Mississippi Development Authority

Business

Drax Biomass to build new plant in Gloster

January 4, 2013 Kermit 2

Governor Phil Bryant and officials from Drax Biomass International Inc. have announced the company is planning to construct a 450,000-metric–ton-per-year wood pellet production facility in Gloster, in Amite County.

The facility, to be known as Amite BioEnergy, represents a substantial multi-million dollar investment by the company and will create 45 direct jobs, as well as additional indirect jobs during construction and in the transportation and forestry sectors once the plant is operational.

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) worked with company and local officials to provide assistance for road and infrastructure needs related to the project. […]

News

2 economic developers indicted for bribery and embezzlement

December 28, 2012 Kermit 0

Federal officials said two women have been indicted in connection with an embezzlement and bribery scheme related to grant funds and the construction of community housing projects in the Mississippi Delta.

Connie Lewis, 52, of Jackson, an employee of the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), faces nine counts of accepting a total of over $250,000 in cash bribes from Jimmy Stokes, a general contractor in the Mississippi Delta, in return for her influence at the MDA in directing federal grant funds to Stokes Construction Company.
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Education

Mississippi Blues Trail gets over 500k hits on Google Maps

December 27, 2012 Kermit 0

This month, the Mississippi Blues Trail’s Google Maps web page reached over 500,000 visits. The map can be accessed from the home page of the Blues Trail as well as from each individual marker page.

“Mississippi’s musical heritage continues to be a major attraction for visitors around the world,” said Brent Christensen, executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority. “Using interactive technologies like Google Maps makes the Mississippi Blues Trail both an entertaining and informative tool for those planning a visit to our state. We are pleased that so many web users are taking advantage of this valuable resource to learning about Mississippi’s heritage.”
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Business

MDA launches Mississippi Minority Business Registry

December 14, 2012 Kermit 0

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) has announced the launching of the new Mississippi Minority Business Registry. The registry, which can be accessed online at www.mmbr.org, serves as an easy-to-use and reliable resource for public and private entities seeking the services of qualified minority- and women-owned businesses in Mississippi.

A part of MDA’s Diversity in Contracting initiative focused on increasing minority- and women-owned business participation in private and public contracting opportunities, the registry provides businesses and government agencies with greater access to minority- and women-owned companies that can meet their procurement needs.
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Business

Grenada metal stamping plant adding 35 jobs

December 5, 2012 Kermit Comments Off on Grenada metal stamping plant adding 35 jobs

Officials at Ice Industries Grenada said they are adding 35 jobs and investing $500,000 in an expansion.

The unit of privately-held ICE Industries of Sylvania, Ohio, says it’s expanding engineering, testing and manufacturing at the north Mississippi metal stamping plant, The Clarion-Ledger reports. […]

Business

Meridian warehouse closing, Miss. wants $3.6M back

November 21, 2012 Kermit 0

Handy Hardware, a Texas-based hardware store cooperative, plans to close its 2-year-old Meridian warehouse on Dec. 31, laying off 109 workers.

Mississippi Development Authority spokesman Dan Turner says the state contributed a $3.6 million grant to Handy and plans to demand the money’s return. Handy CEO Ken White says he hasn’t heard from the state.
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Entertainment

Bryant blocks $3 million for Miss. Grammy museum

September 24, 2012 Kermit 0

Gov. Phil Bryant has blocked lawmakers’ attempt to send $3 million from the Mississippi Development Authority budget to the proposed Grammy museum in Cleveland.

House and Senate Appropriations Committee chairmen sent a May 25 letter to the authority saying legislators intended for MDA to give $3 million to the museum. […]