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Entergy Mississippi Launches
State's First Solar Pilot Project
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Mississippi Public Service Commissioners Brandon Presley (left) and Lynn Posey (right) join Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO, in announcing the launch of the state's first solar pilot project. As part of the project, three solar installations will be built in Hinds, Lincoln and DeSoto counties.
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The Mississippi sun will soon provide Entergy Mississippi, Inc. customers with 1,500 kilowatts of electricity, enough to power 175 homes, as the company launches the state's first-ever utility-owned solar project. The first of three pilot solar installations, each providing 500 kilowatts of power, will be a ground-mounted solar array system located in Jackson at the Hinds Generating Facility.
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Entergy Earns EEI 2014 Emergency Recovery Award
Entergy recently received the Edison Electric Institute's Emergency Recovery Award to recognize the company's exceptional power restoration efforts during five different storms over the course of the past year.
This is the 17th consecutive year EEI has awarded Entergy with a national storm restoration award. Including this year's honor, Entergy has received 22 awards from EEI for its restoration and mutual-assistance work.
"This year's award demonstrates that the talents and restoration abilities of our employees continue to earn national recognition and the appreciation of our customers whose power we restore following storms," said Greg Grillo, system storm incident commander for Entergy.
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MEC Completes Regional Round-Ups
Workforce, Transportation Key Issues Among Attendees
 MEC recently traveled to 27 communities throughout the state, discussing opportunities for those communities and regions to help grow Mississippi's economic competitiveness. During the Regional Round-Up meetings, which were sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi, MEC focused on how the 9 regions across the state can work together to build on their strengths and how each region is vital in helping Mississippi grow and prosper.
MEC's Regional Round-Up looked at region-specific economic drivers, as well as state-wide issues like transportation, healthcare, workforce, education and healthy communities.
This regional approach to economic development is based on the four major goals of the Blueprint Mississippi initiative, which are:
- Economic Competitiveness
- Education Achievement & Workforce Development
- Resource Management
- Technology Commercialization
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Atmos Energy Donates $50,000 to Facilities Showcasing Mississippi Artists
$25,000 each to GRAMMY Museum� Mississippi,
Mississippi Arts & Entertainment Center
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David Gates, President, Mississippi Division of Atmos Energy, (center at podium) presents donations to facilities showcasing Mississippi Artists.
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Mississippi is known world-wide for its artists, and Atmos Energy helped ensure that our state's artistic legacy is preserved and enhanced with donations to two museums that are scheduled to be open within the next two years.
The GRAMMY Museum� Mississippi, a 28,000-square-foot facility scheduled to open this fall in Cleveland, will be a major attraction with a unique partnership that will inspire and help shape the music and musicians of today and for generations to come. It brings one of the most recognized brands in the world to the birthplace of American music, the Mississippi Delta.
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MEC Members Take Active Role in Improving State's Competitiveness
Dear ,
Improving Mississippi's competitiveness is the driving force behind what we do at MEC.
Your involvement is so important in making sure we accomplish this goal, and MEC members throughout Mississippi continue to answer the call as we work to put Mississippi in the place of greatest opportunity.
Last week we completed a 27-city tour of the state with the MEC Regional Round-Up. More than 2,600 leaders from communities large and small participated in these very important meetings, providing feedback on issues that are vitally important for their region.
As we explored key issues such as workforce development, transportation, education and business climate, we were able to gather feedback from each community through the electronic voting process. When asked what is the best way to strengthen economic competitiveness in each region, improving the state's workforce was consistently the top answer. When it came to transportation infrastructure, maintaining our roads and bridges was the top answer.
For a complete look at the overall results, as well as a breakdown by region,
click here.
Annual Meeting April 30
While the Regional Round-Ups allows us an in-depth look at ways we can improve Mississippi, MEC is also offering outstanding opportunities for you and your staff to take part in exciting professional development during the MEC PowerPlay 66th Annual Meeting on April 30 at the Jackson Convention Complex.
New to the program this year is top notch sales and customer service training. As part of the morning session, national experts will be conducting sessions on these important topics. Sessions focusing on workforce development and transportation are part of the morning activities. As an added bonus, there will be a special MEC Mega Motivation Convocation, featuring Coach Ken Carter, the inspiration behind the movie Coach Carter.
David Abney, CEO of UPS and a native of Greenwood, will keynote the Annual Meeting luncheon, which also features Gov. Phil Bryant, Miss Mississippi Jasmine Murray and a special recognition of this year's STAR Students and STAR Teachers.
We hope you'll be a part of what will be the largest MEC event ever held, as more than 2,150 seats have already been sold!
We look forward to seeing you at the MEC PowerPlay Annual Meeting.
Keep the Faith
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MGCCC Breaks Ground on New
$12 Million Nursing & Simulation Center
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College president Dr. Mary S. Graham, joined by Gov. Phil Bryant and other state and local leaders, recently broke ground on the new Nursing and Simulation Center at the health care zone located on Hwy. 67 at Tradition.
This new center, once completed, will double the number of nurses who will graduate from MGCCC's Associate Degree Nursing program and will provide an easy transition to both the School of Nursing programs at The University of Southern Mississippi and William Carey University through articulation agreements already in place between the institutions.
It will be MGCCC's 10th location within its four-county district.
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Timber Company Pro South Creating 57 Jobs in Booneville
Officials from Pro South recently announced the company is expanding its operations by adding a sawmill at its location near Booneville. The project represents a $2.75 million company investment and will create 57 new jobs.
Pro South is involved in several sectors of the timber industry. In addition to the company's logging, trucking, timber purchasing, and wood yard services operations, Pro South's new sawmill will produce large quantities of processed lumber and timber products.
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Raytheon Cuts Ribbon on New Facility in Forest
Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems gathered recently for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the company's new 20,000-square-foot Far Field Test Facility in Forest. This facility is part of an overall growth plan that includes a significant corporate investment and the creation of 150 new jobs.
The expansion at Raytheon's Forest Consolidated Manufacturing Center was announced in Nov. 2013 in conjunction with Veteran's Day and the facility's 30th anniversary.
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MS Band of Choctaw Indians
Highlight Successes at
Choctaw Business
Networking Event
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Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians Chief Phyliss J. Anderson, Holly Gagnon, President & CEO Pearl River Resort, John Hendrix, Director of Economic Development at the Choctaw Business Networking Event.
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The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians hosted the Choctaw Business Networking Event recently at the Pearl River Resort. The event was designed for business partners and those interested in doing business with the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians. Among the business sectors are manufacturing, tourism and produce production.
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MEC's Final Legislative Scrambler Focuses on Economic Development
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Amy Tate, Government Relations Manager at TVA, Rep. Donnie Bell, Sen. Joe Fillingane and Rep. Jeff Smith at MEC's final Legislative Scrambler.
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Over 75 elected officials and business and community leaders attended MEC's Legislative Scrambler focusing on Economic Development on Wednesday, March 18 at the Mississippi Museum of Art. Attendees heard from Senate Finance Chairman Joey Fillingane, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jeff Smith and House Workforce Development Committee Chairman Donnie Bell.
MEC's Legislative Scrambler focusing on Economic Development was sponsored by TVA.
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Drew Brees to Speak at
Clarion-Ledger's Best of Mississippi Preps Banquet
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees will headline The Clarion-Ledger's Best of MS Preps banquet on May 28 in Jackson to celebrate Mississippi's best high school athletes.
Best of MS Preps will honor athletes from all reaches of Mississippi - with honorees from all 82 counties in 22 boys and girls sports being recognized. Players making first team through honorable mention are invited to the Best of MS Preps banquet. The Player of the Year from each sport will be announced, and The Clarion-Ledger will honor the state's top coaches and others who exemplify the best of Mississippi high school athletics.
The event is open to the public, and tickets are available for purchase at www.bestofmspreps.com.
The banquet will be held at the Jackson Convention Complex and individual tickets are on sale for $50 through www.bestofmspreps.com. The deadline to buy tickets for the event is May 25.
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Gov. Bryant to Host
"Israel Meets Mississippi"
Business Summit April 28
Governor Phil Bryant is hosting the "Israel Meets Mississippi" Business Summit April 28 at the Jackson Convention Complex. This summit will help Mississippi businesses link with prequalified, prospective partners based in Israel and gain first-hand knowledge about innovative products and services.
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Calling All Former STAR Students and STAR Teachers!
2015 marks the 50th Anniversary of the M. B. Swayze Foundation Student Teacher Achievement Recognition (STAR) program!
MEC and the STAR Program will hold the 2015 Education Celebration in conjunction with MEC PowerPlay - the 66th MEC Annual Meeting. The Education Celebration will be held at the Jackson Convention Complex on April 30, 2015.
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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 approximately 10,000 members from 1,100 member firms in 2,400 locations throughout Mississippi.
Greetings! You are receiving this newsletter because of your past involvement with the Mississippi Economic Council. For more information about MEC, please visit our website at www.msmec.com
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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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