Summer 2019
The Enterprise of Mississippi Newsletter

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Hello All,

I can't believe school has started back and August is almost over. Our monthly newsletter has turned into a quarterly summer update. The newsletter is lengthy, but I hope you have time to scroll through to see what's been happening at The Enterprise and in our communities over the past few months.

I will be out of the office in the upcoming weeks for an extended period of time on maternity leave. If you have any questions please contact Katie Hess in our office at 662-546-0075 or Katie@TheEnterpriseMS.com. Katie will be able to answer your question or direct you to the correct point of contact.

Warmest regards,
Lara Bowman

Certified ACT Work Ready Communities

After only a few short months of completing the ACT Work Ready Community Boot Camp program in January, both counties met all of their goals to receive the ACT Work Ready Communities designation. To receive this designation the National Career Readiness Certificate also known as WorkKeys had to be taken by three different segments of the population. Based off of local population, ACT generated goals for each county to meet in each segment. Choctaw & Webster County joined neighboring counties in east central Mississippi who have received this designation, which will help to market our workforce from a regional standpoint.

Both counties will continue to work to maintain this designation in the upcoming year by enrolling new employers to support the initiative, testing all high school graduates and testing all participants of workforce development classes through Holmes Community College.

Thank you to the participants who attended the Boot Camp, the workforce committee who provided feedback on deployment and marketing of this program locally and employers supporting the program. We look forward to sharing a workforce marketing video with you in the coming months!

Manufacturing Training Equipment Delivered

The Enterprise of Mississippi would like to thank BK Edwards Welding and Fabrication for their assistance in transporting and unloading the new CNC machine at the Webster County Career & Technology Center. This piece of equipment was purchased by Holmes Community College Workforce Development through the ARC EMPOWER Initiative. The equipment will be used to support manufacturing careers by training high school students enrolled in career and technology programs, supporting local employers in training needs and offering training classes open to the public.

Brown Wood Preserving Expansion

Photos courtesy of Mike Robertson with The Choctaw Plaindealer.

Mathiston, Mississippi (July 8, 2019) – Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley joined Atmos Energy, local elected officials, and representatives of Brown Wood Preserving to cut the ribbon on a new kiln at Brown Wood Preserving Company today.

Commissioner Presley, Atmos Energy, and Brown Wood worked together to extend gas lines to the Brown Wood facility to get the needed natural gas to power the kiln, which is used in their tree drying process.

This cost for extending the line from existing Atmos Gas lines to Brown Wood cost approximately $74,000. The overall investment from Brown Wood to build the new kiln was approximately $1.8 million.

“It is always a great day when the public and private sectors work together and have a positive result for everyone involved,” said Commissioner Presley. “Partnerships like these are one of the best ways we can work together to improve the lives of our citizens, by creating and keeping industry right here in Mississippi.”

View full press release HERE.

ARC EMPOWER Initiative Kickoff Luncheon Held

Leaders from the four counties (Choctaw, Webster, Winston & Kemper) participating in the ARC EMPOWER Initiative gathered in Louisville on Thursday, August 8, to officially kickoff the multi-county workforce grant. The event was attended by 80 guests including community college Presidents from Holmes, East Central and East Mississippi, administrators from multiple school school districts, county and city elected officials, congressional staff, ARC staff, multiple Planning and Development Districts from the region, industry and community leaders. All parties listed above and many more played a vital role in the initiation and implementation of the grant into each of the counties.

Lex Taylor, Chairman of the Board for the Taylor Group of Companies Inc., was the guest speaker of the luncheon. Taylor emphasized the importance of skills training not only needing to start in Career and Technology Centers, but as early as the 8th grade in Mississippi. Taylor discussed the value this grant would have on local manufacturing employers by helping to establish a trained and skilled workforce.

The main initiatives of the grant are the following:
- provide the WorkKeys test to all graduating seniors for the next three years
- purchase manufacturing training equipment to be located at the Career & Technology Centers in each county
- provide manufacturing basic safety classes
- provide skilled workforce training classes in each community

Photos courtesy of Mike Robertson with The Choctaw Plaindealer.

Left photo, Lex Taylor addresses attendees at the luncheon.
Right photo, Lara Bowman introduces Rudy Johnson, Executive Director of the Golden Triangle Planning and Development District.

Industrial Property Funding Sought

In a recent tweet a site development consultant tweeted out "No Product - No Project" from @JayGarner1.

The Enterprise of Mississippi has spent much of 2019 focused on product development and funding improvements to industrial property. Recent accomplishments include:

completing and updating environmental studies on the Eupora Industrial Park through the MDA Site Development Grant Program
submitting a second MDA Site Development Grant for the Eupora Industrial Park requesting funding for an Industrial Access Road
working with the Eupora Board Alderman and Golden Triangle Planning and Development District to submit a Small Municipalities and Limited Counties Grant application requesting funding for an Industrial Access Road
submitting a MDA Site Development Grant for the Red Hills Ecoplex to address drainage issues and begin grading a site
obtaining legislative funding with Rep. Joey Hood for the Industrial Access Road in the Eupora Industrial Park
submitting ARC SAAW application with the City of Eupora to extend water and sewer lines into the industrial property

We look forward to the installation of the new water and sewer lines at the Eupora Industrial Park and confirmation of funding to complete the Industrial Access Road in the upcoming months.

The Enterprise Earns Recognition at SEDC

The Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC) held their annual meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 4-7. The Enterprise of Mississippi made their first submission to the SEDC Communication Awards competition submitting the 2018 Annual Report. With over a 110 entries, The Enterprise's submission received an Award of Merit in the small division.

Presentation Given to TVA
Economic Development Staff

Lara Bowman presented to TVA Economic Development staff on June 28 as part of the TVA Target Market Showcase. Bowman presented an update and future plans for The Enterprise and the communities represented in each county. The 45 minute presentation focused on demographics, education and workforce development and livability. Education and Workforce Development was the main theme of this year's presentation highlighting recent programming being implemented and inclusion of industry partners.

Did You Receive your Funding Letter?

The Enterprise of Mississippi's annual fundraising campaign kicked off with letters being sent to community and state supporters. External funding aides The Enterprise in being able to market and promote the region and funding workforce and property development initiatives.

If you would like to become a Supporter of The Enterprise please view our Levels of Support for 2018-2019. Contact Lara Bowman at 769-610-1795 or l.bowman@theenterprisems.com to learn more.

Platinum Level Supporters of The Enterprise:

Mississippi Lignite Mining Company

Silver Level Supporters of The Enterprise

The Enterprise appreciates the consistent support of 4-County and Natchez Trace Electric Power Associations. Shown above at the recent ARC EMPOWER Initiative Kickoff Luncheon is 4-County CEO Brian Clark, Lara Bowman and Natchez Trace Electric CEO Shawn Edmondson.

NMMC Eupora Rural Hospital of the Year

EUPORA, Miss. (WCBI) – North Mississippi Medical Center in Eupora celebrated a big win and its position in the community on Thursday.

NMMC Eupora won the 2019 Outstanding Mississippi Small Rural Hospital Award.

The hospital’s focus for the award was telehealth, which is a new technology that allows medical workers to provide face-to-face care for patients through video screenings.

“We selected our telehealth program because it’s relatively new and it’s been such a resource for our patients,” said Robin Mixon, Hospital Administrator at NMMC Eupora. “It allows people in our local community to have access to specialty care without even leaving the local market.”

Hospital workers said services like telehealth highlight just one of the many reasons rural hospitals, like the one in Eupora, are so vital to the community.

See the full report from WCBI: https://www.wcbi.com/benefits-rural-hospitals-small-communities/

Upcoming Welding Classes in
Ackerman & Eupora

Choctaw County Class starts Sept. 10
Download flyer HERE

Webster County Class starts Oct. 1
Download flyer HERE

For highlights and more of what we are sharing throughout the month follow us at:

Use our hashtag for all things related to the Enterprise area:
#EnterpRISINGinMS

Tweet us using the hashtag now!

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The Enterprise of Mississippi

P.O. Box 327

Eupora, MS 39744

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Lara Bowman · P.O. Box 327 · 855 S Dunn Street · Eupora, MS 39744 · USA

Platinum Level Supporters of The Enterprise:

Mississippi Lignite Mining Company

Silver Level Supporters of The Enterprise

Use our hashtag for all things related to the Enterprise area: #EnterpRISINGinMS

Use our hashtag for all things related to the Enterprise area:
#EnterpRISINGinMS