Would-be entrepreneurs who attended Thursday’s Just Start It seminar gave the roundtable program format excellent reviews.

    “The roundtable was certainly a better format for this than others that I’ve been to,” said Marty McCann, one of about 40 entrepreneurs who met at Union Station to hear from six experts in the business start up field.

    “And, I’ve been and participated in thousands of these type of seminars. I feel like I have better direction to go in now. We looked at a lot of different paths, but I believe I found several resources that can help me reach my objectives,” McCann.

    Betty Jowers was equally satisfied with the Main Street Meridian-sponsored seminar.

    “It was excellent,” Jowers said. “Being able to move around and talk to other people was a great idea.”

    Susan Lockard, another entrepreneur, agreed.

    “I thought the informal approach was excellent,” Lockard said.

    The reviews had organizer and Meridian Main Street Executive Director Karen Rooney beaming afterwards.

    “This went beyond my expectations,” Rooney said. “We had a standing room only crowd. We had incredible diversity. And people were able to share their business ideas.”

    Business experts conducting the two-hour program Thursday included: Alisha Bailey, economic development representative from Mississippi Power Company; Natalie Purvis, procurement advisor for the Mississippi Development Authority; Dustin Odom, counselor for the Mississippi State University Small Business Center; Victoria Liddell, EMDC/Enterpreneur Program director at MCC; Jerome Kittrell, commercial broker for Winstead Realty Inc.

    Purvis discussed how the entrepreneurs could procure contracts with local, county, state and national governments.

    “People are so afraid to pursue contracts,” Purvis said. “But one contract could bring funds to your business for five to six years. It’s important for you, if you have a product or service to sell, to get on a vendor’s list.”

    Purvis also went into detail about to write, read and submit bids. She pointed out that Lockheed Martin in Meridian will soon begin renovating its plant and local contractors could be used for the work. She also noted that all state agencies will hold a conference on May 4-5 in Southaven and this event is one of the best opportunities to go after state contracts.

    Kittrell discussed the importance of finding the right lease for space needed to run the business. He gave insight into the current Meridian commercial real estate market.

    “Right now, for downtown and up to north Meridian and North Hills the rents are going from $12 to $15 per square foot,” Kittrell said. “At Bonita Lakes and Cross Roads, it’s $25 per square foot. For a warehouse, you’re looking at $5 per square foot, but maybe down to $3.”

    Kittrell said a key was for the prospective business owner was to look at the neighborhood surroundings.

    “Is it growing? Is it in decline? Or, is it stable?” Kittrell asked. “Look at the foot traffic and the vehicle traffic.”

    The recent spurt of business development in downtown Meridian – thanks, in part, to the $45 million Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Center due to start building in August – has made downtown attractive, Kittrell said.

    “Downtown is vastly different than it was just five year ago,” he said.

    Odom discussed how the Small Business Center can help market a business plan.

    “The business plan is the road map for your business,” Odom said. “While you should write your own business plan, we give you management tools that can help your strategic plan.”

    Bailey said Mississippi Power Company is active in helping new start up businesses. One plan is a small business redevelopment incentive – a two-year discount of 15 percent from the base rate for locating in existing commercial space that has been vacant for at least six months. The incentive’s primary requirement is that the business must create two full-time jobs.

    MPC also has a large business redevelopment that offers a three-year declining discount at 20, 15 and 10 percent on base rates for locating in existing/industrial space that has been vacant for at least six months. The incentive requires the creation of 20 full-time jobs.

    Liddell discussed about how Meridian Community College can offer additional training for would-be entrepreneurs.

    Rooney told her groups about opportunities available in downtown Meridian through the Main Street program.