Southwest Mississippi Economic Partnership

“Expenses administrative fees 1,886 programs 12,751 dues 15,185 travel 8,309 total 38,131”

“The southwest mississippi economic partnership (the partnership) is a regional economic development marketing association whose purpose is to market the area as a primary location for industrial investment. The plan of work and associated activities, which began in september 2015, include branding the region as an attractive option for company investment by marketing and advertising through multiple platforms. The membership of the partnership will utilize platforms including a website, industry specific business case analysis reports, printed materials, coordinated visits to targeted business consultants, brokers, and corporate site selection professionals, and collaborating with the mississippi development authority, entergy mississippi, and south mississippi electric power association. In addition, the partnership will maintain a database of industrial real estate in the area for the purposes of responding to specific property requests. This database will consist of property suitable for industrial development (i.e. Property controlled by the local economic development professional with appropriate utility access, in proximity to logistical infrastructure, etc.) and maintained in such a way to include gis mapping, overhead photographs, utility information, and logistical infrastructure. The partnership will analyze economic activity by geography and determine the best north american markets to visit in order to market the region. For example, if the group observes a large amount of corporate or broker activity originating from the dallas region, representatives from the partnership will travel to that area and meet with those businesses or brokers to present, in person, the advantages of the southwest mississippi. Finally, the organization will work closely with other economic development organizations within the state with similar interest as the partnership. Examples include integrating our marketing plans with that of the mississippi development authority, entergy mississippi, and south mississippi electric power association. The members will conduct the above business on an ongoing basis. The partnership's website and database of industrial real estate is the most important priority to maintain. Those activities were completed the last quarter of 2015 but will require each member to maintain accurate data throughout the year as means of marketing the region for job growth. A smaller group of partnership officers will travel on a quarterly basis to important markets in order to present a business case to corporate real estate professionals as to the advantages of a new corporate location in southwest mississippi. Finally, the officers will, on a routine basis, remain in contact with other economic development organizations within the state in order to better coordinate effective marketing strategies. It is estimated that 50% of the member's time will be spent on maintaining an effective website and industrial property database. Approximately 25% of the members' time will be devoted to planning and executing marketing trips to appropriate north american cities. Approximately 10% of remaining time will be utilized by coordinated with other economic development agencies (such as the mississippi development authority) in order to monitor and adjust to their current state marketing trends. Finally, the remaining 15% will be utilized by analyzing the effectiveness of the partnership's strategies and recommending changes to the membership.”