refocusing During Challenging Times”
Registration is now open – www.medc.ms – for registration information.
A block of rooms at the Hilton is being held until January 3, 2010.
Sponsors – sign up now to have your weblink on the MEDC Conference registration info page.
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.
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
Mississippi Economic Development News – April 13, 2009
In the midst of economic turmoil, federal bailouts, and budget deficits in more than 40 states, a new report from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) offers a roadmap to recovery based on economic performance trends from states over the last 10 years. Mississippi ranks 19th on Economic Outlook.
http://www.alec.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Rich_States_Poor_States&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=9798
http://www.alec.org/am/pdf/tax/09RSPS/states/09mississippi.pdf
Representatives of architecture and design firms from downtown Jackson to Massachusetts gathered Thursday at the Greater Jackson Partnership offices to learn how they can submit proposals for studying the viability of building a multipurpose arena.
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090410/BIZ/904100337/1005
Jennifer Glaze, a staff member for Mississippi State President Mark Keenum, will join the Greater Starkville Development Partnership staff May 1 as its vice president for tourism and retirement development, officials said Wednesday.
http://www.starkvilledailynews.com/content/view/136932/60
Debut Broadcasting Corporation, Inc.(OTC BB: DBTB), a media and entertainment company, today announced it recently executed an agreement with RegionalHelpWanted.com to establish DeltaHelpWanted.com and VicksburgHelpWanted.com to promote economic development in the communities Debu t’s radio stations serve, specifically in the Mississippi Delta.
http://www.pr-inside.com/debut-broadcasting-executes-agreements-with-r1154510.htm
The Senatobia Main Street Partnership is hosting retail expert John Brandon, associate manager for the Existing Industry and Business Division of the Mississippi Development Authority, in a series of two seminars focused on helping small businesses survive and thrive during this slow economy.
http://www.thedemocrat.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1867&dept_id=124334&newsid=20293394&PAG=461&rfi=9
In his monthly report to the board, David Vowell, president of the Community Development Partnership, said the youth program would be administered through the Educational Training Institute office on Main Street. In other economic development news, Vowell said…
http://www.neshobademocrat.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=297&ArticleID=18643&TM=65108.73
Southwest Mississippi Partnership President Cliff Brumfield said the group of 10 counties and their respective government and private business leaders have, through an extensive analysis, identified prospective industry types that would thrive in the area and are making plans to begin recruiting aggressively. The plan calls for a new industry to locate anywhere in the 10-county area in 18 months, he said.
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=20293372&BRD=1377&PAG=461&dept_id=172922&rfi=6
http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20090407/BIZ/904070333/1005
http://www.gulflive.com/news/mississippipress/news.ssf?/base/news/1239358521190040.xml&coll=5
Education officials are trying to get Mississippi high school students ready to hit the competitive job market. Nearly 270 students participated in the 16th Annual Career Development Conference on Tuesday. Jobs for Mississippi Graduates sponsored the event that helps students develop interviewing skills, critical thinking and public speaking skills.
http://www.wapt.com/money/19118574/detail.html
It is reported that G&G Steel will locate a metal fabrication facility in (Tishomingo County) Mississippi at the Tri State Commerce Park and will initially hire at least 25 workers for the site.
Carol Hardwick, Executive Director
Mississippi Economic Development Council, Inc. (MEDC)
P. O. Box 3721 . Jackson, MS 39207
601-352-1909 . fax-601-352-2061 . www.medc.ms
Member-to-Member Seminar . April 14 . Hattiesburg
MEDC Chamber Workshop . April 16 . Oxford
2009 Summer Conference . July 22-24 . Beau Rivage . Biloxi
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