 
Main Street communities win awards at MEDC summer conference
Main Street communities win awards at MEDC summer conference
The following communities recently took home economic development awards from the MEDC summer conference in Biloxi. All of these towns are members of the Mississippi Main Street Association with Clinton and Tupelo as Main Street Communities and Ellisville and Grenada as Network Members.
The Mississippi Economic Development Council, Inc. (MEDC) honored winners of the prestigious Community Economic Development Award (CEDA) at the 2010 MEDC Summer Conference in Biloxi. The CEDA honors communities throughout Mississippi for their efforts to advance their economic viability through economic and community development programs during the 2009 calendar year.
In Category I with a population less than 5,000, the Town of Ellisville, represented by Mayor Tim Waldrup, was honored for The PRIDE Program: Progress, Reinvigorated in Determined Ellisville. It was nominated by Mitch Stennett, president, Economic Development Authority of Jones County.
The Grenada Economic Development District, represented by Pablo Diaz, executive director, won in Category II, population 5,001 – 15,000, for the development and implementation of their economic development district strategic plan. This project was nominated by John Wesley, economic development project manager, Entergy Mississippi.
The City of Clinton, represented by T. J. McSparrin, executive director, Clinton Chamber of Commerce, won for the project Clinton Streetscape in Category III, population 15,001 to 40,000. James Powell, director of economic development for the City of Clinton nominated this project.
Category IV, with a population of 40,001 to 100,000, the City of Tupelo and Lee County won for its new Manufacturing Solutions Center, represented by Dr. David Cole, President of the Center. David Rumbarger, president and CEO of the Community Development Foundation, nominated the Center.
“MEDC is proud to honor these communities and the people who have been involved in the planning and implementation of these worthwhile projects,” said Carol Hardwick, Executive Director. “We applaud their commitment to excellence in moving their communities forward.” Additional information about each project can be found on the MEDC website at http://www.medc.ms.
The Mississippi Economic Development Council is an association of community and economic development and chamber of commerce professionals from across the state. MEDC members work closely with state and local government officials to improve the state’s competitiveness in the pursuit of new jobs. Programs are sponsored to educate community leaders regarding the mechanics of economic and industrial development. MEDC encourages professionalism among its members through its conferences, workshops and meetings and by awarding scholarships for courses in chamber, community and economic development.
Photo: Olde Towne Clinton
Eclectic Voices in Water Valley
The following articles were published in the August 1, 2010 edition of The Oxford Enterprise. The article features Water Valley Main Street Director Mickey Howley and his wife, Ole Miss English Professor Annette Trefzer, who are also co-owners of Bozarts Gallery in Water Valley.
Eclectic voices in Water Valley A9 - By Katie Eubanks
Eclectic Voices in Water Valley A10 - By Katie Eubanks
Starkville on track to become Main Street community
Starkville on track to become Main Street community
The city of Starkville could soon become a Mississippi Main Street community, which would give the city additional tools to promote economic development downtown.
The Starkville Visitors & Convention Council, a member agency of the Greater Starkville Development Partner-ship, committed funds last week in their monthly advisory board meeting for staffing and association dues to move forward with Starkville's application process to become a Mississippi Main Street Association community.
The Starkville Downtown Business Association voted Monday to amend their by-laws to transfer duties to Starkville Main Street under the GSDP, effective Sunday, pending approval by the Mississippi Main Street Association.
"The CVB board felt that pursuing Main Street designation was a prudent use of funds to further enhance our community for visitors and residents alike," said VCC advisory board chair Michelle Jones.
Mississippi Main Street Association is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Mississippi Development Authority. The mission of the Mississippi Main Street Association is to provide leadership, guidance and counsel to Mississippi Main Street communities through organization, promotion, design and economic development to make Mississippi cities and towns better places to work, live and play.
Jennifer Gregory, GSDP vice president for tourism development, will take on the additional role of Starkville Main Street manager, and Robyn Cain, GSDP administrative assistant, will transfer into a new role as Starkville Main Street program coordinator, all effective Sunday.
Melissa Dixon, president of the Starkville Downtown Business Association, hopes to see the SDBA fall under the umbrella of the Mississippi Main Street organization.
"As a two-year president of the SDBA, I know how difficult it can be to pull together promotions and events on a strictly volunteer basis," Dixon said. "I am thrilled that when the SDBA transfers its duties to Starkville Main Street, downtown will actually have paid staff members on hand to coordinate promotions and keep us on track."
"It's such a blessing because, before, we had a very limited budget to do what we wanted and we had very limited volunteers, so a lot of times we were short of our goals because of those limitations," she added. "Just to have some people on staff every day is going to make a big difference."
VCC officials went before the Starkville Board of Aldermen July 20 to request support from Mayor Parker Wiseman and the board through a signed proclamation. Aldermen then passed a resolution of support.
"It's an excellent program and it will serve the development of downtown Starkville very well," Wiseman said.
Gregory will work with Jones and Mississippi Main Street officials to complete the application process by late July.
Mississippi Main Street has many strategic partners in Mississippi, including the Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Division of Tourism, Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Mississippi Arts Commission, Mississippi Heritage Trust, Mississippi Urban Forestry Council, the Carl Small Town Center at the Mississippi State University School of Architecture and the MSU Community Action Team.
Tim Pratt,
The Starkville Dispatch
Bella Interiors Joins HGTV To Stage Aberdeen Home
Bella Interiors Joins HGTV To Stage Aberdeen Home
Bella Interiors will team up with HGTV for a new series that sets the scene for the staging of a home in Aberdeen, Mississippi. Penny Bowen, owner of Bella Interiors, and fellow designers Terri McKissack, Nikki Wiygul and Lori Lumsden, will lend their expertise to transform the interior of a local home owned by famed makeup artist and Mississippi native Billy Brasfield. In addition to documenting the process of renovating, designing and selling the house, the show will showcase the broader efforts of some of Mississippi’s finest creative talent to help beautify the city of Aberdeen.
Penny Bowen is the owner of Bella Interiors and Penny Bowen Designs, located at 515 College Street in Columbus. Four years ago she began with the dream of a one-stop design shop and today Bella is number one interior design resource. This group of designers – dubbed the “Bella Beauties” by Brasfield – is looking forward to transforming the chosen home.
Billy Brasfield, better known as Billy B, serves as a makeup artist to the stars. He has worked with such big names as Lady Gaga, Sharon Stone and Wynona Judd.
Hosted by Bella Interiors, the open house event, located at 208 High Street, will take place on Wednesday, July 21, from 3 pm-7 pm. On Saturday, July 24, from 8 am-4 pm, select furnishings from the staging will be available for purchase at 40 % off at Bella.
The HGTV show is scheduled to air after the first of the year.
For more information, contact Sara Welch at Bella Interiors by calling 622-241-5055 or emailing at
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Carthage Courthouse
Carthage is the geographic center of Mississippi and therefore an ideal location for businesses to grow and expand. |
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