Come visit a growing city

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July 20, 2006

Anonymous The Meridian Star Thu Jul 20, 2006, 01:33 PM CDT

The growth and expansion we’ve been experiencing continue to add to our economic vitality, and we’re delighted to share our projects and programs with our neighboring communities.

You are part of our rich life in East Mississippi, and you have available to you a wealth of opportunities in Meridian.

Surely the most exciting development is the countdown to completion of the Mississippi State University-Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts. With a gala opening set for Sept. 8 at the Grand Opera House of Mississippi, Meridian will quickly become the arts center for our entire region.

The opening weekend will feature the legendary Linda Ronstadt, and the line-up of concerts for the opening season will appeal to every taste. From dance to jazz and from dramas to family productions, the Riley Center will showcase stellar artists in the beautifully restored opera house.

The center has already booked a number of conferences as well. What a unique facility for your organization’s conference — no cookie-cutter convention center for us. This historic, beautiful and unique space will guarantee a one-of-a-kind experience for attendees.

The opening of the Riley Center will forever change the face of our historic downtown. We are working diligently to recruit a developer to convert the Threefoot Building into a hotel to support the activities at the Riley Center.

As more and more people come downtown, other businesses, like retail stores and restaurants, will move in to fill the need generated by the increased activity.

Our growth isn’t just downtown. Our industrial recruitment efforts have paid off with the announcement of two major industries — Tower Automotive and Scrimtec, a breakthrough processing technology for wood chips. These industries, plus others we are aggressively recruiting, will provide high-quality jobs for the people of our entire area.

Another big retail center, being developed by the Trotman Company as Meridian Crossroads, will be located at the old Kmart site on the South Frontage Road. Add these tenants to those at Bonita Lakes Mall, and toss in Super Wal-Mart, Super Lowe’s and Sam’s Club, and the retail offerings abound in Meridian.

Because of all these developments, plus tax incentives that are leveraging more residential development inside the city, our tax base continues to grow and we are able to keep our property taxes extremely low.

We will continue to push for more industrial, medical and retail development because we want Meridian to be a good place for our residents and for our visitors, who shop, eat, relax and enjoy cultural and recreational opportunities.

We’re proud to provide those programs and services for you. Come visit.

John Robert Smith is serving his fourth term as mayor of Meridian. E-mail him at mayorsmith@meridianms.org.

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Meridian and its Neighbors

Meet Bruce Clopton Bruce Clopton has lived in Meridian almost all his life, and wouldn’t want it any other way. Bruce, a partner at the Insurance Center of Meridian, lives in the same house in which he was raised, one that was designed by his father, the late architect Brad Clopton.
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Now on Sale — KATRINA: A Time to Reflect Katrina: A Time to Reflect, a hardback, full-color pictorial review of last summer’s record-setting hurricane, is available for pickup at The Meridian Star’s office, 814 22nd Ave.

Books are available for purchase at $20.00.

The 120-page book features photographs taken by The Meridian Star staff and its readers. Sections are devoted to both East Central Mississippi and the Gulf Coast.
January 8, 2007
THANK YOU ... The Meridian Star thanks all the people in the community who collaborated on “Meridian and its Neighbors” by writing stories — and gratefully acknowledges help provided by the city of Meridian, the Meridian/ Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau and the East Mississippi Business Development Corp.
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Meridian Community College: Just the right size for your success Meridian Community College President Scott Elliott always tells entering freshmen that he has two major goals for them — to get the highest quality education possible and to enjoy a total college experience.
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Let me tell you about ... In practically any bustling, growing city you can find an activity or community center. If it’s a really large city they’ll have a “Y” with activities for all ages.

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State Games packs ’em in For two weekends every June, it’s impossible to stay in a Meridian hotel or, for that matter, any hotel within a 60-mile radius of the city unless you thought ahead ... way ahead, like the year before.
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EMBDC: Welcoming new businesses Meridian is in the midst of an economic revival that will continue to enhance the richness of our community for decades to come.
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Come visit a growing city The growth and expansion we’ve been experiencing continue to add to our economic vitality, and we’re delighted to share our projects and programs with our neighboring communities.
July 20, 2006
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