Jan. 11, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: CHARLOTTE KOESTLER
STONE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
601-928-5418
SCEDP Shares Achievements, Plans with U.S. Legislators
Stone County, Miss. – U.S. Rep. Gene Taylor, U.S. Sen. Thad Cochran and U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker recently visited the offices of the Stone County Economic Development Partnership (SCEDP), where they were presented with a synopsis of the community’s achievements in 2007 and its plans for 2008.
Taylor and Cochran visited in mid-December, and Wicker was in Stone County this week.
“Sen. Wicker came as a direct result of an invitation from SCEDP,” said SCEDP Executive Director Charlotte Koestler. The SCEDP also coordinated with the Stone County Supervisors for Wicker to attend a formal welcome reception at the Stone County Courthouse.
“We are very pleased that these three high-level national representatives of our state spent time with our community leaders,” said SCEDP Executive Director Charlotte Koestler. “We were represented by Wiggins Mayor Jerry Alexander, members of the Wiggins Board of Aldermen, the Stone County Board of Supervisors, and the SCEDP Board of Directors. It was clear to Rep. Taylor, Sen. Cochran, and Sen. Wicker that the governing entities of Stone County are united in their efforts to help our community continue to grow and prosper.”
Brent Tice, SCEDP chairman, presented the highlights of 2007. The legislators learned that Stone County was the first county in the state to “GO GREEN” to preserve the environment and save money; that the largest cattle sale in the state’s history was recently held in Stone County; that the county welcomed three new industries and held 8 ribbon-cuttings and 2 groundbreakings in 2007. They also learned that a new industry is already slated to open in 2008, that 11 companies have expressed an interest in locating in Stone County, and that a development proposed for 2008 would bring 700,000 square feet of retail and services, more than 6,000 new homes and 5 new businesses to the county.
The men learned that the city of Wiggins’ progress in 2007 included completing a $200,000 pavement project, making over $500,000 in lagoon improvements, purchasing a new $70,000 30-passenger senior citizen motor coach, upgrading two tennis courts, and building new playgrounds. They also heard about projects slated for 2008, including making pavement and drainage improvements, repairing the city’s train depot, completing a nearly $1.5 million sports complex project, building a new city maintenance building, completing several other quality of life improvement projects and applying for several grants.
“I am confident that all three legislators were favorably impressed with our community’s accomplishments and that we can count on their support from a national legislative standpoint,” noted Koestler.
The Stone County Economic Development Partnership is a non-profit entity formed to promote economic development in Stone County; to develop, promote and expand existing businesses and industries in Stone County; to promote tourism and to support the development of infrastructure and services to accommodate a growing economy and community.