From the Publisher:
Momentum Mississippi to help
guide state to new level in
economic development

While running for office, Haley Barbour said time and again that if elected governor, his immediate priority would be job creation. Shortly after being elected, Barbour wasted no time in showing the citizens of Mississippi that he meant what he said. The first three months in office, Barbour made several announcements around the state of the opening of several new manufacturing concerns and also of several major expansions. Barbour and several statewide business and education leaders also rolled out a strategic business plan around that time called BluePrint Mississippi and on page 12 you’ll find more information on this program in Blake Wilson’s Guest Commentary. In short, BluePrint Mississippi was created to “...provide opportunity for continuous and significant improvement in the standard of living across all regions of Mississippi. This sustainable and trackable program of work serves as a road map to success by nurturing the business climate, improving education and advancing economic development through a partnership among business, education and government.” In conjunction with BluePrint Mississippi, an economic development task force was also created to help carry out BluePrint’s programs called, Momentum Mississippi. I was fortunate to be appointed to this board by Governor Barbour.

Momentum Mississippi is organized and operates pursuant to the Statewide Economic Development and Planning Act of 1987. Principal staffing is with the University Resource Center inside the Institutions of Higher Learning in Jackson, supported by the Mississippi Development Authority and other state agencies. The Chairman of Momentum Mississippi is Anthony Topazi, President of Mississippi Power. Under Momentum Mississippi, the state is divided into seven regions with several regional chairs whose job is to create a committee made up of residents of that region who will help identify that region’s problems and then offer solutions. As the Chairman of the Delta Region, I have selected the following to serve on my committee: Rives Neblett, Shelby; Greg Hayman, Leland; Ken Murphree, Tunica; Frank Sibley, Marks; Freddie Britt, Clarksdale; Ed Kossman, Cleveland; Ned Mitchell, Cleveland, Kenneth Hood, Gunnison; Dr. Lester Newman, Itta Bena; Melissa Townsend, Belzoni; Tommy Hart, Greenville; Frank Howell, Leland; Carver Randall, Indianola; Jimmy Clayton, Indianola; Ben Lamensdorf, Cary; Ray Humphreys, Greenville; Frank Mitchener, Sumner; Dr. Kent Wyatt, Cleveland; Mimi Dossett, Cleveland; and Peyton Self, Marks.

To date, board meetings have taken place in Jackson while other meetings have been conducted with several hundred business, community and education leaders who identified the following three most important requirements in improving Mississippi’s job creation climate: A major overhaul of the workforce development and job training programs; A comprehensive tort reform to end lawsuit abuse in our state; and no tax increases. Legislation encompassing all three was enacted by the Legislature last year. This year, Momentum Mississippi will build on that work.

Bottom line: it is crucial for Mississippi to have one, strong leadership team to make sure our economic development strategy is sound and our efforts successful. Momentum Mississippi will go a long way in providing this leadership and the Delta will be well represented. In closing, I’d like to call your attention to our annual The Delta’s Top Business Women special section on page 42 in this edition of the DBJ. We are proud to bring you our annual salute to women in business who are from the Delta region. Every year it is exciting to read all of the many nominee forms that we receive in the mail and via Fax. This special focus section is one of the yearly highlights of the DBJ and we are very fortunate to have so many women in business who are making their mark on our great region. Congratulations to all who are profiled in this edition. DBJ

Scott Coopwood
Publisher

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