In June of 2002 the unemployment rate was 26.3 percent and in April of 2004 the rate had decreased to 8.6 percent. As you can see Webster County is moving forward and will continue to move forward as we continue to work together.
- Progress Report -
Webster County Development Council Progress Report for June:
The Webster County video, "Not Far From Here," has been receiving many responses. Requests to show the video have come from different organizations to show at its meetings. The first copy will be free to qualifying organizations. Anyone needing extra copies can purchase the DVD for $12 and the VHS for $10.
The "Come Home to Webster Webster" full-page ad has been published in the "Home Guide" of Starkville, Mathiston and Eupora (Volume 2, No. 8). This ad lists the advantages of living in Webster County and making the short drive here as opposed to living in the Starkville area.
More than 5,000 books have been distributed. The "Home Guide" has a shelf life of two months. This ad should get the attention of many home buyers and get them to consider Webster County. I have talked with one of our real estate agents and they have received a response from the ad.
The WCDC continues to work with our motel prospect and our industrial prospect. The WCDC feels good about both of these prospects turning into job creation for our county. The motel prospect would add an additional 15-20 jobs.
The WCDC video has been mailed to the project directors (industry recruiters for the state) at the Mississippi Development Authority, the industrial recruiters for the Tennessee Valley Authority, North Mississippi Industrial Development Association, our local real estate agents and Golden Triangle Planning and Development District, which will put the video on our Web site.
Demographics and other pertinent information have been mailed to retail and industrial prospects. Why should we recruit retail? It satisfies our citizens' desire to shop at home. It increases revenue from sales taxes (ask our mayors and aldermen how much of the cities' budget comes from sales tax) and property taxes.
Retail creates permanent and new jobs for our citizens. Retail retains dollars that are currently spent outside of Webster County. Retail brings new dollars into our community. Sales taxes provide better city services, better streets, lower property taxes, higher-paid employees, better infrastructure and better quality of life.
I have supplied demographics to two local businesses that needed the information for potential buyers of their businesses. This information will help market their business and is necessary information that buyers require. The WCDC is able to supply this information because of our partnership with TVA.
The WCDC has formed a committee that has representatives from all parts of Webster County to formulate a project that would benefit the county. This committee has had two meetings and is moving forward with formulating this project. This committee was formed because Webster County was chosen by GTPDD and USDA Rural Development to be a pilot county.
A meeting has been set up with Mike Armour, director of the Appalachian Regional Commission, to discuss the funding of our Vision to Action projects.
Our leadership committee is moving forward with the planning of the next Leadership82 class that will begin in the fall. We had a great class last year and this next class is on the way to being even better. Anyone wanting an application please call my office.
- Opportunity -
A meeting of the Vision to Action combined committees will be July 19 at 7 p.m. at the Eupora Depot.
Anderson is executive director of the Webster County Development Council. He may be contacted at 258-7835 or webwcdc@bellsouth.net, or visit www.webstercountyms.com.
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