The Webster Progress-Times

A progress report on projects and programs of the Webster County Development Council was given during its quarterly meeting on July 17 at the Eupora Depot.

Executive Director Cynthia Wilson provided copies of the report to those present. Wilson said she has submitted a budget request letter to each of the municipalities and the Board of Supervisors asking that funding be restored to the original levels.

She said Walthall has already agreed to do so and that she feels like the organization stands a good chance of receiving full funding from the other entities. Wilson asked those present to encourage the local governmental boards to reinstate full funding. The possibility of asking the Board of Supervisors to levy millage for economic development was also brought up.

Additionally, the report shows that membership in the WCDC is currently at 84 members, which is up from last year's 39 and surpasses the total membership in the first year, which was 75.

These grants totaling $74,445.75 have been received since January 2005, according to the report: Appalachian Regional Commission Asset-Based Development Grant, TVA Technology Grant, ARC Signage Grant, ARC Minigrant and Farmer's Market Grant.

The council has received notification of award or made applications for these grants since this January: Mississippi Development Authority Marketing Grant, $712.50; ARC Feasibility Study Grant, $50,000; and USD Farmer's Market Promotion Grant, $73,905 (awaiting notification).

Projects, Programs

The progress report also included this information about work on projects and programs since January:

€ Cookbook: Work has begun on the County Cookbook with recipes being gathered. A goal has been set to collect 1,000 recipes. This a fund-raising project for the Development Council.

€ Railroad project: Meetings are continuing to be held on establishing a regional rail authority. Notification was received that $50,000 will be awarded to conduct a feasibility study. A determination was made that a feasibility study by the Mississippi Department of Transportation could not be used instead.

€ Council of Government: The Council of Government met in February, April and July. As a result of one of the meetings, Wilson held strategic planning sessions with Mathiston and Eupora officials facilitated by Phil Hardwick of Mississippi State's Stennis Institute of Government. Meetings have been scheduled with Mantee and Walthall in August.

€ Retail Marketing Team: Retail Marketing Team training was conducted in January, February and March by Teresa Taylor with TVA's Consumer Connection program. Wilson has started work on preparing some marketing pieces that will be used in October during the Southeastern meeting of the International Council of Shopping Centers.

€ Farmer's Market: The Doss Building has been cleared out and in May the Farmer's Market opened. Bobby Files has been hired as the market manager. It has been estimated that as many as 300 people came through on several occasions. The dry weather has had an effect on the product but it has picked up considerably.

€ Recognition Banquet: The WCDC held its first recognition banquet in May with Blake Wilson, executive director for the Mississippi Economic Council, as the featured speaker. There were108 in attendance with about a dozen businesses or individuals recognized for their contributions to the county. Wilson said a recommendation has been made to recognize a healthcare professional of the year at future banquets.

€ Existing Industry: A meeting was held with existing industry officials to determine how the WCDC could best work with them to meet some of their needs. The council will be working with existing industry to implement the E-Synchronist program and visits should begin in mid-September. This will be done in conjunction with the MDA and North Mississippi Industrial Development Association.

€ Keep America Beautiful: In January the WCDC voted to affiliate with the Keep Mississippi/Keep America Beautiful program. Board members are needed, and a recommendation was made to have the Board of Supervisors and each board of aldermen nominate a member.

€ GO Zone: Officials in Webster County, Emergency Management Director Eugene Doss and Wilson met with the late Mike Dill, area coordinator of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, to investigate what steps the county needs to take to get included in the GO Zone.

The federal legislation provides tax incentive to areas affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma that were designated as warranting individual or public and individual assistance. Dill, of Brandon, died Saturday at age 56. Officials had not heard anything before his death on what Dill was able to find out.

€ Buy Local Campaign: The goal of this campaign is educate the citizens of Webster County as to what the tax dollars on money being spent in other counties could do for local municipalities and the county. The Retail Marketing Team is working to revitalize the retail business in the county and encourage shopping at home.

€ Promoting Webster County: The Development Council is running four different radio spots on WLZA over a three-month period promoting the county. North Mississippi Medical Center-Eupora is paying for one month of the ads.

Ads promoting Webster County are also being run in the Home Guide of Starkville, Mathiston and Eupora throughout this year. Wilson has submitted an article to run in the Starkville Daily News highlighting the Sumner Grant opportunity to residents of Webster County, and it may run in other Golden Triangle newspapers in hopes of attracting some of the employees coming in with development of the megasite in Lowndes County to locate here.

In addition, an ad will be on the new county map being developed by Ad-Scope Designs. Wilson has also sent in information to be included in the Official Mississippi Tour Guide magazine and to be included on the state's Visit Mississippi website. The WCDC is in the process of developing its website and Kim Ellis Designs of Webster County is doing the work.

Small Municipalities and Limited Population Grant applications: Webster County and its municipalities have submitted five applications for these grant funds (see related story).

€ Transportation Enhancement Program: Some municipalities are in the process of applying for these grant funds, which require a 20 percent match that can include in-kind contributions.

€ Signage project: Lowell Hitt is completing and delivering some of the community signs. Dylan Karges should be starting on the county mural soon on the Dewberry Insurance building.

Also during the meeting, Belinda Stewart was congratulated for being selected as one of Mississippi's Leading Business Women for 2006. She will be featured in a special publication of the Mississippi Business Journal later in the year. The architect is the mayor of Walthall and the Development Council's treasurer.

The next quarterly meeting will be Sept. 18 at 7 p.m.