A new era has certainly dawned in economic development for the Mississippi Delta and surrounding regions. The creation of the Delta Regional Authority, co-chaired by Clarksdale native and attorney, Pete Johnson, will be a major step forward toward boosting the economy of the Lower Mississippi Delta. In talking with Johnson, I’m struck by the optimism and “can-do” attitude that he is bringing to his new position, and the fact that the former Mississippi State Auditor is calling the DRA a true “one stop shop” for the regional economic development needs of our area.
Of course, Pete Johnson’s abilities and track record are no secret to anyone who gives even a cursory glance to Mississippi politics. Raised in a famous political family, Pete knows the ropes as well as any person on the state government scene. The decision to make him co-chairman of the Delta Regional Authority was a very wise one, and, speaking from personal dealings with him, Pete’s enthusiasm is contagious.

BY NANCY cotten HIRST
DBJ Contributing Editor

This time of year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas, during Ramadan, and just preceding Hannukah–a time of high holy days for three great and closely related religions–I would like to write about other things, good things, godly things. And it is my great hope that by next year, I will be able to do that without having to gloss over baser realities.
This year, however, it seems more sensible to issue some cautionary remarks. Bluntly put, take everything in the media with just a grain of cynical salt. I usually abhor cynicism, but when I see hundreds of reports on virtually every network, cable or otherwise, repeatedly stating that the Pashtun are the majority ethnic group in Afghanistan, I have to cringe.
This is just one tiny example of the type warning I’m issuing. It is, however, glaring and intentionally misleading. The pundits not only say these words over and over again, but the graphics people put it up in large, bold lettering at the “crawl” space below the pictures. The truth is that the Pashtun are a little less than 40% of the population. While that is the largest of the ethnic groups, it is far from a majority.

BY NANCY COTTON HIRST
DBJ Contributing Editor

Robert J. Rohrlack, Jr., is quite likely to fit Mississippi’s economic development efforts like a glove. The new executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority possesses a rare combination of character, personality and qualifications that should make him both effective and appreciated in Mississippi.
In a business that requires teamwork for success, Bob Rohrlack is the ultimate team player, appreciating both the difficulties and the efforts of the other team members. “My philosophy,” he says, “is that economic development is a team sport. If someone stumbles, you don’t give them grief. You help them up.”
Rohrlack couches many of his points in the metaphors of the sports world, a natural extension of his earlier ambitions. “I was going to be a sports producer, the next Roone Arledge,” he chuckles. “I never wavered from this goal from middle school until late in my college career.”

BY ALLEN ROARK
DBJ Contributing Writer

Wiggins, MS native Nick Walters has a vision as the new state director of the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) Rural Development, formerly known as the Farmer's Home Administration
"One of my main goals in this job is aggressive outreach," Walters says. "We don't do farm loans anymore, for instance, and many people still aren't aware of that. We work with rural housing, including first time homeowners, offering unique financing programs. We also finance rural utilities, such as water, sewer, waste water, and solid waste projects for municipalities under the population of 10,000 and for local water associations. Over $7 million is tied up in Bolivar County right now, as a matter of fact."
The USDA offers a variety of assistance programs, including services to rural business and cooperatives, rural housing and community facilities programs, rural empowerment zones and enterprise communities, and rural utilities programs. In a typical year, USDA Rural Development programs create or preserve more than 150,000 rural jobs, enable 40,000 to 50,000 rural Americans to buy homes and help 450,000 low income rural people rent apartments or other housing.

Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation recently announced the relocation of one of their manufacturing facilities to Greenwood, MS. The new facility will manufacture high quality power tools and accessories. The opening of the facility will create 200 new jobs.
According to Daniel Pery, President and CEO of Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, “Milwaukee Electric Tool has a long history of employment in Mississippi, with our first plant outside of Brookfield opening in Jackson in 1973. This was followed by a distribution center in Olive Branch in 1979, followed by another manufacturing plant in Kosciusko in 1995. Our experience in Mississippi has been very good. The work ethic and quality of work of our Mississippi employees is excellent.”

BY WILL MAYO

This is the time of year when TV channels and community theaters across America present holiday classics like “A Christmas Carol” or “It’s a Wonderful Life.” In both of these stories, the central character gets a chance to see what the future will be like if he takes the right–or the wrong– path.
The Mississippi Delta recently had its own vision of what the future could be like if we take the right steps. On October 26, the Milwaukee Tool Company announced its plans for opening a manufacturing facility in Greenwood.
The news that Milwaukee Tool is coming to Greenwood is a big story—and it is receiving a lot of news coverage. But, the story behind the story is there could be many more announcements just like it across the Delta—if we will do what it takes to make it happen.
As the director of economic development for Entergy Mississippi, I have a unique view of this part of the state. Entergy, the largest provider of electric service in the Delta, has been promoting business here for more than 75 years. Most recently we created a position that focuses solely on economic development in this part of the state.

BY MARY ELLEN POWELL
DBJ Contributing Writer

ºIt was only over two years ago that the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce (MDAC) launched the Make Mine Mississippi program. In the first year of the program over 400 companies enrolled. Now, in its second year, over 630 companies are enrolled with two to three more companies enrolling each week, according to MDAC officials. Companies involved include such names as Peavey Electronics, Howard Industries, and Delta Pride.
Make Mine Mississippi is a logo identification program that brings together manufacturers, producers, processors, retailers, State government and consumers to show pride in the quality of the products produced in Mississippi.
Roger Barlow, MDAC director of marketing, explains, “Commissioner Lester Spell wanted a professional marketing program that could be offered in this state. By looking at programs in other states and seeing what they are doing, MDAC was able to develop graphics and a name that could be attached to a resurrected logo program that we used in the past. We ran the graphics and name by some Mississippi companies and both received favorable reviews. Since then, the program has moved on from there.”

Doe’s Eat Place was established by Dominick “Doe” and Mamie Signa in Greenville, Mississippi, in 1941. Doe’s was originally opened by Dominick’s father in 1903 as a grocery store called Papa’s Store. The store did well until the flood of 1927. Like other businesses in the Delta, Papa’s Store suffered great financial strain because of the flood. Dominick Signa, who was by then in control of the store, “bootlegged whiskey” to provide for his family. Around 1941, a recipe for hot tamales was given to Doe’s wife, Mamie, which she improved upon and sold to the customers. Thus, the humble beginnings of Doe’s Eat Place.

An unprecedented public-private partnership was unveiled recently as Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Mississippi Governor Ronnie Musgrove and Louisiana Lieutenant Governor Kathleen Blanco joined officials from the W.K Kellogg Foundation, Fannie Mae (FNM/NYSE), Delta BusinessLINC and Enterprise Corporation of the Delta to announce the Emerging Markets Partnership (EMP), an initiative designed to generate a $500 million economic impact in the Delta over the next five years.
This public-private joint venture, which is seeded by a $20 million investment by the Kellogg Foundation, focuses on 58 countries and parishes in the Delta region in Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi. Building on extensive research and analysis of the Delta’s economy and existing policy and programs in the region, EMP organizers believe that the Delta has untapped economic development potential. The EMP will invest in financing and training strategies that address small business development, home ownership, childcare, and health care, telecommunications and workforce development.

The Mississippi Public Service Commission (MPSC) recently unanimously endorsed BellSouth’s filing to provide long-distance service within the state. As a result, BellSouth plans to file its long-distance application for Mississippi with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC will then have 90 days to issue a ruling on that request.
“We applaud the MPSC’s decision to endorse our long-distance filing and commend the commissioners for putting the needs of this state’s telephone customers first,” says John McCullouch, president of BellSouth’s Mississippi operations. “This decision will have a positive effect on the way our Mississippi customers use telecommunications services.”

BY allen roark
DBJ Contributing Writer

There used to be a time, not so very long ago, when retirement “living” options consisted of either moving in with relatives or being relegated to a nursing home. Today, there are a number of outstanding retirement facilities, called retirement “communities” which are truly that: communities in which residents can live out their glory years surrounded by excellent amenities, assistance with day-to-day tasks, and are able to enjoy the companionship of like-minded and same-age people.
One such facility is the beautiful and spacious Sunnybrook Estates, located in Madison, Mississippi, a Christian retirement community located on over 50 acres of property. Locally owned, and affiliated with the Sunnybrook Children’s Village also in Madison, Sunnybrook Estates is managed by the Covenant Group, a Fort Worth, Texas-based organization which specializes in retirement communities throughout the country.
“We have some 85 residents who currently live here,” says Sunnybrook’s Senior Life Counselor, Rodger Wasson, “with 111 total apartments.” The facility, which was opened in June, 2000, boasts of a private dining room, a movie theatre, conference center, dining room for the guests of residents, exercise room, and Sunday worship services. “It’s truly a wonderful environment for our residents,” Wasson says, adding that the rooms at Sunnybrook have nine-foot ceilings and central air and heat, equivalent indeed to an apartment.

BY mike lavin
DBJ Contributing Writer

Exactly one year ago, the fine dining establishment, Madidi, opened for business in Clarksdale. Rave reviews on the restaurant have appeared in many national magazines and newspapers and diners have traveled from across the country to try Madidi. As the establishment has grown in this short time, owners Bill Luckett and Morgan Freeman saw the need to open an executive chef position.
The requisite skills for the position included significant experience in french-style food preparation and presentation, attention to detail, leadership skills, as well as creativity and independence in the kitchen. With those qualities in mind, the selection of Ralph McCormick made perfect sense.
“Ralph was ready with his application upon the opening of the position,” says Luckett. “We had five other prospects, but it was Ralph. He came to us with a level of maturity in the business we felt we could utilize.”

BY julie speed
DBJ Contributing Writer

Delta farmers faced 2001 with plenty of worries: drought conditions, higher production costs, lower commodity prices, and uncertainty over government assistance.
By mid-September, farmers were also dealing with a recession, national security threats, and the uncertainty of the import/export market.
By mid-November, there were still no clear-cut answers to federal issues, and bad news abounded in agriculture, particularly catfish and cotton.
“There has never been a time in the 26 years I’ve been with the Delta Council that the total of agriculture from production and processing to warehousing and distribution - has experienced as much financial trouble,” says Chip Morgan, executive vice president of the Delta Council. “It’s really dangerous. And banks are getting extremely nervous about the near term outlook.”
What Went Wrong?
“Prices are at 40-year lows, and that’s without adjusting for inflation,” Morgan says. “Catfish is in a catastrophic situation—bringing the same price as it did in 1980 when this industry began its growth.”