MPA/MPS Press Releases

For more information:
Angelique Minnifield
Novia Communications
(601) 985-9502 – office
(601) 316-4494 – cell
angelique@noviamedia.com

In Jackson, Mississippi, we’re building more than a state-of-the art 330,000-square-foot convention complex. We’re building local, small, and minority-owned businesses. The Jackson Convention Complex is a $65 million project which will serve as an economic catalyst for the City of Jackson and the metro area, primarily by hosting local, regional and national conventions, workshops, consumer trade shows and entertainment events.

But that’s not all. The goal of the Commissioners for the Jackson Convention Complex is to insure that business development and contract opportunities are extended to qualified small and minority owned companies in an effort to build capacity and foster wealth building. To do this, the Commissioners and SMG (the company chosen to manage the Jackson Convention Complex) have partnered with local government and business development agencies and organizations to offer a series of business development and networking conferences targeting aspiring, small and minority business owners who are interested and operating businesses in and around the Jackson Convention Complex.

At a time when the economy is a primary issue of concern, local, small & minority owned businesses are experiencing positive financial impact as a direct result of the construction and operation of the Jackson Convention Complex. Such opportunities are significant for entrepreneurial success and expansion in Mississippi.

The U. S. Small Business Administration reports that there are over 1.1 million minority owned businesses in America today contributing almost $400 billion to the United States’ economic bottom line. Mississippi’s small and minority owned business sector has contributed to that bottom line through both public and private sector contract opportunities. Richard Speights, Director of the Mississippi Development Authority’s Small & Minority Business Development Division, sees the Jackson Convention Complex as one of those public sector projects that will open the door to success for aspiring entrepreneurs, and help to build a greater capacity for existing small and minority business enterprises that take part in the construction and operation of the facility.

“The Convention Center development is an enormous gift to the metropolitan area. As Mississippi’s capital, it is important that Jackson is seen as a hub for new opportunity and growth. The city has an Equal Business Opportunity Program in place that helps to insure the growth of minority-owned business, which ultimately has a positive affect on the entire state,” says Speights. Leroy Walker, Vice Chairman of the Commission and Chairman of the Procurement Committee, echoes those sentiments. “The Commission for the Jackson Convention Complex is a strong proponent of business development, particularly for our local and minority-owned businesses,” says Walker.

This past March, the Jackson Convention Complex/SMG and its partners sponsored its first business development conference targeting existing small and minority-owned businesses, which are ideal candidates to provide some of the products and professional services required to fulfill the day-to-day operations and maintenance needs for the Jackson Convention Complex. Attendees received information on contract opportunities with the Complex, as well as information on networking, financial resources, and real estate options to help support growth.

Other business development and networking conferences on strategic partnerships, customer service, operating a successful restaurant or retail store, marketing, and affordable office and retail space in downtown Jackson are scheduled to take place prior to the opening of the Jackson Convention Complex. These conferences are designed to not only educate and empower the local business community, but to also give birth to new restaurants and retails shops around the Jackson Convention Complex for visitors and locals to enjoy.

By the time the convention center is completed in January of 2009, approximately $65 million will have been spent constructing the Jackson Convention Complex. According to Dr. Bob Neal, Senior Economist at the Mississippi Institution of Higher Learning, the $65 million spent on the project is estimated to generate approximately $43 million in payroll.

“When you consider the primary and secondary jobs this project will create, about 950 jobs will be generated in many areas including construction, the hotel and food industry, as well as professional services,” says Neal.

Linda McCarthy, General Manager with SMG who is overseeing the Jackson Convention Complex, agrees that this kind project not only provides a boost to the local economy, “it also gives smaller firms working on the project an opportunity to be properly mentored and groomed for even larger projects,” says McCarthy. Local companies already participating in this development include Dale & Associates Architects, IMS Engineers, The Priester Law Firm, Porter/Fox Everette, Novia Communications, Advanced Microsystems, LaBass Photography, A-1 Janitorial, Ellis Masonry, Capital Security Services, Inc., McGraw Gotta Go, Waterproofing Systems, Capital Glass, CivilTech Engineering, Watkins and O’Gwynn, Foshee Construction and Waggoner Electric.

Fountain Major Construction, a joint venture company comprised of locally owned and operated Fountain Construction and Major Associates, serves as the general contractor for the project.

The Jackson Convention Complex/SMG is proud to partner with the City of Jackson, Downtown Jackson Partners, Mississippi Development Authority Minority and Small Business Development Division, MinCap, U.S. Small Business Administration, the Jackson Chamber of Commerce, JSU Small Business Development Center, JSU Entrepreneurship Program, Mississippi Minority Business Alliance, and the Mississippi Black Chamber of Commerce to help build the local business community. The Jackson Convention Complex is scheduled to open in January of 2009 with grand opening events to be announced later this year.

Myth #1. The plan passed by the Senate and supported by the Governor is “the hospital plan.”

Fact #1. The plan was written by the Mississippi Hospital Association at the request of members of the Senate who set the rules – all of the money had to come from the hospitals and it had to replace all of the $90 million shortfall. The Mississippi Hospital Association has consistently supported an increase in the tobacco tax to cover the shortfall. They support the Senate plan only if it a choice between that plan and the Governor’s $360 million cuts in Medicaid payments.

Myth #2. – For every $1 in taxes a hospital pays, it receives $6 in Medicaid reimbursements.

Fact #2. The amount of money a hospital receives from the Medicaid program is not related to the amount it pays in taxes. As usual, the Governor has done some fancy (bogus) math. He has totaled up all of the Medicaid money disbursed to hospitals in Mississippi and divided it by the amount they would pay in taxes under his plan, and, eureka, calculated a 6 to 1 ratio. However, the first number is not related to the second number. Hospitals get Medicaid payments based on the services they provide to patients, not based on the amount they pay in taxes. This myth is a little like saying that every day the sun shines, there is water in the ocean. Both statements are true, but the fact that there is water in the ocean has nothing to do with whether or not the sun shines.

Myth #3. – The proposed $167.25 per patient per day tax is just a revision of the existing hospital tax that was in place until 3 years ago.

Fact #3. – The proposed tax is very different from the prior plan. Under the old plan 26 public hospitals paid the tax, and those same hospitals received additional payments from Medicaid. Under the Governor’s proposal, all hospitals will be taxed, and the payment will be spread among all hospitals. As a result, there will be winners and losers. Two public hospitals have testified that the proposal will be devastating to their facilities.

Myth #4. – The proposed tax is “fair.”

Fact #4. – We do not tax any other group of medical providers to provide matching funds for their Medicaid reimbursements. Neither do we tax highway contractors even though their contracts are funded, in large part, by federal matching funds. We might just as well tax Katrina victims who received federal grants to provide the state’s required match. It just makes no sense.

Myth #5. – The new tax will not be passed along to patients and their insurers.

Fact #5. – The Governor’s own hand picked Medicaid Hospital Advisory Committee said in their report that “hospitals will be required to pass increased tax cost and payment shortfalls onto other insurance companies and/or reduce services or jobs,” Barbour has already increased taxes on nursing homes, and those increases have been passed on to private patients.

Myth #6. The Governor is required by law to make the cuts.

Fact #6. – This one is a little like myth #2. Technically it is true. However, as mentioned above, the House has passed legislation to prevent the cuts. In addition, there have been shortfalls in Medicaid every year that Barbour has been in office, and he has never made cuts. In addition, there are more than sufficient funds already available to Medicaid to carry us well into the regular legislative session.

Myth #7. The House leadership wants the Governor to make the cuts for political reasons.

Fact #7. The House has passed and sent to the Senate two bills that would prevent the cuts – one to allow the Governor to tap the rainy day fund, another to delay any cuts until February 1 so that we can address the issue in the regular legislative session.

Cecil Brown
Member of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee
Mississippi House of Representatives
Jackson, MS

601-573-8777 (c)

For more information contact:
Nerissa Bryant
318) 325-0601
Ext. 3073

Primary research from a series of focus groups will aid in establishing foundational guidelines in the search process for a new superintendent in the Monroe City School District in Monroe, Louisiana.

“We wanted to get input from the business community, from teachers, and from parents and community members to aid in our search process,” Lorraine Slacks, search committee chair, said. “The School Board has its own criteria but we wanted to make sure we were attending to all the needs and expectations of our entire community.”

Candidates for the position must have a strong academic and administrative background and an Ed.D. or Ph.D is preferred. The person selected will be expected to assume duties by November 1, 2008. Details and an application form can be found online at www.mcschools.net. Application deadline is July 31.

The Monroe City School District is one of 68 public school districts and only one of four districts in the state that is a municipal district. The district serves students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Current enrollment is approximately 10,000 students.

There are 20 schools in the district: 13 elementary schools, three junior-high/middle schools, three high schools and an alternative school. The district’s general fund budget is $50 million, and the total budget is $90 million. The pupil-teacher ratio is 20:1.

Monroe, located in Ouachita Parish, is the economic and cultural center of northeast Louisiana. Monroe and its twin city, West Monroe, are situated on the Ouachita River and are the center of a host of cultural, social, educational and recreational opportunities.

Contact: Scot Slay
(601) 944-4175
sslay@ecd.org

Hope Community Credit Union Breaks Ground for New  Mississippi Coast Branch in Biloxi

Biloxi, MS –HOPE (Hope Community Credit Union) and its sponsor, ECD (Enterprise Corporation of the Delta), break ground on a new Mississippi Coast branch in Biloxi Monday, July 14, at 11:00 a.m.

In December 2005 ECD/HOPE opened a small office in Biloxi to assist in the recovery and rebuilding process on the Mississippi Coast.  Since that time, the organization has routed millions in emergency funds to local nonprofits and other service providers; built dozens of homes; provided affordable financing to hundreds of businesses, nonprofits, and families; and counseled thousands of homeowners.  ECD/HOPE continues to partner with public agencies, private industry, nonprofits and others to help people rebuild their lives and communities.

The new credit union branch will make HOPE’s affordable financial services more accessible to Mississippi Coast residents. HOPE’s products target low- and moderate-income people and are designed to foster economic stability and build assets.   In addition to business and mortgage loans, HOPE offers several consumer services including checking & savings accounts, CDs, IRAs, internet banking, and ATM/debit cards.  Anyone can become a member of the credit union.

The event will be held at the corner of Howard Avenue and Porter Avenue in Biloxi, Mississippi. Parking will be available in neighboring lots. In the event of inclement weather, we will have a tent on site that will provide plenty of covered space for the ceremony.

All members of the media are invited.

Who: Hope Community Credit Union
What: Groundbreaking for HOPE Mississippi Coast Branch
When: Monday, July 14, 11:00 a.m.
Where: Corner of Howard Avenue and Porter Avenue

SPEAKERS (Scheduled to Appear)
Bill Bynum, CEO - ECD/HOPE
A. J. Holloway, Mayor – City of Biloxi
Alonzo A. Swann, III, Region III Director – National Credit Union Administration
Charles Elliott, Jr., President/CEO – Mississippi Credit Union Association
Maurice Singleton, Director of Diversity – Beau Rivage Casino