Jackson, MS – December 18, 2008 – (RealEstateRama) — The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) recently awarded over $166,000 to not-for-profit economic development organizations in Mississippi through its Economic Development Marketing Match Grant program. The program is designed to assist the organizations in marketing their regions, counties and cities as sites for business and industrial development to out-of-state business investors.
“MDA is pleased to provide this funding to non-profit economic development organizations to assist with their marketing efforts,” said Gray Swoope, MDA Executive Director. “Our communities around the state have a lot to offer businesses and industries, and this program is designed to help those communities showcase and promote their assets and resources in order to attract businesses.”
The organizations may apply for funding for one marketing project with a total cost of up to $20,000 – receiving up to $10,000 in a matching grant. Marketing projects eligible for funding include, but are not limited to: direct mail pieces to target audiences such as relocation consultants; production of printed materials such as brochures and inserts; advertising through mass media including newspapers, magazines, radio, television, internet and billboards; and website development related to economic development and marketing the community.
Organizations that recently received funding through the Economic Development Marketing Match Grant program include:
• Area Development Partnership, Forrest County – $15,000
• East Mississippi Business Development Corporation, Lauderdale County – $3,207
• Simpson County Development Foundation, Simpson County – $10,000
• Canton Chamber of Commerce, Madison County – $1,050
• Downtown Jackson Partners, Hinds County – $5,000
• Rankin County Chamber of Commerce, Rankin County – $3,500
• Hinds County Economic Development District, Hinds County – $10,000
• Harrison County Development Commission, Harrison County – $10,000
• City of Clinton and Clinton Chamber of Commerce, Hinds County – $10,000
• Belzoni-Humphreys Development Foundation, Humphreys County – $2,990
• Columbus-Lowndes Development LINK, Lowndes County – $10,000
• Mid-Mississippi Development District, Clarke, Jasper, Newton, Scott and Smith Counties – $2,000
• Community Development Partnership, Neshoba County – $2,373
• West Point Growth Alliance/Clay County Community Growth Alliance – $2,350
• City of Aberdeen, Monroe County – $10,000
• Community Development Foundation, Lee County – $10,000
• Itawamba County Development Council, Itawamba County – $7,500
• Monroe County Chamber of Commerce, Monroe County – $10,000
• Montgomery County Economic Development Partnership, Montgomery County – $2,500
• Kosciusko Attala Development Corporation, Attala County – $2,500
• Yalobusha County Economic Development District, Yalobusha County – $10,000
• Greater Jackson Alliance, Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Simpson, Warren, Attala, Leake and Copiah Counties – $11,000
• Covington County Chamber of Commerce, Covington County – $638
• Tenn-Tom Waterway Authority, Lowndes, Clay, Lee, Monroe, Noxubee, Oktibbeha, Itawamba, Alcorn, Tishomingo and Prentiss Counties – $15,000
Applications for Economic Development Marketing Match Grants are now being accepted. Not-for-profit economic development organizations may apply through April 1, 2009. For more information, please visit www.mississippi.org.
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About Mississippi Development Authority
Mississippi Development Authority is the State of Mississippi’s lead economic and community development agency. Nearly 300 employees are engaged in providing services to businesses, communities and workers in the state. While the agency is best known for its efforts to recruit new businesses to Mississippi, the Authority provides services to promote tourism, help communities improve their quality of place, help existing employers identify and meet opportunities and challenges and help workers improve their skills – all with the goal of improving the quality of life and economic well-being of Mississippians. For more information, visit MDA’s website at www.mississippi.org.
Contact:
Tammy Craft, Public Relations Associate
601.359.3449
tcraft (at) mississippi (dot) org
