ED PARTNERSHIP HOSTS MDA FOR VISION & FAMILIARIZATION TOUR OF VICKSBURG
Vicksburg, MS | August 13, 2018 – The Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership recently hosted the staff and executive team of the MDA (Mississippi Development Authority) for a vision and familiarization tour of Vicksburg and Warren County. Senior members of the MDA team included Mr. Mike McGreevy, Deputy Director of MDA, and Mr. Jamie Miller, Deputy Director for Governmental Affairs and Chief Innovation Officer. Directors and project managers from the Global Recruitment and Existing Industry teams were also in attendance during the day and half of activities in Vicksburg. Representatives from Entergy Mississippi Economic Development and the Greater Jackson Alliance were also part of the delegation.
During the twenty plus hours that the MDA team was in Vicksburg, they enjoyed an original Vicksburg dinner at Anchuca, learned about the Strategic Plan developed by the Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership, visited historic homes, tourist attractions and restaurants, and learned in detail about strategic assets that differentiate Warren County from the pack in terms of economic development. The delegation spent half a day at ERDC and met with representatives of numerous laboratories. They learned from the Chamber of Commerce and EDF about the tech transfer initiatives being developed by the community (including the Hardware Building Innovation Project) and were treated to amazing performances by the Warren School District teachers and students at the 2018 convocation ceremony. The delegation learned that in Vicksburg and Warren County all entities are aligned to support economic and workforce development. Representatives were witness to the unique alignment that exists between the K-12 education system, the community college, the business community, and the economic development offices in Warren County. Representatives from the City of Vicksburg, Warren County, the Chamber of Commerce, the Port Commission, EDF, Entergy, and ERDC, all joined the MDA delegation at different times during the visit.
I would like to thank the Mississippi Development Authority for visiting Vicksburg and touring our incredible city. MDA was able to see firsthand the phenomenal progress we’ve made in our community in terms of growth and economic development. The collaboration and commitment from all entities in the City of Vicksburg have significantly contributed to our success. My sincere appreciation is extended to our business community for their vision and dedication in helping to make our city a destination that families and other businesses will want to make their home.
It is imperative that we improve our communication strategies to be able to tell both insiders and outsiders all that Vicksburg has to offer. We are thankful that our friends from MDA took the time to visit us as we all know they are extremely busy people. Fortunately, they had the reaction we expected, they realized that Vicksburg has much more to offer than they had imagined and that there are many things about this community that can help them sell the State
to global investors.
Mayor George Flaggs said, “I would like to thank the Mississippi Development Authority for visiting Vicksburg and touring our incredible city. MDA was able to see firsthand the phenomenal progress we’ve made in our community in terms of growth and economic development. The collaboration and commitment from all entities in the City of Vicksburg have significantly contributed to our success. My sincere appreciation is extended to our business community for their vision and dedication in helping to make our city a destination that families and other businesses will want to make their home.” Pablo Diaz, President & CEO of the Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership added, “It is imperative that we improve our communication strategies to be able to tell both insiders and outsiders all that Vicksburg has to offer. We are thankful that our friends from MDA took the time to visit us as we all know they are extremely busy people. Fortunately, they had the reaction we expected, they realized that Vicksburg has much more to offer than they had imagined and that there are many things about this community that can help them sell the State to global investors. You can’t just get up and replicate ERDC, you can’t just replicate access to the Mississippi River combined with a class I railroad, and you can’t easily find communities that are as organized for economic development as we have become. We left them with the following message, Vicksburg, and Warren County are strong in assets and will no longer sit on the sidelines. We will play, we will play hard, and we will win.”
The Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership brings together the Vicksburg Warren County Chamber of Commerce, the Warren County Port Commission, and the Warren County Economic Development Foundation to lead Warren County’s and the City of Vicksburg’s Economic Development Efforts. Pablo Diaz is the President & CEO of the Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership.