There has been a great amount of news lately that has focused on disagreements between the state legislature and the governor's office regarding Momentum Mississippi .  What I am going to try and accomplish today is explain in "layman's terms" what Momemtum Mississippi is and how it will affect everyone in Mississippi , especially those of us in the Metro Jackson Area.  Momentum Mississippi is an Economic Development Incentive proposal that included recommendations from business and community leaders throughout the State of Mississippi .  This was not a proposal drafted in the governor's office or in the offices of the Mississippi Development Authority (the state's economic development agency).  This proposal was engineered from a yearlong study called Blueprint Mississippi .  The Blueprint survey was comprised from a number of existing industry leaders and local/regional economic development officials throughout the state of Mississippi .  The views given from these individuals are first hand accounts of what the state needs to do to not stay competitive, but actually "get in the game".  This plan will strongly reflect what other states are doing throughout the Southeastern United States , and hopefully bring similar ideas to our home state.

The Momentum Mississippi Incentive Bill is a bill that aids in luring new high paying jobs and aids in keeping our existing businesses from relocating out of state.  One major problem for our state is the fact that Mississippi 's expansion incentives do not come close to competing with what companies can receive by moving their operations to a neighboring state.  This bill advances three high priority recommendations of Blueprint Mississippi .  First, it focuses on providing incentives for existing industries to invest in technology to keep out-of-date plants operating...and jobs in the Metro Jackson area and in Mississippi .  Second, it will help increase the interest of high tech industries to come to Mississippi to use our research universities and students.  This will create good paying jobs that will keep our graduates in the Metro Jackson area, instead of risking their departure to larger metropolitan areas such as Atlanta , GA and Jacksonville , FL.   These larger communities have incentives put in place by their state legislatures that lure high tech and high paying jobs to their market.  Finally, this bill will provide greater flexibility to the Mississippi Development Authority and local economic developers, develop more predictability to prospects, and assist with deals that can be closed on projects in a more efficient manner and not depend solely on legislative approval.  Large or Mega Projects like Nissan Manufacturing will still, and should, need legislative approval because of the type of investment that is needed to be given by the state to enforce such a deal that would create thousands of jobs.

The MetroJackson Economic Development Alliance (MEDA) is the regional economic development authority that is housed and facilitated by the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce.  The professionals that make up the MEDA board see opportunities on a monthly basis slip through their hands because our state is never "in the game" to begin with due to the lack of incentives.  Mississippi is very competitive when it comes to recruiting on the manufacturing front, which is very apparent because of the area's largest private employer, Nissan.  Mississippi was the first state in the Union to offer incentive packages to lure manufacturers to the southeast.  Now, Mississippi is one of the last southeastern states that can offer a data center considering locating in the Metro Jackson area, employing close to 300 employees and offering an entry level salary of $45,000 a year.  This is a lesser incentive package than a manufacturing facility that would employ 50 people with a starting salary of $18,000 a year.

Passage of this bill will boost state revenue by increasing employment, tax collections and value for the people of Mississippi .  Each time we lose a job, Mississippi loses tax revenue.  The passage of this bill will directly affect the Metro Jackson area mainly because this is the most populated area within Mississippi .  When there is a new project locating in the Jackson MSA, the entire state of Mississippi is rewarded because our population is not contributed by our proximity to another state.  Therefore, the majority of the employees hired would live, work and play within a thirteen county vicinity.  No matter where the project locates within the Jackson MSA, tax revenue is being generated.

There is a long running joke that a number of people in my generation along with others say that organizations like MEDA and the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce are trying to change.  It states, " Mississippi has a new leading export that has taken over the cotton and catfish industries-People".  The MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce and MEDA encourages all Metro Jackson Area business leaders to help make sure that Momentum Mississippi is passed into law so our area can prosper during this economic upturn.  As always, we appreciate the support of our members and ask each of you to help aid the passage of this bill by contacting your local legislator.