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Mississippi Economic Council MEC Snapshot
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MEC's Capital Day Attracts Nearly 1,400 Business Leaders to State Capital
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Nearly 1,400 state and business leaders attended MEC's Capital Day, held at the Jackson Marriott and State Capitol on Jan. 8.
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A crowd of nearly 1,400 business leaders converged on Jackson on Jan. 8 as MEC hosted it's annual Capital Day. Attendees heard from leaders including Governor Bryant (via video), Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, State Auditor Stacey Pickering, State Treasurer Lynn Fitch, and State Superintendent of Education Dr. Carey Wright.
The crowd then travelled to the State Capitol, where they heard from Lt. Governor Tate Reeves, Speaker Philip Gunn, Senate President Pro Tem Terry Brown, Speaker Pro Tem Greg Snowden, Senator Terry C. Burton, Chair, Senate Energy Committee and Representative Angela Cockerham, Chair, House Energy Committee. MEC's Capital Day concluded at the Jackson Marriott with a magnificent State Officials Reception.
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Mississippi Scholars Announces Tech Master Program at MEC's Capital Day
 The Mississippi Economic Council, along with an influential group of leaders from some of the state's largest employers, have joined forces to create a program that will help Mississippi move forward to improve its workforce readiness.
The Mississippi Scholars Tech Master program will encourage and recognize students to pursue and meet specific standards in a tech-prep course of study. Their achievements will be recognized at graduation, just as the Mississippi Scholars program currently distinguishes those who pursue a college-bound study, with a particular emphasis on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
"These jobs - like those at our shipyard - pay well," said Irwin F. Edenzon, President of Ingalls Shipbuilding and Corporate VP of Huntington Ingalls Industries. "In fact, many of our craftspeople earn beginning salaries higher than a starting salary of a four-year, liberal arts graduate. As the state's largest manufacturing employer, we have made a real commitment to encourage students to pursue work as craftspeople."
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Industry, Education and Transportation Talking Points on MEC's Blueprint Mississippi Pathway to Progress Tour
Tour Continues With Stops In Northeast MS This Week
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MEC President & CEO Blake Wilson speaks to a gathered crowd at the Blueprint Mississippi Pathway to Progress Tour.
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The Blueprint Mississippi Pathway to Progress Tour will continue in January with stops in Corinth, Ripley, Tupelo, Natchez, Brookhaven, Hattiesburg and Laurel.
This week, the tour will visit Corinth on Thursday, Jan. 16 and Ripley and Tupelo on Jan. 17.
The tour will stop in Corinth at the Shiloh Ridge Athletic Club, located at 3303 Shiloh Ridge Rd, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m in conjunction with Rotary and Kiwanis. The Tour will be held in Ripley at The Peoples Bank, located at 305 E Jefferson St, from 7:30 a.m.-9 a.m., and in Tupelo at the Summit Center, located at 852 N Gloster St, from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in conjunction with Kiwanis.
Education has been a hot topic, with voters naming it their top priority among Blueprint Goals. Transportation Infrastructure was rated highly, with 87% of attendees ranking it as very important to economic development, with West Point voters ranking it at a Tour-high 92.45%. The majority of voters on the tour had a positive outlook for Mississippi's future, with 60% voting that it would be a hot economic development location 10 years from now.
The MEC Pathway to Progress Tour will continue its 19 city tour across Mississippi and focus on ways Mississippi can sharpen its competitive edge by implementing the goals and recommendations of Blueprint Mississippi. The sessions will be 90 minutes long and include lunch or breakfast. There is no cost to attend thanks to a generous sponsorship from Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi. The event is open to the public, however, pre-registration is required.
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MEC Legislative Scramblers Kick Off With Appropriations on Jan. 29
The Mississippi Economic Council will host its first Legislative Scrambler of 2014 focusing on Appropriations on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at the Mississippi Museum of Art. The breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m., and attendees will hear from Senator Buck Clarke, Chair, Senate Appropriations Committee and Representative Herb Frierson, Chair, House Appropriations Committee.
MEC's first Legislative Scrambler is sponsored by Jones Walker LLP.
Click Here to Register
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Mississippi Press Association Announces Hosemann Roast
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Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann will be roasted by the Mississippi Press Association at an annual benefit for its education foundation on Jan. 30 at Hilton Hotel in Jackson.
Hosemann was elected to the Secretary of State's office in 2007. He earned his undergraduate degree in Business from Notre Dame, a law degree from Ole Miss, and a Masters of Laws in Taxation from New York University. He is a former partner of Phelps Dunbar, LLP and was selected to the Best Lawyers in America for 18 consecutive years. Hosemann also served in the United States Army Reserves.
Roastmaster for the event will again be Sid Salter, director of University Relations at Mississippi State University and longtime syndicated columnist. Tickets for the event are now on sale.
The 24th annual Roast to benefit the MPA Education Foundation will be held Jan. 30 at the Hilton Jackson on County Line Road. In over two decades, the event has raised thousands of dollars to benefit the scholarship, internship and grant programs of MPAEF.
A reception will be held at 6 p.m.; dinner begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $80 each or a table of eight is available for $600.
Click Here for More Information
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MDA to Sponsor Western Europe Multi Sector Business Development Mission
The Mississippi Development Authority recently announced their sponsorship of a Multi Sector Business Development Mission to Western Europe from March 31 to April 4, 2014. The trip will include stops in the United Kingdom and France. Participating companies will also have the opportunity to make a third stop if they have business prospects in a neighboring market.
The preliminary market research is completely free. In addition, for STEP eligible companies, the Mississippi Development Authority and U.S. Small Business Administration will provide financial and administrative support and will subsidize 75% of the business matchmaking service (4 to 6 meetings with prospective partners/buyers in each market) and reimburse up to 50% of their travel/airfare expenses, hotel accommodations, and meal per diem rates.
If interested in participating, please contact European Trade Specialist Aggie Sikora no later than Feb. 14, 2014. She can be reached at [email protected] or by telephone at (601) 359-2952 (office).
Click Here for More Information
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VT Halter Marine Lays Keel Launch for Bouchard Transportation
VT Halter Marine, Inc., a subsidiary of VT Systems, Inc., recently laid the keel for Barge "B No. 270", which is, in part, one of two Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) units being built for Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. (Bouchard). The barge measures 625 feet by 91 feet by 47 feet, has a 250,000-barrel capacity and will be used to transport liquid petroleum. The barge is ABS and USCG certified for Jones Act service. Construction of the two units began April 2013 at VT Halter Marine's Pascagoula facility, with delivery scheduled for mid 2015.
VT Halter Marine has also scheduled a February 6, 2014 launch for the ocean going 112' 4000hp ATB Tug "Denise A. Bouchard", sister tug to the previously built "Evening Star". Measuring 112 feet by 35 feet by 17 feet, the tug is classed by ABS as A1 Towing Vessel, Dual Mode, and is equipped with an Intercon Coupler System. Upon delivery, the ATB units and the Offshore Tug will enter into Bouchard's fleet service in New York, N.Y.
VT Halter Marine, Inc. is an MEC member.
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Enhancing Workforce Development Through Tech-Prep Educational Achievement
A major step toward assuring that Mississippi has a quality workforce has been taken by focusing on the importance of developing skilled craftspersons.
This is a result of the important work done by of a group of key leaders to create the Mississippi Scholars Tech Master program. The effort was chaired by Irwin F. Edenzon, President of Ingalls Shipbuilding and Corporate VP of Huntington Ingalls Industries, who announced the program at MEC's Capital Day. The Mississippi Scholars Tech Master program is designed to encourage students to meet specific standards in a tech prep-oriented course of study.
The Tech Master program will help move Mississippi forward and continue to spur the growth of the past two decades. This is a vital piece of the puzzle as Mississippi evolves from a low-skill, low-wage job state to a middle-skill economy with well-paying jobs. This is a truly exciting enhancement for workforce development.
The seven pilot counties for the Tech Master program - Bolivar, Jackson, Jones, Lincoln, Madison, Panola and Union - will serve as a great launching pad for the program as it looks to expand over the next five years.
This is another way the business community and business leaders from MEC are making sure we put Mississippi in the place of greatest opportunity. For more information about the Tech Master program, Click Here. Keep the Faith
Blake
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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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