MPA/MPS Press Releases

Catholic Diocese of Jackson
P.O. Box 2248
Jackson, MS 39225-2248

Communications Office
Mary Woodward, Director
601.960.8475
mary.woodward@jacksondiocese.org

WASHINGTON/JACKSON—Child Abuse Prevention Month will be marked in parishes and dioceses around the United States in April.
To assist church groups, the U.S. bishops’ Secretariat of Child and Youth Protection has developed resources in English and Spanish to facilitate activities to highlight the need for prevention efforts. They include posters, liturgical guides, articles on church efforts to reach out to abuse victims and to protect children, and bulletin announcements. All materials may be downloaded for use locally. The materials are available on the USCCB’s website at http://www.usccb.org/ocyp/april_cap_month_2009.shtml
The Child and Youth Protection Secretariat has made care for minors a key priority and spearheaded nationwide safe environment programs. Through these programs more than five million minors already have been educated on such how to protect themselves from harm and almost two million adults have undergone background screening and training on appropriate relationships with youth in their care.
The Office of Child Protection for the Catholic Diocese of Jackson facilitates the ongoing criminal background screening process and monitors the prevention component of the safe environment training program for adults who work with children and youth in schools and parishes.  At the present time, we have 3,390 adults in active ministry with young people who have undergone criminal background checks and have received training in the diocesan safe environment program.

Additionally, children and youth receive an age-appropriate safe environment lesson annually.  The lesson material introduces young people to the basic concept of body safety and self-protection skills.  There were 8,202 children and youth instructed in self-protection skills in school year 2007-2008.
The Diocese of Jackson, along with other dioceses nationwide, recognizes and promotes April as Child Abuse Awareness Month.  The Office of Child Protection has distributed child abuse prevention and awareness resource material to all parishes and schools.  It is requested that the information be used in liturgies and bulletins.
According to Vickie Carollo, Director of the Office of Child Protection for the Jackson diocese, “Child abuse is a challenging topic to address.  However, we must keep in mind that by providing safe environment education to adults, children and youth we may save one child from a horrific incident or encourage a child to get the help he or she deserves.  Parents, teachers and volunteers must help children and youth feel they can speak openly and honestly about their concerns and make time to keep dialogue open about this important topic.”
“There are few things more important than protecting our children from harm,” said Bishop Blase Cupich of  Rapid City, South Dakota, chair of the bishops’ Committee on the Protection of Children and Young People. “Child abuse in our society is rampant and we are called to do what we can to stop it. Children are gifts entrusted to us by God. All responsible adults must protect the life and dignity of those gifts. Child Abuse Prevention Month deserves our attention in both prayer and action.”

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Media Contact    Robert Lesley
601-420-5021

Atmos Energy Says Assistance is Available to Help Pay Winter Heating Bills

Jackson, Miss. (March 26, 2009)  – Atmos Energy says funds are available to help the most vulnerable people in our society, the elderly, the disabled and low-income families, pay their winter heating bills.

“Some of our customers have never been in this situation before and don’t know about energy-assistance program funds,” said David Gates, president of the Atmos Energy Mississippi Division. “Now is the time to apply if you need help with your heating bills. We want to help qualified customers obtain funds that are meant to help them, especially in this troubled economy.”

Help for paying your heating bill is available from two programs: the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Sharing the Warmth, a program established by Atmos Energy and co-sponsored by The Salvation Army.

Applications for LIHEAP are taken at local Community Action Agencies or Human Resource Agencies. If you cannot find a local agency you may call the Community Services Line, toll-free statewide, at 1-800-421-0762.

Atmos Energy’s Sharing the Warmth program combines customer donations with company contributions to help people pay their natural gas bills. The donations go directly to those in the community who qualify under  the program’s guidelines. Customers can call Atmos Energy at 1-888-286-6700 or contact their local Salvation Army office directly. More information is at www.atmosenergy.com/cs/sharethewarmth.html.

Atmos Energy offers its customers two ways to learn if they qualify for energy assistance funds:
•    Call Atmos Energy at 1-888-286-6700 to talk with an associate who can put a customer in touch with a local energy assistance agency.
•    Visit www.atmosenergy.com and click first on Home Service, then on Energy Assistance to find a local energy assistance agency.

“Although energy assistance funds are a tremendous help, many people are still doing without,” added Gates. “We urge customers having trouble paying their natural gas bills to call us at 1-888-286-6700 for referral to agencies with funds, for making personal payment arrangements or for assistance from Atmos Energy’s Sharing the Warmth program.”
About Atmos Energy
Atmos Energy Corporation, headquartered in Dallas, is the country’s largest natural gas-only distributor, serving about 3.2 million natural gas distribution customers in more than 1,600 communities in 12 states from the Blue Ridge Mountains in the East to the Rocky Mountains in the West. Atmos Energy also provides natural gas marketing and procurement services to industrial, commercial and municipal customers primarily in the Midwest and Southeast and manages company-owned natural gas pipeline and storage assets, including one of the largest intrastate natural gas pipeline systems in Texas. Atmos Energy is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.atmosenergy.com.

For more information
CONTACT:
Jeff Grierson ~ President
MLMA~  www.mslumbermfg.org
601 757 3826

Manufacturers of Forest Products represents Mississippi’s 2nd largest industry.
Lumber crisis “Bridge to Recovery ” loan program.

A group of Saw Mill Executives representing Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association (MLMA) traveled to Washington February 24-25 to discuss possible initiatives that could help stabilize the lumber industry in MS.  Members of the group met individually with Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker and Representatives Gene Taylor, Travis Childers and Gregg Harper. Congressman Thompson was unavailable but plans to meet with the group in MS.  The congressional delegation encouraged MLMA to continue working with them and the Governor to find a solution. MLMA is alarmed that if loans are not made available within the next 12 months, Mississippi could very well witness the collapse of the industry as it exists today.

Congress recently passed an $870 billion dollar “stimulus” bill to jump-start the economy.  However, there were no specific provisions within this stimulus package designed to assist the lumber manufacturing sector. The banks continue to tighten credit, thereby restricting the ability to borrow operating capital. “We now find ourselves in the very precarious position of being unable to utilize traditional borrowing sources for working capital. We need both the state and federal government  to provide programs that will allow access to government funded loans that could provide the working capital necessary to stabilize the industry and keep Mississippians employed” said Floyd Sulser, Chairman, Southern Lumber Co., Inc., Hermanville, MS.

The success of the lumber industry is dependent upon the housing market.  While the national economy as a whole has put the country  in a recession for the past year, the lumber industry is going into its third year of a downturn.  Economists have stated that the next 18-24 months will likely be a financially grim period for most businesses associated with forest products and the construction industry. A government loan program would help bridge this gap and retain thousands of jobs for Mississippians.

“MLMA  represents 24 Mississippi Sawmills actively trying to focus both state and national attention on this issue.  By helping these businesses with federally backed loans, we can continue to keep employees working, paying taxes to the state instead of having to draw unemployment checks. We are encouraged to see Senator Tester of Montana working on a Federal level to address the same industry crisis facing Montana while Governor Brian Schweitzer is working with the Montana legislature to create a loan program using a portion of the stimulus money.  It is important to recognize that we are not seeking a government subsidy.  We are asking for the ability to have a vehicle (loan) that will bridge our industry as well as other small businesses in Mississippi to recovery, ” said Jeff Grierson, President of MLMA. President, Columbus Lumber Company, Brookhaven, MS.

“The lumber industry crisis is not just a Mississippi issue; it is a national crisis. A portion of our entire economy will take a huge hit if we lose this industry to other countries.  Every Mississippi mill is located in a small rural town where the mill is a leading source for employment.  The struggling economies in these small towns will be significantly impacted if mills begin to close. Keeping the mills operating and our people working will be more important to Mississippi’s future than ever before.” said Charles Thomas, Chairman, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association representing 17 states. Vice President, Shuqualak Lumber Company, Shuqualak, MS.

MLMA presented the following initiatives while in D.C. and later to the Governor’s office; A. Create  and Fund a Mississippi Business Economic Emergency Grant and Loan Program or “Bridge to Recovery” Loan Program. B. Current language in the Stimulus Bill states that “small businesses” with gross annual revenues of 15 million dollars or less are allowed to carry back net operating losses for 5 years.  We are requesting that this criteria be changed or new legislation presented to allow small businesses such as ours with gross annual revenues under 50 million dollars to qualify under these rules. C. Support legislation that allows Governor Barbour the ability to use stimulus funds to help ailing businesses in the form of a Bridge Grant Loan Program.

Fact Sheet by the numbers

Industry facts for 2005;
•    Generates $17.4 billion dollars annually for Mississippi.
•    Represents 8.5% or 123,000 MS jobs.
•    Creates $4.4 billion in taxable wages.
Industry facts for 2009;
•    75% of all MS Sawmills have been curtailed in last 18 months.
•    Sawmill production to drop by 30% from 2007 levels.
•    At least five Sawmill operations have closed in last 14 months.

Source:  Information from Forest2Market, MLMA, and MS Loggers Assoc.

CRISIS IN THE LUMBER INDUSTRY
•    Privately owned housing starts in 2005 totaled 2,068,300 units.
•    Starts for 2008 totaled 904,300 units, the lowest annual total since record-keeping began in 1959.
•    January, 2009, housing starts at a SAAR of 466,000 units, representing a 79% decline in 4 years.
•    US lumber consumption in 2005 was 62 Billion Board Feet (BBF).
•    Lumber demand in the US is expected to fall to 35 BBF in 2009.

Source:  Random Lengths “YardSticks”

March 23, 2009

Dear Editor:
As the nation comes to grips with the current recession, the biggest news in state government is the significant decline in tax revenues.  On Friday we learned that for the twelve months ending next June, state revenue will be more than $200 less than we thought in October, and for the following twelve months we will be some $400 million short of the October estimate.  As difficult as the situation is, there are economic lessons to be learned from our current budget problems.

During his two gubernatorial campaigns and all periods in between, Haley Barbour repeatedly lambasted his immediate predecessor, Ronnie Musgrove, for leaving office with “a $700 million dollar hole in the state budget.”  Governor Barbour also bragged that he was able to close the budget hole “without raising anyone’s taxes” and that “more Mississippians are working than ever before.”

In fact, Governor Musgrove’s term fell prey to the national recession of 2000-2001, the accompanying loss of jobs and Mississippi’s first period of declining tax collections since 1984.

Now, as the state economy slows in line with the national recession, we find ourselves staring at another decline in tax collections and another $700 plus hole in the budget – next year’s $400 million shortfall in revenue plus  $300 million in “one time money,”  non-recurring revenues that have been scraped together from various sources throughout state government.  In addition, struggling Mississippi businesses are laying off workers resulting in the lowest number of working people in the state since 1998.  As a result, Barbour is pushing a $90 million tax on the state’ hospitals, apparently supporting an increase in the tax on cigarettes and has already instituted a higher tax on nursing homes.

Thank goodness the federal stimulus money will help us plug some budget holes and, hopefully, enable us to avoid draconian cuts to public services for the foreseeable future.   These funds on the heels of the Hurricane Katrina relief funds have been a Godsend to Mississippi.  While both the stimulus money and the Katrina money are non-recurring “one-time” sources, without this federal help Mississippi’s economy would be in far worse shape than it is.

The lesson to be learned from all of this is simple – while state policies can be helpful in attracting businesses and creating jobs, we are influenced far more by the national economy, and no Mississippi politician should take credit or blame for the vagaries of the national economy.  Governor Barbour is not to blame for our current economic plight.  But just as assuredly he cannot take credit for the boom that preceded the current decline, and blaming former Governor Musgrove for the recession of 2000-2001 is just plain wrong.

Cecil Brown
Mississippi House of Representatives
District 66; Hinds County
601-362-8383 (h)
601-709-4393 (o)

Mississippi will host the largest manufactured housing show in the
country on March 25-27, 2009. The South Central Manufactured Housing
Institute has invited several builders, developers, retailers and state
and local officials to come and view these homes first hand. The
Harrah’s Casino in Tunica, MS will be the site of the 2009 TUNICA SHOW,
this event will showcase over 90 brand new factory built homes. The 2009
TUNICA SHOW is sponsored by the Mississippi Manufactured Housing
Association(MMHA) and the Alabama Manufactured Housing Institute (AMHI).
Together, they have brought in over 25 manufacturers and nearly 50
exhibitors displaying the newest and most innovative products on the
market today for factory built housing. This year will be the 11th year
that Mississippi has hosted the show contributing years of continued
growth and support to the factory built housing industry.

The TUNICA SHOW which is a wholesale show, allows builders, developers,
community owners, retailers and service suppliers the opportunity to
view the 2009 model homes first hand with the manufacturer
representatives on site to answer any questions that they may have. Ty
Batchlor, the TUNICA SHOW chairman, stated that, “Today’s manufactured
homes have experienced a major revolution in the types and qualities of
homes being offered to buyers.”

The TUNICA SHOW will host an All Industry Reception that will take place
on the evening of Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at the Harrah’s Event
Center. This event is open to all registered attendees and will allow
them to mingle with guests and exhibitors from over 20 different states.
This year the show will also feature a drawing for a top of the line
ATV. All registered attendees are encouraged to stop by the MMHA or AMHI
booth to sign up for this drawing. The drawing will take place on March
26, 2009 at 3 p.m. near the TUNICA SHOW Office.

MMHA also invited Mayors and Building Officials from the Delta Region to
come and view the new factory built homes. “Work force housing is needed
in so many of our towns and communities,” stated Jennifer Hall, MMHA
Executive Director. “ The TUNICA SHOW gives officials an up close and
personal opportunity to tour our homes. MMHA is proud to host the
largest factory built housing show right here, in Mississippi.”

For more information on the 2009 TUNICA SHOW, please visit www.msmmha.com.

Contact:    Mara Hartmann
601-969-2520 (office)
601-594-9042 (cell)
mhartma@entergy.com

Receives EEI Awards for Responding to Gustav, Ike and Assisting Other Utilities

New Orleans, La. – Entergy Corporation accepted two national awards recently for its work restoring power after hurricanes Gustav and Ike, and for helping two utilities recover from severe weather. It is the 11th consecutive year Entergy has received storm response awards from the Edison Electric Institute.

Entergy received an EEI Emergency Recovery Award for restoring power to more than 1.6 million customers following Gustav and Ike, which struck less than two weeks apart in September 2008. It also received EEI’s Emergency Assistance Award for helping Public Service of Oklahoma following a December 2007 ice storm and AEP Texas after Hurricane Dolly in July 2008.

Entergy is the only company to be honored every year since the EEI Emergency Response Awards were first presented in 1998. Entergy has now won four awards for its efforts restoring power to its own customers and nine awards for helping other utilities repair their systems.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive awards 11 years in a row. I think it shows our employees are known throughout the industry for their outstanding preparation and dedication to getting the job done safely and quickly,” said Randy Helmick, Entergy’s “storm boss” and  vice president of transmission. “Their focus on safety allowed us to rebuild significant sections of our system within 24 days after Gustav and Ike and work a total of 8.7 million man-hours while setting the best safety record in our company’s history.”

Gustav made landfall Sept. 1, 2008, and knocked out power to customers in three of the four states served by Entergy utilities. In Mississippi, some 35,000 Entergy customers in the southwest portion of the state were left without power. In Louisiana, 71 percent of customers were without electricity.

Ike struck the Texas coast on Sept. 13, 2008, leaving 99 percent of Entergy Texas, Inc. customers without power.

“We faced significant technical and physical challenges in both storms, but we were able to restore power to everyone who could take it by Sept. 25,” Helmick said. “It was a huge job that had damage spread across 67,000 square miles of our service territory. We had to replace or repair nearly 85,000 miles of distribution lines and roughly 6,000 miles of transmission lines.”

“These two storms capped one of our busiest years ever for responding to severe weather – from a horrific series of tornadoes to back-to-back hurricanes,” Helmick added. “For Gustav, we assembled a workforce of approximately 15,000. Ike struck as work was starting to wind down in some of the less-damaged areas hit by Gustav. We were able to shift a good number of those workers to help repair damage from Ike.”

“In total, 12,000 employees and contractors responded to Ike.”

Entergy also received an EEI Emergency Assistance Award for sending crews to help Public Service of Oklahoma respond to an ice storm that hit the Tulsa area in December 2007 and AEP-Texas recover from Hurricane Dolly.

“It’s part of our industry’s culture to respond when someone is in need,” Helmick said. “We receive the benefits of this mutual utility company assistance when our region is hit by major storms, so it’s only right that we respond in kind and help our neighboring utilities get the lights on as quickly as possible.”

EEI President Thomas R. Kuhn said, “Entergy’s system had significant damage from the back-to-back hurricanes, with direct hits upon each landfall, yet the company as usual fought hard to get customers’ power back on through all of that adversity. Entergy proved its helpfulness to other utilities as well – again, an Entergy tradition. Year in and year out, the company has provided one great example of the determination electric utilities have after natural disasters.”

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $13 billion and approximately 14,300 employees.
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entergy.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March, 17, 2009 Contact: Scott Coopwood
(662) 843-2700

On March 8, a new newspaper began being published in Cleveland and Bolivar County, Miss.  Some 10,000 copies were distributed throughout Cleveland and Bolivar County early March 8.

Called The Cleveland Current, the newspaper is owned and published by Scott Coopwood of Cleveland. Coop-wood is also the owner and founder of the Delta Business Journal and Delta Magazine.

“We are very excited about our company entering the newspaper publishing field,” says Coopwood. “The Cleveland Current  will be positioned as a pro-community newspaper for Cleveland. However, we’ll also be fearless in tackling the news. Just like Fox News Network’s tagline, ‘Fair and Balanced’, we’ll be taking that same approach.”

The Cleveland Current consists of several sections. The “News” section contains pertinent news related to Cleve¬land and Bolivar County only; a “Lifestyle” section features Cleveland’s people, history, art, and other stories;  a “Busi¬ness” section features business spotlights and business news on Cleveland;  a “Farm” section contains stories on Bolivar County’s farmers and farm-related issues affecting Bolivar County farmers;  an “Outdoor” section features sto¬ries on the county’s hunters, fishermen, and other outdoor enthusiasts; and  a “Sports” section covers Delta State sports, public and private school sports in the county, Cleveland Park Commission sports, and more.

“The Cleveland Current” will contain local news only,” says Coopwood.
The staff of The Cleveland Current is: Michael Simmons, managing editor; Chance Wright, sports editor; Keith Wood, senior reporter; Kristy Kitchings and Wendy Mize, advertising sales;  Kelli Cotton, production manager; Holly Ray, graphic designer; and Holly Tharp, circulation.

Home delivery subscriptions to The Cleveland Current are $28 for one year, $22 for six months, and mailed sub¬scriptions beyond Bolivar County for $36 a year. There are 20 newsstand locations throughout Cleveland and Bolivar County.

“We want the Cleveland community to become completely engaged in this new weekly newspaper,” says Coopwood.

A marketing campaign is accompanying the launch of The Cleveland Current.
One minute and :30 tv spots are airing on Cable One in Cleveland and also on WABG-TV and WXVT-TV. Radio com¬mercials, direct mail, and billboards around Cleveland will also be used.

In order to continue servicing Cleveland with news, twice a week, The Cleveland Current will email a “Cleveland Current E-Blast” to over 4,000 people in Cleveland. This email will contain breaking news stories and video segments on Cleveland.  “This email blast will allow us to keep Clevelanders informed of breaking news  taking place in Cleveland during the week,” says Coopwood.
The paper’s web site is www.theclevelandcurrent.com.
For more information, call Scott Coopwood at 662-843-2700.  Photo available upon request.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE            For more information, call:
March 16, 2009                        Hugh Barkley, Executive Director
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the Central MS Area, Inc.
(601) 899-5880
www.ncaddcenms.org

JACKSON, MISS:  “A Catch for Recovery” is an open team bass tournament benefiting the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the Central Mississippi Area, Inc.  Sponsored by the Pine Belt Bass Masters, the third annual tournament will be held at the Ross Barnett Reservoir at Tommy’s Landing on Saturday, May 16, 2009.  Cash prizes will be awarded and door prizes will be given away.  To register for the tournament or for more information, please call (601) 899-5880.

About NCADD

The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. is a national non-profit organization combating alcoholism, other drug addictions, and related problems.   NCADD provides education about alcoholism, tobacco, and other drug addictions as treatable diseases; offers prevention programs for schools, organizations and communities; answers questions from the public, legislative bodies, and the media; and distributes a variety of publications.  NCADD also offers information and referral services to children, teenagers, and adults seeking help with alcoholism, drug dependencies and other related issues.  A majority of this information is available free of charge.  All contacts with persons seeking help are confidential.  National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence of the Central Mississippi Area, Inc. funding is made possible through United Way of the Capital Area as well as private donations and grants.

For Immediate Release                                                  Contact: Scot Slay
March 12, 2009                                     Office: (601) 944-4175
Mobile: (601) 832-9872
Email: sslay@ecd.org

Credit Union Offers Affordable Financial Services, Alternative to Predatory Lenders

Biloxi, MS – Hope Community Credit Union (HOPE), a community development credit union, and its sponsor, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta (ECD), are celebrating the grand opening of a new Gulf Coast branch located at 188 Porter Avenue in Biloxi.

The new credit union branch at the corner of Howard Avenue and Porter Avenue will make HOPE’s affordable financial services more accessible to Mississippi Coast residents.  Since Hurricane Katrina, HOPE has assisted thousands of families and small businesses across the Gulf Coast, and places a strong emphasis on fostering economic stability in economically distressed areas.

A two-day grand opening celebration will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, March 13, at 10:30 a.m. Guests will include local business, civic and community leaders, as well as nonprofit and partner organizations. The ribbon cutting will be followed by a community fair on Saturday, March 14th from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. The community fair will feature financial education seminars, health screenings, food and fun for area residents. Both events will take place at the HOPE branch.

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 relief funds to local service providers; built dozens of homes; provided affordable financing to hundreds of businesses, nonprofits, and families; and counseled thousands of homeowners.

With the opening of the Biloxi branch, HOPE will make the full range of its affordable financial services more accessible to residents of the Gulf Coast area, expanding its loan programs, and improving access to deposit and cash services such as savings accounts, IRAs and an ATM machine.

Sharon Green of Biloxi heard about HOPE’s services through a friend.  She needed help getting her credit rating back on track and wanted to learn how to better manage her finances so she could eventually purchase a home.

“I opened a checking and a savings account with HOPE,” Green said.  “Now I can do banking on the Internet and keep track of my balances.  It helps me watch my expenses and do a better job of budgeting.”

“I’ve learned a whole lot through my experience, and I want to get my kids involved in learning about their credit early,” she said.

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.

According to Bill Bynum, chief executive officer of ECD/HOPE, the opening of the Mississippi Coast branch reflects the organization’s long-term commitment to the region, “Credit unions uniquely enable people to safely pool their resources to help each other during challenging times such as these, says Bynum. “With the new branch HOPE will expand access to vital financial services as residents navigate both the rebuilding process and the current financial crisis.”

ECD/HOPE collaborates with public agencies, private industry, nonprofits and faith-based organizations to accomplish their mission.  Moore Community House, a Biloxi-based nonprofit working to address the needs of low-income families, benefited from a relationship with HOPE in several ways.  “We have enhanced our ability to fulfill our mission and assist more people on the Coast because of our relationship with HOPE,” said Carol Burnett, executive director.  “HOPE gave us a socially responsible option for deposits as we built our childcare facility, and we can refer our staff and the families we serve to the credit union for the affordable financial choices it offers.”

Since 1994, ECD/HOPE has worked with others who are committed to equitable economic development to assist more than 40,000 individuals and generate over $1 billion in financing for entrepreneurs, homebuyers and community development projects across the Mid South.  Individuals and organizations make federally insured deposits in HOPE to support the organization’s development efforts in economically-distressed and underserved communities.

Partial funding for the 2,300 square foot facility was provided by the Kresge Foundation and the National Federation of Community Development Credit Unions.

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Contact: Robby Channell, (601) 968-5135
rchannell@mbmc.org

– Do you know a woman who has inspired you, encouraged you or helped you become a better person? Nominate her for one of five “Strong Women” awards.
Nominations will be accepted through April 6, 2009 by visiting Baptist’s website at www.mbhs.org , or call the Baptist Health Line at 601- 948-6262 or 1-800-948-6262.
A panel of distinguished women will select the honorees in the following categories:
Perseverance: One who has overcome personal adversity.
Leader: One who inspires others to act for a common good.
Mentor: One who invests herself in helping another as a counselor, role model, helper or encourager.
Defender: One who champions the cause of a disadvantaged person or group.
Promise: A young woman aged 14-18 who demonstrates a commitment to high personal standards.
All nominees will be recognized and winners announced during the ninth annual Celebration of Strong Women on May 7th at the new Baptist for Women facility.  The Celebration of Strong Women is presented by Baptist for Women, a division of Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, Miss., Lifetime Television for Women and Comcast Spotlight.

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