The Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC) announced that the Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership won the 2018 Community Economic Development Award (CEDA) on February 7, 2019 for its work to attract Unified Brands to Vicksburg, MS

Unified Brands announced in August of 2018 that it had selected Warren County to consolidate multiple operations across the country into one. The project will bring 425 new jobs to Warren County with an associated investment of over $9 million. The relocation represents the largest manufacturing job creation project in Warren County in the last 15 years.
The CEDA Awards program is a “Best Practices” program intended to recognize exceptional contributions of communities in the State of Mississippi for the following efforts: business retention & expansion, business recruitment, community development and community involvement.

The Award was received at an award ceremony in Jackson, Mississippi by Mayor George Flaggs, County Attorney and Chamber Board President Blake Teller, and Pablo Diaz, Chairman and CEO of the Vicksburg Warren Economic Development Partnership.

Code named Project Wrigley, Unified Brands had been searching for a location for almost two years. The company and site consultants visited four states and reviewed 47 properties before selecting a building in the Ceres Industrial Park in Vicksburg, MS. Over the course of seven months, the site consultant and the company thoroughly reviewed and approved of the workforce availability, the workforce training programs, and the community’s ability to put a deal together in a fast pace negotiating environment.

George Flaggs, Mayor of the City of Vicksburg stated, “I was honored to attend the MEDC luncheon and represent our City as we received this award. This is a testament to the results oriented economic development program our community is running under the leadership of the Economic Development Partnership. As I have said before, we are just getting started and we do not plan to slow down anytime soon.”

Blake Teller, President of the Vicksburg Warren Chamber of Commerce added, “It is an honor to be part of a community that is recognized Statewide for its ability to compete, win, create jobs and attract investment. Warren County won this award because of the significance of the Unified Brands project to our community and our state, and I believe this to be testament to what we can accomplish when we come together and stick together for the future of our community.”

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.