REGIONAL COOPERATION — multiple counties using collective muscle to land new businesses - is fast becoming the state's most touted development strategy.
It's mostly in the wake of the Toyota plant announced in February in north Mississippi. A three-county alliance worked together quietly for a year to land the $1.3 billion plant near Tupelo. Since then, calls for regional cooperation have echoed through the Capitol's chambers, Rotary Club podiums and county boardrooms.
Now the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership, which was formerly known as the MetroJackson Chamber of Commerce, is on board and looking to raise $3 million from private companies to market an eight-county region. The chamber's marketing arm, Greater Jackson Alliance has promoted regionalism for a decade but private money is new ground.
Duane O'Neill, president and chief executive officer of the chamber, said the fundraiser will help direct the efforts of regional economic development. The money will be used to grow and land call centers, logistics and warehousing businesses, biotech and automotive companies across Attala, Copiah, Hinds, Leake, Madison, Rankin, Simpson and Warren counties.
"The area has become recognized as one region. When we get inquiries, it is for a 50-mile radius or 100-mile radius from Jackson," O'Neill said. Read more here.
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