The Mississippi Link NewswireThe State of Mississippi will contribute $263 million to Continental Tire Manufacturing to Hinds County as part of an overall $1.5 billion project. More than 2,500 jobs will be created, with an average salary of $40,000/year. Approximately 70% of the jobs will be held by residents of Hinds County. Senator Horhn played a key role in getting language inserted into the bill to ensure that Mississippi-based companies and disadvantaged businesses get a shot at contracts, supplier opportunities, and construction work associated with the project. The bill has been signed into law by the Governor.
SB 2525Sponsored by Senator Horhn and members of the Jackson delegation upon the recommendation of the Mayor and Jackson City Council, SB 2525 creates and funds the Capital Complex Improvement District (CCID) to include areas in Jackson where the state owns considerable property, including the JSU area, Downtown Jackson, the State Fairgrounds, Jackson Medical Mall area, and R & D Center. The State will pay for police/fire protection in the CCID and take responsibility for water/waste water improvements, street resurfacing, lighting, and beautification projects. Improvements would be funded by diverting an additional portion of the sales tax collected in the Capital City for improvements within the CCID. The bill passed the Senate and is now in the House of Representatives.SB 2629Sponsored by Senator Horhn, this bills provides relief for the housing crisis at Jackson State University. JSU would be authorized to enter into a long-term management agreement with a third party, which will construct, at no cost to the University, a 630-bed housing development adjacent to the campus on property currently owned by the JSU Foundation. JSU would also be authorized to sell that land and also to enter into a ground lease and management contract with a third party for the repair and renovation of existing dorms owned by the University. JSU would earn a 4% management fee each year, and at the end of the agreement period, all properties including land and any improvements made, will be returned to the full ownership of JSU. The bill passed the Senate and is now in the House of Representatives.SB 2162Sponsored by Sen. Josh Harkins of Rankin County, SB 2162 would change the governing authority of Jackson Metropolitan Airport Authority, which is controlled by the Mayor of Jackson and the Jackson City Council, and create a regional authority made up of representatives from the Tri-county area and appointees by the Governor. Because this would mean a loss of control of both the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport and Hawkins Field, the Jackson delegation in the Senate strongly opposed the bill. Unfortunately, the bill passed the Senate on a 29/18 vote and is now in the House of Representatives, where we will continue to fight for its defeat.
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