PHILADELPHIA – The Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) visited Philadelphia Thursday to update and encourage Neshoba County business leaders about Blueprint Mississippi through its Regional Roundup.

    The hour-long program was one of 27 such meetings held statewide in which MEC President and CEO Blake Wilson presents economic development plans from Gov. Phil Bryant, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves and other legislative leaders by video message.     

    In his message, Bryant said the goal of the roundups is to bring policy makers together with the public.

    “These competitiveness studies really help us and in the league we compete in, which I call the SEC (Southeastern Conference) which is Florida, Alabama and Louisiana. We need it,” the governor said.

    “This is a team sport and for us to grow, it begins at the local level,” he said.

    More important to Wilson, however, was to receive feedback on what Neshoba County leaders feel is needed to progress economically.

    Attendees of the Philadelphia Regional Roundup, which was held a the Philadelphia Depot, were able to electronically vote on topic issues Wilson brought to the screen. The poll results will be studied and presented to Gov. Bryant and his staff on what priorities should be addressed in the future.

    “Blueprint Mississippi is the greatest opportunity for growth we’ve had, and that is why the state invested $10 million in this project that will drive public policy,” Wilson said.

    The program includes four primary focus areas: economic competitiveness, educational achievement and workforce development, resource management and technology commercialization.

    Wilson and his video speakers, which included State Treasurer Lynn Fitch and Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall, covered the first top topics.

    The speakers focused on the nine goals of Blueprint Mississippi which include:     • Strengthen and expand Mississippi’s economy.

    • Cultivate a more robust workforce.

    • Support Mississippi’s creative economy.

    • Increase educational achievement.

    • Promote healthcare as an economic driver.

    • Develop infrastructure for a competitive economy.

    • Cultivate diversity and community cooperation.

    • Increase availability of financial capital.

    • Improve communicate and coordination between the public, private and non-profit leaders.

    Wilson said one of the best things the Mississippi Legislature has done in the past year is to start a fund for workforce development through House Bill 911 and Senate Bill 2457. But, he said the state needs to streamline its process.

    “When it comes to economic development, snappy should be the key word,” he said.     Wilson came to Mississippi from Florida, where he was the No. 2 official in the Florida Economic Development Council.

    “We now have a $50 million surplus. We need a better way to allocate these resources,” he said. “We’re a bit too clunky on the front end. We need to streamline things so we’re not clunky but instead, we’re snappy.”

    Wilson highlighted a new program MEC has launched called Mississippi Scholars TechMaster. The program encourages Mississippi students to take a tech-prep course of study that will render them more career and workforce ready and will honor them for their achievements. TechMaster has already recognized 27,000 STEM-ready students.

    Reeves talked about the state getting its fiscal house in order and the elimination of public bond debt. He said the elimination of an inventory tax is a great example of fixing Mississippi’s red tape problem.

    Wilson said the elimination of the public warehouse tax from 1937 helped jump start the Southaven, Olive Branch and Horn Lake area’s resurgence.

    Neshoba attendees said their two road blocks for economic development are the lack of skilled workers and the lack of transportation/infrastructure. One of the key issues for Neshoba Countians is the construction of a Highway 19 to 15 bypass. The project could cost at least $70 million.

    Wilson said the attendees votes on bringing targeted industry to the area was unique in the roundups done so far.

    Hall said the 1987 program to bring a four-lane highway to within 30 miles of every Mississippian was unique and far-reaching. He said the state needs a new program for the future.

    “It’s time for us to do it again,” Hall said. “We have 11,000 posted bridges in Mississippi and 250 are in serious need of repair.”

    David Vowell, president of the Philadelphia/Neshoba County Community Development Partnership, said he enjoyed the program.

    “It was wonderful,” Vowell said. “It was a very informative presentation.”