A New Year Ahead, With Gratitude for Past

EDP Column by Jay Paul Gumm, Executive Director

WIGGINS, Miss. – Hello again, everybody and Happy New Year! It is appropriate this first column of the New Year begins with gratitude to everyone who helps the Stone County Economic Development Partnership in its mission to improve our quality of life.

For every event we sponsor or have a part in, there are dozens of dedicated individuals volunteering their time behind the scenes to make those events a success. All the Christmas events last month are perfect examples of that.

From helping to line up the parade, organizing the shopping spree drawings, the beautiful Christmas music provided by the Stone High School Band, to decorating the park and Pine Hill, so many gave of themselves to make the season even more bright. That is one of the things that is so very special about Stone County.

The same can be said of the sponsors and volunteers who worked so hard at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College’s Festival of Lights – or the members of the Garden Gate Garden Club as they put on their Christmas Tour of Homes. And, that work is not confined solely to Christmas season.

That sense of community exists year round. It not only makes Stone County a great place to live, work and raise a family, it is one of our greatest selling points as we seek to attract businesses, industries and jobs to the area.

Businesses, industries and families look for a place that has that intangible quality to put down roots. As my wife and I were looking at career opportunities, it was the “tipping point” in our decision to come to Stone County.

That sense of community simply would not exist without the selfless volunteers who work quietly every day to make this a great place. To each of them – and there are too many to list in this column – the Economic Development Partnership extends a hearty and sincere “thank you.”

As 2012 begins, many of those volunteers have already turned their attention to the events that are coming. The Mardi Gras parade is first up, slated for Monday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m. If you or an organization of which you are a member would like to have an entry in the parade, simply contact the EDP.

The biggest event we sponsor is the annual Pine Hill Festival, to be held this year on March 23 and 24. Countless hours of preparation are already underway to make this year’s event even bigger and better than last year. Again, this is something that simply cannot happen without volunteers who share their time, talents and resources.

Every time I think of those people who care so much for this community, I know we have a future that is limited only by the dreams we share. For that, we are the EDP remain and will always be deeply grateful.

As always, thank you for reading this month’s column. Have a wonderful January, and may God bless you all.

The Stone County Economic Development Partnership

to promote
economic development in Stone County

to develop, promote and expand
existing businesses and industries in Stone County

to promote
tourism in Stone County

to assist and support
the development of infrastructure and community services
to accommodate a growing economy and community