| Department
Updates
Business
Relocation Assistance Program, click
here.
Commercial Real Estate Investment Information, click
here.
MEDA
Upcoming
events and Membership news, click
here.
Hurricane Katrina Relief
Information, click
here.
ChamberPlus, Inc. news,
click
here.
Governmental Relations news, click
here.
Workforce Development news,
click
here.
Economic
Development news, click
here.
Community
Development news, click
here.
Leadership Jackson news, click
here.
Updated list of new members, click
here.
New Photo Gallery Pictures,
click
here.
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Did you know that the Chamber
could save you money on Office Products? Click
here
to find out how!
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Receiving bad checks?
Click
here to find out how the
chamber can save your business time and money on check recovery!
Click
here to view the 2005 Executive
Committee & Board of Directors
Special Thanks to our
Diamond Level Investors


Platinum Level Investor

Top Five Keywords Searched for the Week:
1. Real Estate
2. Employment
3. Entertainment
4. Dining
5. Recreation
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Memo from President
Duane O'Neill

This week I am yielding my
column to Ross Tucker, Vice-President of Economic Development,
to discuss the outstanding work that the MetroJackson Economic
Development Alliance continues to accomplish. MEDA has
been a strong economic entity in promoting our metro region and
the state of Mississippi to prospective organizations looking to
invest in the area. We are very fortunate to have such
wonderful organizations on board to support our efforts and look
forward to an exciting and productive new year.
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Economic Development Update
Ross Tucker,
Vice-President, Economic Development
THE
BEGINNING-THE POWER OF ONE
In 1994 four visionary entities and the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership helped form the MetroJackson Economic Development Alliance (MEDA).
Over the past ten years MEDA has taken strides to become "Proactive
instead of Reactive" in promoting to and recruiting to the Metro Jackson
Region. Pooling the resources of all the MEDA partners in Metro Jackson
means more exposure and a broader reach for each. MEDA markets Metro
Jackson locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally by
producing and distributing marketing materials, advertising in trade
publications, and participating in major trade shows and other
recruiting events that attract site selection consultants and business
leaders from abroad. Another significant benefit of MEDA is that it
gives both existing businesses and prospective companies a single source
to contact for information or assistance. MEDA representatives work in
tandem with the Economic Development Department of the MetroJackson
Chamber that provides the group with professional and administrative
support, as well as others involved in economic development locally and
around the state in both the public and private sectors. MEDA has
prided itself as being an organization that focuses on the company or
client’s needs regardless of the political boundaries. MEDA is a strong
coalition committed to promoting all of Metro Jackson and working
together to bring high-quality companies and industries to Mississippi's
largest metropolitan area.
THE BENEFITS SINCE THE CREATION
MEDA Studies
- Automotive SWOT Analysis- 2006& 2005
- Perception Analysis of Metro
Jackson-2006
- Underemployment & Labor Study
for Metro Jackson -2001
- Mega Site
Identification-1996-Nine identified-Nissan located on Canton, MS
site
MEDA Advertisement
MEDA focuses mainly on advertisement in national &
global magazines & newspapers as well as an editorial placement strategy
taken into action because of the 2006Perception Analysis Study.
MEDA Website
Development of periodic updates to MEDA website for
prospect recruitment & information dissemination.
MEDA Existing Industry
MEDA pays the annual fee for all member counties
to use the Synchronist Business Software through Mississippi Development
Authority.
MEDA
Services Through Central Mississippi Planning & Development District
- MEDA Area Statistical Databook
by County
- MEDA Area Industrial Park
Databook by County
- MEDA Area Existing Buildings
Databook by County (2006)
- 2 Printings Per Year
(2006)
- Industrial Park Mapping/Site
Specific Projects
- Ortho-photography /Topography
of all MEDA Industrial Parks
- MEDA Networking Services
- Demographic Profiles
- Site Reports by Claritas &
CMPDD
MEDA
Reimbursement Grant to Recruiting Events
During the coarse of a calendar year the
Mississippi Development Authority and MEDA host business leaders and
site selection consultants at various venues throughout the United
States. MEDA awards its board members with reimbursement grants for the
majority of these events. MEDA hosts four to five of these events on a
yearly basis.
Entergy’s
Regional Grant/Loan Program & Industrial Site Certification
One of the main
goals of Entergy, MS is the recruiting of businesses and industries on a
regional basis. Entergy, MS has taken steps to access economic
development funds & loans that can be passed on to a new or existing
company through a regional economic development organization. Certain
criteria must be met first, but one of the main policies is that the
county must be a member of a regional EDA. Entergy, MS also assists all
of its regional partners by aiding in an Industrial Site Certification
Process for all the regional county/city members.
TODAY
MEDA has grown from the original five members including: the
Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, the Madison County Economic
Development Authority, Hinds County Economic Development District, the
Rankin First Economic Development Authority, and the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership . MEDA added the City of Jackson in 2003, and in
2006, with the expansion of the Jackson MSA-Copiah County Economic
Development District and Entergy, MS joined to show their support in the
regional concept. Finally, in 2005, MEDA's newest members include USDA
Rural Development, Attala County Development Authority, and Leake County
Industrial Development Association. The ongoing success of MEDA
underscores the concept of strength in teamwork and cooperation. The
favorable location of counties lying within the Jackson MSA allows all
the MEDA partners to catch the wave of opportunity.
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Additional 2006 Board of
Director
Dr. Earl Watkins - Jackson Public Schools |
Mississippi Business &
Technology Expo
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ATTEND THIS WEEK!
January
18th 9:30am - 7:30pm January
19th 10:00am-3:00pm
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200 EXHIBITS – FREE SEMINARS – CYBER CAFE
2006 Business Expo Training Seminars: ROOM 1 – Front Foyer of Trade
Mart
ALL SEMINARS
ARE PRESENTED BY PROFESSIONAL TRAINERS FROM
EAGLE RIDGE CONFERENCE CENTER AT HINDS
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Free Seminars are Sponsored by Eagle Ridge
Conference Center and Cingular Wireless

All seminar attendees are eligible for two
tickets from Southwest Airlines. Register
each time you attend one of the hour-long
seminars to increase your chances.
These
professionally presented seminars offer you
and your employees excellent training,
motivation and tools for increased
effectiveness. Seating is first come, first
served. However, you can reserve seats for
your company by sending the time and name of
seminar, plus a contact name and the number
of people to: expo@msbusiness.com
Wednesday, January 18
10:00
I’m Not Difficult, I’m Just Not You!
(Presenter: Gay Saxon) – Examine why the
things that cause conflict within working
relationships actually work to make you and
your team complete. This fun filled workshop
uses DISC work preference profiles to
illustrate how our differences can produce
improved productivity.
11:00
Ok, I AM Difficult – Here’s How to Deal
with Me! (Presenter: Gay Saxon) - We’ve
all encountered them. We know who they are.
But, what do you do with them? How do you
work through difference effectively without
allowing emotions to control your behavior?
Come and see how working with difficult
people may be easier than you think.
12:00
Thinking Inside the Box! Creative Problem
Zapping (Presenter: Gay Saxon) – Ever
wonder why we put men on the moon before we
put wheels on suitcases and coolers?
Creativity is not always a simple process,
but there are things one can do to
facilitate the process. This workshop will
start you down the road to becoming a more
creative person.
1:00
PREVENTURE: What Comes First When
Starting a Business (Presenter: Jim
Harper) – There are some questions you
should ask yourself before you start your
own business. And your answers to these
questions will determine whether your
business is successful or just a statistical
casualty. Join this workshop to find out
what you need to know BEFORE you start your
own business.
2:00
NEXT STEP: Getting a New Business
on the Success Track (Presenter: Jim
Harper) – You have the idea and the passion,
but where do you begin? This workshop will
provide insight and resources to start your
business from scratch.
3:00 Genius Marketing Strategies
(Presenter: Karen Robbins) – Whether you do
inside planning and execution or outside
sales, this workshop will be an
interactive tip-sharing session with
additional strategizing and organizational
ideas from the facilitator.
Thursday, January 19
10:30
Great Teams Don’t Just Happen – How to
Bring it On! (Presenter: Gay Saxon) – We
know that professional athletes get paid
millions. Well, did you know they still
have to show up for practice? Great teams do
not happen by accident. Great teams are the
results of conscious effort. Come see what
it takes to make your team great!
11:30
Maximize Your Communication: Get them
from “Hello”! (Presenter: Lisa Morgan) –
“Can you hear me now?” is a popular catch
phrase. Hearing is important, but
understanding is the goal of effective
communication. The spoken word can be one of
three things: 1) What you say, 2) What you
meant to say, and 3) What you understood me
to say. This workshop will help you make all
three of these things the same.
12:30
First Aid for Your Meetings
(Presenter: Lisa Morgan) – Sometimes the
last thing we need is another meeting to
attend. Meetings are meant to be productive,
not time wasters. Why, then, do so many
meetings seem to drag on or be one more
thing on the “to do” list? Come see if your
meetings are working for you or the other
way around.
1:30
Ergonomics: Healthy Work Habits
for Everyone! (Presenter: Lisa Morgan) –
Ever feel tired at the end of the day? Well,
this workshop may help. No, we aren’t giving
free massage therapy at 5 pm, but we are
offering guidelines that will help relieve
the stress that often comes from work. Every
day we add to the physical strain of the day
by not implementing good work habits. Seems
our moms were right.
Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership ,
AmSouth
Bank,
WLBT-TV
3
Present
Business
After
Hours at
EXPO
2006
Wednesday,
January
18th
5:00 -
7:30 pm
$5.00
Admission
per
person
Great
music by
Debbie
Buie and
the Yes
Men!
Food
samplings
from 20
top
restaurants
& Cash
Bar
BIGGEST
AFTER
HOURS
EVENT OF
THE
YEAR!!!!!!
LAST
YEAR
2000
PEOPLE
CAME TO
THIS
PARTY.
EXPO
2006
SPECIAL
FEATURES
Time
Warner
Cable
Business
Class
Cyber
Cafe
Mississippi
Braves
Dugout
and
Center
Activity
Aisle
ABC
Construction
Aisle
MDA
Meetings,
Conventions
&
Tourism
Mall
Mississippi
Technology
Alliance,
Butler
Snow, &
Nissan
present:
Technology
Clusters
SPECIAL
EVENT
TICKETS
Trustmark
National
Bank,
Mississippi
Development
Authority,
Supertalk
MS FM
97.3
present
BEST
PLACES
TO WORK
IN
MISSISSIPPI
BREAKFAST
Wednesday,
January
18th
7:30-
9:00 am
$33.00
per
person –
table of
8:
$225.00
Featuring
Renee
Grisham:
Why John
and I
want to
help
Rebuild
the
Coast
Adams
and
Reese
LLP, HMA
–
Mississippi
Division
present
TOP 40
UNDER 40
LUNCHEON
Wednesday,
January
18th
Featuring
Rick
Looser:
Mississippi,
Believe
It!
Campaign
12:00-2:00
pm
$45.00
per
person –
table of
8:
$325.00
Mississippi
Economic
Council,
Regions
Bank,
St.
Dominic
Hospital,
BellSouth
present
BUSINESS
WOMAN OF
THE YEAR
LUNCHEON
Thursday,
January
19th
-
11:30 –
1:30
$45.00
per
person –
table of
8:
$325.00
Featuring
Dale
Smith
Thomas:
Winners
by
Choice
Eupora
native,
Nashville
based
Motivational
speaker
&
author,
Recent
appearance
on Dr.
Phil
MORE
INFORMATION:
www.msbusiness.com
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