Meridian business leaders welcomed Mississippi Asthma & Allergy Clinic to town Thursday as the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation held a ribbon cutting at the clinic’s Highway 39 location.

 

Treating both seasonal and food allergies, as well as asthma, the clinic has locations in Oxford, Jackson, Ridgeland, D’Iberville, Hattiesburg, Starkville and McComb in addition to its Meridian office.

 

Matt Schanrock, director of Meridian Main Street, said having the clinic will both boost Meridian’s healthcare industry and make it easier for Meridianites to get treatment for their allergies and asthma symptoms. As new industries and companies look at Meridian for future expansion, he said having a robust healthcare system give the city an extra edge.

 

“It helps when we attract people here,” he said. “They don’t have to shift their employees 30, 40 miles off. They can get taken care of right here in Meridian.”

 

City of Meridian Equal Opportunity Officer Stacy Thompson said the city administration and council also want to thank the clinic for its continued investment in the community.

 

Stephen Leblanc, attending physician at the clinic, said The Mississippi Asthma & Allergy Clinic has been located in Meridian for almost 30 years and thrives in the small-town environment the Queen City offers. He said he and his family came to town approximately three years ago and have similarly found the community welcoming.

 

“It’s a decent size town, but it still feels like a small town, and that kind of support we have felt within our clinic,” he said.

 

Leblanc said the clinic and its staff feel like a part of the community and plan to stay in Meridian for another 30-35 years.