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Mississippi Economic Council
| MEC Snapshot
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100,000th Toyota Corolla
Rolls Off Assembly Line
at Blue Springs Facility
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This Barcelona Red Corolla was the 100,000th vehicle to be produced at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi.
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Production at Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi
Got Under Way Less Than One Year Ago
The 100,000th vehicle was rolled off the assembly line at Toyota Mississippi Manufacturing's Blue Springs facility less than one-year after the plant's opening. Production in Blue Springs began on Oct. 24, 2011. Toyota officials said the Barcelona Red Corolla would be delivered to a customer in Southern California. There are 2,000 employees working at the plant, which is expected to produce as many as 150,000 Corollas annually. Toyota is a member of MEC.
"Toyota Mississippi is proud to produce our 100,000th Corolla. By putting our customers first, we strive to reward them with a smile by ensuring that safety and quality is built into every Corolla that rolls off the line here in Blue Springs. We thank our team members, suppliers and local business and community partners for their continued support and guidance. We're proud of what we've accomplished in Mississippi and realize that our work has just begun." the company said in a statement.
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Vision 2022/One Voice
Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership
Unveils Regional Economic Plan
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Taking part in the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership announcement of the Vision 2022/One Voice plan announcement were (from left) Paul Moak of Paul Moak Automotive, Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson, Duane O'Neill of the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, Bill Lampton of Ergon, Flowood Mayor Gary Rhoads, Socrates Garrett of Garrett Enterpries and Mayo Flynt of AT&T.
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10-Year Plan Explores Economic Opportunities for Region
The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership unveiled the Vision 2022/One Voice 10-year long range economic plan for the region on Oct. 9 at the Trustmark Meeting Room of the Jackson Convention Center. Vision 2022/One Voice is the bold, multi-year plan to transform the Greater Jackson Region into a destination community attracting businesses, families, and tourists for its quality of life "place" and economic opportunity. "Vision 2022 is a bold plan to transform the Jackson metro area into one of the most talked about and desirable communities in this region of the country," said Mayo Flynt, GJCP 2012 Chairman of the Board of Directors. The process to create the new Vision 2022 Plan has been inclusive, comprehensive, and thorough. A tremendous amount of research about the region was married with input from thousands of citizens and a very involved strong Steering Committee. The result is a powerful roadmap for the Jackson Region with clear benchmarks and measures of success.
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Gov. Bryant to Discuss Ideas
for Growing Health Care Economy
Major Study 'Blueprint Mississippi Health Care: An Economic Driver' to be Unveiled Friday, Oct. 26
The Impact of This Initiative Stretches Beyond Health Care
Because the Recommendations Are Important for
Building Mississippi's Economic Development Future
Gov. Phil Bryant is continuing his focus on health care as an economic driver and will discuss ideas for growing Mississippi's health care economy, along with the results of a new study that details economic opportunities in the health care industry throughout Mississippi, during a three-city announcement on Friday, Oct. 26.
Meetings are scheduled for:
* Biloxi - 7:30-9 a.m. at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention
Center located at 2350 Beach Blvd.
* Tupelo - 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Summit Center located at 852 North Gloster St.
* Jackson - 3:30-5 p.m. at the Hilton located at 1001 East County Line Rd.
Click Here to Register
Read More
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Entergy Mississippi, Inc., in conjunction with ITC Holdings Corp. and ITC Midsouth LLC, filed a request on Oct. 5 with the Mississippi Public Service Commission to spin off the Mississippi electric transmission business and merge it into a subsidiary of ITC. The Mississippi filing continues the multi-state and federal regulatory process seeking approval for the transaction announced last year by Entergy Corporation and ITC. The transaction is a significant step toward meeting the challenges facing the electric industry in Mississippi and across the country - challenges driven by the need to upgrade infrastructure, modernize equipment and meet growing environmental and compliance requirements.Entergy is a member of MEC.
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 Save the Date
MEC Connect Brent Christensen - MDA's Direction for Job Creation Success
Monday, October 29 - 9 a.m.
Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Brent Christensen will discuss his future of economic development in Mississippi. Details soon. |
Ingalls Delivers Composite Deckhouse
The 900-Ton Deckhouse Will House Bridge, Radar & Antennas
 Huntington Ingalls Industries announced that the company's Ingalls Shipbuilding division has delivered the composite deckhouse for the destroyer Zumwalt (DDG 1000) to the U.S. Navy. The 900-ton deckhouse provides an advanced structure to house the ship's bridge, radars, antennas and intake/exhaust systems and is designed to provide a significantly smaller radar cross-section than any other ship in today's fleet. Ingalls Shipbuilding is an MEC member.
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GE Aviation Announces Hiring Plans for Ellisville
Company to begin posting production positions in November
Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from GE Aviation Oct. 11 announced the company's new 340,000-square-foot composites manufacturing facility in Ellisville, Miss., is nearing completion, and the company will begin the hiring process in November. GE Aviation expects to employ 250 workers at the plant within the next five years. Employees will be engaged in the production of advanced composite components for aircraft engines and systems. Hiring will be conducted in waves, with positions for production associates to be posted on Nov. 5 at the WIN Job Center, 2139 Hwy. 15 North, Ste. D, in Laurel, Miss. The company expects to make hires from the November postings beginning in March 2013. GE is a member of MEC. |
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Mississippi Export Railroad Celebrates 90 Years
Company Operates 42 Miles Between Evanston and Pascagoula
 | | Greg Luce, (left) President of Mississippi Export Railroad, is pictured with Jerry and Joann St Pe at the company's 90th Anniversary Celebration. |
Mississippi Export Railroad celebrated its 90th anniversary. Headquartered in Moss Point, Mississippi Export Railroad is a 42-mile short line railroad located in Mississippi extending from Evanston to Pascagoula. The late Greg M. Luce, great grandfather of the current President and Chairman of the Board, Dwain Gregory Luce, Jr., raised the necessary funds in order to purchase the defunct Alabama & Mississippi Railroad. The railroad was shortened from 84 miles to 42 miles and re-named. Mississippi Export Railroad is a member of MEC. |
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Mississippi Council for Economic Education
Luncheon to Feature Stuart Varney
U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran Forum on American Enterprise Set for Oct. 30 at Jackson Convention Center
 | | Varney |
Veteran business journalist Stuart Varney of FOX News will deliver the keynote address at the U.S. Senator Thad Cochran Forum on American Enterprise, a fundraising luncheon for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. The event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 30 at the Jackson Convention Complex. Enterprise education - good old-fashioned basic economics - is back in Mississippi classrooms, thanks to the enterprise initiative of the Mississippi Council on Economic Education. One semester of economics is now required for high school graduation. Click Here for Sponsorship and Ticket Information |
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Blues by Starlight to Benefit Boys & Girls Club
Outdoor Event Set for October 18 at Highland Village in Jackson
The fifth annual Blues by Starlight will be held on October 18 at Highland Village. The event supports the Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi. The night will be filled with food & beverages, a silent auction, and music by Jesse Robinson and his 500 Pounds of Blues Band, Hunter Gibson and the Gators. Supporting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi helps improve the lives of disadvantaged children, and makes it possible for the Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi to reach more kids and to enable them to become responsible, caring, successful adults.
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Billy Redd, President/CEO,
at 601-969-7088 or [email protected]
Tickets are $100 per person and can be purchased at the door or by
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Mission Mississippi
Reconciliation Celebration Banquet
Set for Oct. 25 in Jackson
MEC Past Chair Jack Reed, Sr.
and Dr. Ollye Shirley to be Honored
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Reed
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Shirley
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Mission Mississippi's 2012 Reconciliation Celebration Banquet - Our Challenges and Casting the Vision - will be held on Thursday, October 25, 2012 at 7p.m. Jackson Convention Complex. Tupelo businessman Jack Reed, Sr. and Dr. Ollye Shirley will be honored at the event. Reed has long been a strong supporter of public education in Mississippi. Dr. Shirley worked with the Children's Television Workshop on PBS for 25 years, Sponsorships are still available for this event, and individual tickets are $65. For more information about purchasing tickets or a sponsorship please call the Mission Mississippi office at 601.353.6477, ext. 202.
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MFJ Enterprises Celebrates 40 years in Starkville
Once a One-Room Operation, Company Now Has 2,000 Products
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Jeffery Rupp of MSU with MFJ founder Martin Jue.
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MFJ Enterprises celebrated its 40th anniversary with a community-wide event in Starkville. MFJ Enterprises, Inc., was founded in 1972 by Martin F. Jue. The company began in a small rented hotel room in the old Stark Hotel in downtown Starkville, where it build its original product, a CW Filter Kit, which sold for $9.95. Today MEC-member MFJ Enterprises, Inc. has a total of six different ham radio companies and manufactures over 2,000 different product. More than 90 percent of the products are still made in Starkville. After several expansions, the company moved into its current location on Louisville Street 15 years ago.
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Operation Shoestring's
'Conversation About Community'
Set for Nov. 12 in Jackson
Event to Focus on Critical Community Issues To highlight and raise funds for its work with children and families in Central Jackson, Operation Shoestring will host approximately 400 guests at its 2012 Conversation About Community luncheon on Monday, Nov. 12 from Noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Jackson Convention Complex. This year's Conversation About Community will feature nationally recognized leaders with experience engaging with critical community issues in innovative and effective ways. The topic of the discussion will be converting big ideas and models of success from other communities into real change in Jackson. Featured at the event will be Alma Powell, chair of America's Promise, Walter Isaacson, author of the hugely successful recent biography of Apple Computer founder Steve Jobs, and CEO of the Aspen Institute, and Jackson native Jim Barksdale, renowned entrepreneur and ardent supporter of education and economic development. |
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VT Halter Marine Partners with DCNS
Companies to Submit Proposal to Design, Built Coast Guard Cutters
VT Halter Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of VT Systems, Inc. , today announced its partnership agreement with DCNS to submit a proposal to the Department of Homeland Security for the design and construction of the U.S. Coast Guard Offshore Patrol Cutter. VT Halter Marine will be the prime contractor and DCNS will be its exclusive subcontractor for the Offshore Patrol Cutter platform design. |
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Turkish Ambassador to be MSU's guest Oct. 16-17
Namik Tan, Turkey's ambassador to the United States, will visit Mississippi over two days next week as a special guest of the Radvanyi Chair in International Security Studies at Mississippi State University. He is coming to expand economic and cultural relations between his nation and Mississippi, especially MSU. The diplomat will arrive in Jackson on Tuesday, Oct. 16, meet with Gov. Phil Bryant on Wednesday Oct. 17 and be the featured speaker at the Executive Lecture Forum at the Fairview Inn at 11:45 on Wednesday. |
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SMARTbiz Set for Nov. 6 at ICC Belden Center
Small-business owners seeking ways to grow their businesses and become more successful are invited to a free half-day conference on Tuesday, Nov. 6 in the Tupelo area. Sponsored by the SMARTbiz program of MUW's Center for Creative Entrepreneurship, the 8 a.m.-Noon event at the Belden Center of Itawamba Community College begins with a continental breakfast. For more information or to register, call 662-241-6277 or email [email protected]. |
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Definitive Research Puts Mississippi
in Place of Greatest Opportunity
Greetings!
Last week Governor Phil Bryant outlined his energy policy approach for Mississippi, making certain we will leave no stone unturned in going after energy as an economic development driver. He released his report before a crowd of 800 at the Governor's Energy Summit, held in cooperation with the Mississippi Energy Institute. Much of his approach was based on a definitive study conducted by the Battelle organization, an internationally recognized non-profit research group that was contracted to conduct the study by the Mississippi Energy Institute. This is world class research by a world class organization - and it provides a great foundation for building an economic development strategy, as the Governor has done. This week, the Jackson Chamber Partnership released the results of its year-long Vision 2022 grassroots community visioning and research effort, which included some excellent baseline research by the nationally recognized Atlanta based consulting firm of Market Street Services. It was well-received at a kick-off event hosted by the Chamber at the Jackson Convention Complex. Now our Capital Region's business community is focused on taking on the challenges and seizing the opportunities, with a very well-developed plan in place. And on October 26, Governor Phil Bryant will join MEC leaders in unveiling another major definitive study on economic development opportunities in health care, conducted by the renowned consulting groups of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank and Subsidium Healthcare. Requested by the Governor in his State of the State Address, the research was funded entirely by private sector dollars granted by the Mississippi Partnership for Economic Development. It brings real focus and examples of best practices that can be used in urban and rural markets alike to the forefront - serious research and strategies upon which a realistic long-term initiative can be developed. Next week's roll-out will touch just three communities, but will be followed up by an extensive MEC Road Show, sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. The dates and locations will be announced soon. The Road Show will bring the details of the research to every corner of Mississippi, as well as focus on other issues of importance. So don't worry, we won't leave any region of the state out - the information is coming your way! A lagging international economy provides an opportunity for putting resources into planning for better times and putting Mississippi in a place of greater opportunity when the recovery kicks in. These definitive studies - real, independent research - put us on the right track. None grind any particular axes. Instead, they are focused on looking at best practices and the greatest opportunities for Mississippi. It is now up to us as business leaders to find ways to latch onto the recommendations that make sense and can be accomplished with the greatest results, and start creating opportunities. The key here is that not every recommendation will be acted upon - and not every goal can be achieved. But, with a focused effort, we can choose those that can be accomplished and achieve results that will pay off for generations to come. Keep the Faith
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ABOUT US
The Mississippi Economic Council has been the voice of Mississippi business since 1949. MEC deals with broad issues that relate to businesses through advocacy, research, resources and leadership. MEC has 8,600 members from 1,100 member firms in 2,400 locations throughout Mississippi. |
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Mississippi Economic Council - The State Chamber of Commerce
248 E. Capitol Street, Suite 940 - Jackson, Mississippi 39201
P.O. Box 23276 - Jackson, Mississippi 39225-3276
Phone: 601-969-0022 - 1-800-748-7626
Fax: 601-353-0247 - 1-888-717-2809
www.mec.ms |
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