Mississippi Business Journal B-L-O-G

The National Federation of Independent Business has announced its endorsements for statewide candidates. Here they are from today’s press release:

JACKSON, October 31, 2007 – The National Federation of Independent Business, Mississippi’s leading small-business group, today announced its full roster of endorsements for state races to be held on November 6. NFIB/Mississippi’s SAFE (Save America’s Free Enterprise) Trust, the political action committee for NFIB/Mississippi’s membership, endorsed the candidates based on each one’s position and/or record on small-business issues.

Governor – HALEY BARBOUR
Lt. Governor – PHIL BRYANT
Attorney General – AL HOPKINS
Insurance Commissioner – MIKE CHANEY

All four of the NFIB-endorsed candidates are Republicans. Their Democratic opponents are John Eaves, Governor; Jamie Franks, Lieutenant Governor; Jim Hood, the incumbent Attorney General; and Gary Anderson, Insurance Commissioner.

Fast-growing Flowood’s retail options are expanding — again. A Fort Worth company announced today that it has signed three new anchor tenants for its project in the metro Jackson suburb. Details from the news release:

Trademark Property Company today announced it has signed JCPenney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Bed Bath & Beyond as anchor tenants for its new development in Flowood, Mississippi, Market Street Flowood. Other tenants signing at the 500,000 square foot mixed-use development include Cheddar’s Casual Cafe and Corner Bakery Cafe.

The development will progress in two phases. Construction has already begun on Phase One, which includes JCPenney, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Bed Bath & Beyond, and all other structures facing Lakeland Drive. Phase Two construction, encompassing the mixed-use town center portion of the project, is scheduled to begin within 16 days.

Successful businesses know that their most valuable assets are their employees. Talented and skilled staffers make — and can break — any business in today’s demanding global marketplace. The very best businesses are creating great places for their employees to work. Is your company one of them?

Entering its third year, the Best Places to Work in Mississippi program identifies, recognizes and honors the Magnolia State’s outstanding workplaces. Winning companies value their customers and clients, contribute to their communities, and support their staffs in special ways. They’re making a difference and contributing to a stronger economy and better Mississippi.

Best Places participants register at www.bestplacestoworkinms.com and have their employees complete an online survey. Information is held in confidence and analyzed by SRG, a Jackson-based market research firm. Three winning businesses are named in four size categories. Winners will be honored during the 25th-annual Mississippi Business and Technology EXPO in January 2008, and will also be featured in the Best Places to Work in Mississippi magazine.

“Best Places to Work in Mississippi is a classic win-win for companies,” says Ron Jones, publications director and general manager for the Mississippi Business Journal. “In addition to the recognition winners and finalists receive, every participating company receives a report detailing their survey results — it’s a great management tool.”

Best Places to Work in Mississippi is a special project and publication of the Mississippi Business Journal with support from program partners, SRG: Full Service Marketing Research and the Mississippi Council of the Society of Human Resource Management.

The Mississippi Technology Alliance reports today that manufacturers in the state that received assistance from the Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi — MEP.ms — saw an economic benefit of more than $1.9 billion, much of it in sales growth. Here are a few more details from the MTA news release:

The fiscal 2007 economic impact is based on 39 surveys completed by companies that received Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi assistance and compiled by an independent national research firm. Manufacturers were asked to report higher sales, cost savings and investment impact that they attribute to MEP.ms assistance.

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Mississippi ranks first in the nation among 59 MEP centers in total economic benefit to manufacturers.

There is a mosquito buzzing around my office as I read the latest West Nile virus update from the Mississippi State Department of Health. According to officials, there are four new cases of WNV in the state. Here are a few more details from today’s news release:

The Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) reports four new human cases of West Nile virus (WNV). The new WNV cases are in Kemper, Lamar, Leflore and Tallahatchie counties. The MSDH reports both confirmed and probable cases to the public. The state’s total number of human cases is 121 with three resulting in death.

The MSDH encourages all Mississippians to take the following precautions to reduce the risk of contracting WNV and other mosquito-borne illnesses: remove sources of standing water, avoid mosquito-prone areas, especially between dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active; wear protective clothing (such as long-sleeved shirts and pants) when in mosquito-prone areas; and apply a mosquito repellent according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Millsaps College has a solid lineup of panelists for this year’s Else Forum. Here are a few more details from a school news release:

The Fall 2007 Else School Business Forum will be held in the Leggett Center on Wednesday, November 7th. The title of this year’s forum is “The Business of the Budget: Understanding the Process and Politics in Mississippi.” The panel discussion will feature Ronnie Musgrove, former Governor of the State of Mississippi; Phil Pepper, State Economist; and Charlie Williams, Chief of Staff for Governor Haley Barbour. Doors will open at 7:45 a.m. for a buffet breakfast and the panel discussion will begin at 8:30 a.m. Admission is $15. For more information, call 601-974-1250.

Previous speakers include Jack Guynn, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta; Leland Speed, executive director for the Mississippi Development Authority, Howard McMillan, Jr., former president of the American Bankers Association; Aubrey Patterson, chairman and CEO of BancorpSouth; and Mark W. Olson, Chairman of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

Just when you think you can’t endure one more negative campaign ad from any of this year’s candidates, along comes a moment of levity from a Barbour campaign media advisory:

BARBOUR BUS TOUR WITH DARRELL WALTRIP

Governor Haley Barbour and NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip campaign in Columbus, Tupelo, New Albany, Corinth on Monday, October 29th

It isn’t everyday you see the word “Boogity” bounce into the ol’ inbox.

We have a big problem with students dropping out of high school. According to the Mississippi Department of Education, “Studies show that the dropout problem impacts every part of society, with dropouts being almost four times more likely than high school graduates to be unemployed and five times more likely to be on welfare. Experts say that dropouts are more likely than their peers to live in poverty, go to prison, be on death row and be single parents whose own children drop out of high school.”

Fortunately, educators and the business community are facing the dire situation head on. Here’s more from this afternoon’s news release:

JACKSON, Miss., October 25, 2007 – The Public Education Forum of Mississippi today announced a $1.5 million grant from State Farm Insurance Companies that will fund a statewide awareness campaign to support the Mississippi Department of Education’s (MDE) dropout prevention initiatives.

Bounds said that all of the state’s school districts are developing their own localized dropout prevention plans and will coordinate their efforts with the education department’s Office of Dropout Prevention.

MBJ contributor Lynne Jeter talked to Dave Boyer, Nissan’s vice president of manufacturing for its Canton assembly plant, for our October 22nd issue as he worked his last week and was anticipating retirement. Subscribers can read it at MBJ Online.

Here’s part of today’s news release updating the Nissan-Canton leadership transition:

DAN BEDNARZYK IS NAMED NEW VP-MANUFACTURING IN CANTON

Bednarzyk earned a degree in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, Tenn., and a master’s in business administration from Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, Tenn. He currently serves on the board of directors of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association and the Boys & Girls Club of Central Mississippi.

The Millsaps College Political Science Club is hosting an evening of politics — and more — later today. Here are the details from the news release:

JACKSON, Miss.- A host of political candidates will assemble at the Millsaps Weems House to mingle with politically minded college students on Friday evening. The event will be held in an effort to raise political awareness among members of the Jackson community, especially students at Millsaps College. The event will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, October 12, at the Weems House, directly across North State St. from the Millsaps College campus. An informative social gathering, complete with cocktails and hors d’oeurves, will be followed by a brief speaking opportunity for candidates in attendance.

CONTACT: Katie Lewallen with questions at 318.617.3258 or by email at lewalkj@millsaps.edu