
Upon announcing the appointment of Brent Christensen to the directorship of the Mississippi Development Authority, Gov. Phil Bryant recalled joking about the salary with current interim chief Jim Barksdale. “I told (Barksdale) I would double what Leland Speed was making,” Bryant said. “Leland was making a dollar a year.” The governor has an eye for [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 18,2012
Tags: banking, Banks, chair, chairmanship, chamber of commerce, chirman, community development, economic development, finance, financial institutions
JACKSON — Jerry Host, president and CEO of Trustmark Corporation and Trustmark National Bank in Jackson, has been elected chairman of the Mississippi Economic Council for the coming year. Host served as MEC’s treasurer from 2008-2010. He joined Trustmark’s Investment Department in 1984 and since then has worked in a variety of positions for the [...] [...]

by MBJ Staff Published: May 15,2012
Tags: appointment, Bennie Thompson, Bloomberg, Bobby Jindal, Brent Christensen, capitalism, Clay County, community development, Dave Dennis, economic development, economy, executive, executive director, Florida, Gainesville (Fla.) Area Chamber of Commerce, Gov. Haley Barbour, Gov. Phil Bryant, governor, Greenville, Institutes for Higher Learning, Mississippi, Mississippi Business Journal, Mississippi Development Authority, Nathan Deal, Pew Center on the States, Phil Bryant, politics Tags: Amazon.com, Sean Tindell, state agency, state government
JACKSON — Brent Christensen has been named the new head of the Mississippi Development Authority. Gov. Phil Bryant made the announcement during a press conference at the Marriot Hotel in downtown Jackson. Christensen, who has been the CEO of the Gainesville (Fla.) Area Chamber of Commerce the last 10 years, replaces interim director Jim Barksdale, the [...] [...]
JACKSON — Gov. Phil Bryant is expected to name a new head of the Mississippi Development Authority today. The new leader would replace interim director Jim Barksdale, the former Netscape CEO, who has served as the state’s chief economic developer since January. Bryant’s choice will likely be the first permanent MDA director since March 2011, [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 15,2012
Tags: community development, economic development, equines, horse racing, horses, racing, Renovations, sports, trotters, trotting
STARKVILLE — Officials with the Mississippi Trotting Association say the Mississippi Horse Park could become a heavily used harness racing venue in the South if improvements are made to the facility’s track. While racing officials have high hopes for the venue, horse park officials say a lack of interest in harness racing over the years [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: May 9,2012
Tags: coliseum, community development, county government, downtown, economic development, entertainment, municipal government, study, tourism, tourists, visitors
TUPELO — Five Tupelo groups have partnered to pay for a market analysis that will target the possibility of building an entertainment venue in the Fairpark District. The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports the Tupelo Redevelopment Agency said it has joined with the Tupelo Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Coliseum Commission, the Community Development Foundation [...] [...]
MCCOMB — The McComb City Board will vote next week on whether to approve an agreement with a consultant to conduct an economic development study. The Enterprise-Journal reports selectmen are considering a deal with Rick Duke, who has been chairman of the University of Southern Mississippi’s Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development [...] [...]
by Associated Press Published: April 26,2012
Tags: casinos, construction, Conventions, economic development, entertainment, expansions, gambling, gaming, hospitality, hotels, lodging, meetings, municipal government, nightlife, Renovations, restaurants, tourism, tourists, visitors
BILOXI — The Biloxi Development Review Committee has received plans from Golden Nugget officials for a $150 million remodel and expansion of the Isle Casino Biloxi. Attorney Britt Singletary said yesterday the sale of the casino resort in East Biloxi could be completed in July. Singletary says the Isle won’t be rebranded the Golden Nugget [...] [...]
JACKSON — The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) will lead a business development mission to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile, August 13-17. The trip is designed to connect Mississippi companies to potential buyers in Argentina and Chile, and businesses that operation in the state that are interested in selling their products and services in these [...] [...]

The bill that would allow the next Mississippi Development Authority executive director’s salary to receive unlimited supplements didn’t sit on Gov. Phil Bryant’s desk very long. Bryant received House Bill 1349 April 17, and signed it on the same day. The bill takes effect immediately. The bill caps the amount of state money that can [...] [...]