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Mississippi Economic Council MEC Snapshot
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C Spire Selects Starkville Research
Park for Data Center
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From left, Steve Langston, Chairman of Greater Starkville Development Partnership Board; Dr. Davis Shaw, Vice President for Research and Economic Development at MSU; Don Posey, Administrator for Oktibbeha County; Kevin Hankins, COO of C Spire; Jack Wallace, President of the Oktibbeha County EDA; Joseph Deason, COO of LINK; Parker Wiseman, Mayor of Starkville; and Joe Max Higgins, CEO of the Golden Triangle Development LINK.
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C Spire unveiled plans October 3 to build a new, state-of-the-art $22 million data center in Northeast Mississippi that will offer businesses a full suite of cloud solutions to help them manage mission-critical data, infrastructure and enterprise applications.
The new 22,400 square foot center will be located on a 6.5 acre site at the sprawling Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park in Starkville. C Spire plans to break ground on the new facility next month and complete construction on the initial phase in November 2014, when the first customers are expected to begin using the center.
When it opens, the center will be one of only 52 in the U.S. with a Tier 3 or 4 rating, the highest in the industry based on data center certifications by the Uptime Institute. Most of the centers in the two categories nationwide are owned and operated solely by large private businesses or government agencies with little or no space available for commercial use.
C Spire is an MEC member.
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Lt. Gov. Reeves to Host
Mississippi Education Symposium
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Reeves
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Registration is open today for Mississippi educators to hear the latest on teaching methods and technology in the classroom at the Mississippi Education Symposium, hosted by Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves, on Oct. 29 in Tupelo.
"This is an opportunity to hear from cutting-edge experts in education," Lt. Gov. Reeves said. "We have many teachers in the Mississippi schools that work hard and really want to see their students succeed."
The Symposium will feature former U.S. Secretary of Education, Dr. William Bennett. The event, co-hosted by the Mississippi Department of Education, will begin at 9 a.m. at the BancorpSouth Conference Center, 387 East Main St., in Tupelo.
The Symposium will provide educators with materials for implementing higher academic standards in the classroom, strategies for teaching English and math courses, and applying technology to teaching techniques.
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Atmos Energy Announces Scholarships, Meridian Growth Projects
Atmos to Fund Scholarships
at Mississippi Public Universities
 | | David Gates, president of Atmos Energy's Mississippi Division (2nd from right), presents a scholarship check to Jackson State University President Dr. Carolyn Myers at the announcement of the Atmos Energy scholarship program at JSU. |
Atmos Energy recently celebrated its 10th anniversary of bringing safe, reliable and affordable natural gas service to the people of Mississippi. In honor of this important milestone, the company announced that it would be funding scholarships at Mississippi's public universities.
The company will fund scholarships at all eight of Mississippi's public universities, representing an investment of about $150,000. The specific details of who would receive the scholarship was worked out in conjunction with each university.
Atmos Energy is an MEC member.
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Atmos Announces Expansion of Meridian Facilities
With the support of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, led by Chairman Lynn Posey, Atmos Energy will initiate a multi-phase, multi-year expansion of its facilities in the Meridian area. This will ensure sufficient natural gas to the three industrial parks in the area. In addition to new facilities, existing pipeline facilities will be reinforced also to allow for increased demand for natural gas as future tenants in the parks are added or expand their operations.
The three industrial parks are the Sonny Montgomery Industrial Park, the I-20/I-59 Industrial Park and the
Kewanee Mega-Site.
Atmos Energy is an MEC member.
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Severstal Columbus Achieves 25 Million
Kilowatt Hours In Energy Savings
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Gov. Phil Bryant (center) presented Severstal North America employees a $2.5 million check for achieving significant energy efficiencies.
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The Tennessee Valley Authority, along with Gov. Phil Bryant, recently presented a check for more than $2.5 million to Severstal North America for achieving significant energy efficiencies at its Columbus plant through TVA's Major Industrial Program. The TVA program encourages reductions in electric energy intensity in large industrial facilities having greater than 5 megawatts of contract demand. The greatest efficiency opportunity identified at the Severstal steel plant was retrofitting four 2,750-horsepower fans that send particulates from the plant's electric arc furnace to a bag house for air pollution control. Using customized assistance from TVA, Severstal was able to reduce its total energy usage by 25,251,390 kilowatt-hours, enough to power 2,000 average TVA homes. Severstal North America is an MEC member.
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Wright Named State Superintendent
by Board of Education
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Wright
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The Mississippi Board of Education recently named Dr. Carey Wright, founder and CEO of Wright Approach Consulting in Maryland and a 36-year veteran administrator and teacher, as the new state superintendent of education.
Wright will lead the Mississippi Department of Education, effective Nov. 1. The selection came after the Board interviewed five finalists on Sept. 24 from a list of 11 semi-finalists from several states, including Georgia, Massachusetts, Missouri, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.
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Teleflex Incorporated Cuts Ribbon
on Distribution Facility in Olive Branch
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Gov. Phil Bryant (left) and Teleflex Chairman Benson Smith cut the ribbon at the company's new facility in Olive Branch. (Photo by Bob Lord of the Mississippi Development Authority)
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Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Teleflex Incorporated cut the ribbon recently at the company's distribution facility in Olive Branch. The facility is slated to employ 225 workers within four years of operation.
Teleflex, which provides medical devices for critical care and surgery, announced in July 2012 it would relocate operations from several distribution centers around the U.S. into the centrally-located, 627,000-square-foot facility in Olive Branch.
"Today is an exciting day for Olive Branch, DeSoto County and the entire state. The jobs that will be created here in the coming years will have a positive impact on the Olive Branch community and will further strengthen Mississippi's health care economy," Gov. Bryant said.
Teleflex, Inc. is an MEC member.
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Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center
Announces Launch of World-Class Facility
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MAEC Board Members and local officials were present at the unveiling of the sign at the site of the new facility.
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The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center (MAEC) announced plans to move forward at a press conference held at the construction site in downtown Meridian on Tuesday, Sep. 24.
The center is set to open in 2017-the year Mississippi will celebrate its bicentennial.
"There will be no other venue like it in the country," said Marty Gamblin, executive director of the MAEC. "This premier, world-class center, representing all of the arts that have emanated from Mississippi, will reach into international corridors. This state-supported facility will be an integral part in driving the "creative economy" in Mississippi."
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Mississippi Tourism Association
Presents Tourism Awards
The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center (MAEC) announced plans to move forward at a press conference held at the construction site in downtown Meridian on Tuesday, Sep. 24.The Mississippi Tourism Association, in cooperation with the Mississippi Development Authority's Tourism Division, presented a number of awards to tourism entities around the state during the 2013 Governor's Conference on Tourism held recently in Tunica.
The awards ceremony showcased the best and brightest tourism organizations, staff members, volunteers and projects from across Mississippi.
Receiving Research-In-Action Awards were:
- Ridgeland Tourism Commission, Capital/River Region
- Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic, Coastal Region
- Coahoma County Tourism Commission and Tunica Convention and Visitors Bureau, Delta Region
- Grenada Tourism Commission, Hills Region
- Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau, Pines Region
- Natchez Convention and Visitors Bureau, At-Large
- Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau, At-Large
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Attala Steel Industries Opens
New Galvanizing Plant in Kosciusko
Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Attala Steel Industries cut the ribbon recently on the addition of a galvanizing facility at the company's steel mill in Kosciusko. The expansion represents a company investment of $5 million and is creating 20 new jobs, nine of which have already been filled. The company currently employs 34 workers.
Attala Steel's new 30,000-square-foot galvanizing facility will complement the company's existing structural steel mill and fabrication plant. The addition of the galvanizing operation, which will utilize the latest advances in environmental technology, positions Attala Steel as the only steelmaker in the U.S. with all three processing facilities in one location.
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Dr. Aubrey Lucas Receives
Winter-Reed Partnership Award
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From left, Dr. Joe Paul, Southern Miss VP of Student Affairs; Dr. Eddie Rester, lead pastor of Parkway Heights United Methodist Church; MAPE President Michael Bentley of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP; Commissioner of Higher Education Dr. Hank Bounds, event emcee; Dr. Aubrey K. Lucas, president emeritus of Southern Miss and 2013 Winter-Reed Award recipient; MAPE 2nd Vice President Dr. Leslie Griffin of Delta State University; and Southern Miss President Dr. Rodney Bennett.
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"MAPE is proud to bestow the Winter-Reed Award on Dr. Lucas, who has devoted his career to improving higher education in Mississippi," said MAPE President Michael Bentley of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP.
The University of Southern Mississippi is an MEC member.
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Wayne Farms Announces Expansion
of Operations in Laurel
Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Wayne Farms, producer of fresh and processed poultry, announced recently that the company is expanding its operations in Laurel. The expansion involves the addition of a new processing line and the renovation of the company's existing facility. The project represents a company investment of $3 million and is creating 150 new jobs.
The Mississippi Development Authority provided assistance in support of the project through the Community Development Block Grant program to assist with infrastructure and renovation. The City of Laurel provided assistance for the expansion, as well.
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HPC2 Boosts MSU Supercomputing Power
Mississippi State University is boosting its high-performance computing capabilities with the installation of a new supercomputer.
Mississippi State's High Performance Computing Collaboratory (HPC2) will soon be home to a CS300-LC cluster supercomputer -- a liquid-cooled system manufactured by Cray Inc. Named "Shadow," the new system will serve as the primary high-performance computing asset for shared research, according to an MSU official.
"This investment is the latest example of Mississippi State's commitment to providing powerful, technologically-advanced resources for our researchers," said Trey Breckenridge, director of high performance computing.
Mississippi State University is an MEC member.
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Maple Land and Timber Expanding Operations in Prentiss County
Officials from Maple Land and Timber have announced the company is expanding its operation located near Baldwyn, which is known as American Land and Timber, to begin producing lumber for export to overseas markets. The expansion includes the addition of a new sawmill and the construction of a 20,000-square-foot facility. The project represents a $1.95 million corporate investment and is creating 38 new jobs.
The Mississippi Development Authority provided tax incentives to the company in support of the project.
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Hobnob Mississippi
Place to Be Oct. 31
Dear ,
Nobody can Hobnob better that we can here in Mississippi - and there is no better place to do it than at MEC's 12th Hobnob Mississippi on Oct. 31 at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum on Lakeland Drive in Jackson.
This year we're shining a spotlight on two very special events that bring international attention to our state and provide a major boost to our state's economy. Hobnob will provide a unique look at the Sanderson Farms Classic and the Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic.
With a new date, a large purse and a new three-year extension, the Sanderson Farms Classic has gained in prestige on the PGA Tour. The Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic has a new presenting sponsor in C Spire, making it a key stop on the Champions Tour. Both events have a major impact on the economy and provide untold benefits to charities in Mississippi. We're also spicing up things by adding Fried Chicken and Greens to the traditional Hobnob luncheon feast.
Also, back by popular demand is the political satire troupe the Capitol Steps. The Washington, D.C.-based group provides a special brand of political humor and is always a crowd favorite.
If you haven't already signed up to sponsor, do so today by Clicking Here. You don't want to miss out on this great event, which brings business and community leaders from all across Mississippi for a fun-filled and informative day. Be on the lookout for additional information on the day's activities.
I look forward to seeing you at Hobnob.
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
Click Here for MEC Web Site
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