CONSERVATION CORNER
Momentum Mississippi Important To State
by James L. Cummins

Leaders of Momentum Mississippi, a unique public-private partnership for boosting the State's economic development future, including wildlife-associated tourism, are urging Governor Haley Barbour to add the Momentum Mississippi incentive legislation to the anticipated special session call. Additionally, the volunteers from every corner of the State are calling on the Mississippi Legislature to approve the incentive package to give Mississippi a more competitive edge.

"We are losing ground to other states and the window of opportunity is open now," said Anthony J. Topazi, Momentum Mississippi Chair, who is also President and CEO of Mississippi Power Company. "We cannot afford to wait until next year. Without these improvements to our incentive programs, our local communities run the risk of losing more of our existing jobs and missing opportunities to attract new ones."

“It's vital that we pursue new high-value, high-growth businesses, while at the same time help improve the productivity and growth of existing businesses,” said Topazi. “Our legislative proposal will help us achieve those goals, and these meetings will show how and explain why we can't wait until next year.”

Mississippi Economic Council (MEC) President Blake A. Wilson notes that the MEC is strongly supporting the Momentum Mississippi package, which found its roots in the Blueprint Mississippi initiative. He noted that the Momentum Mississippi legislation will:

· Attract and retain good-paying productive jobs, so that graduates won’t have to leave Mississippi to find work;

· Build local community capacity - both physically and intellectually;

· Diversify Mississippi’s economic base by attracting data processing centers and other high-tech growth opportunities;

· Give Mississippi the Momentum it needs for being a REAL competitor in the South for projects that will build the tax base and provide more dollars for roads, schools and those who need a helping hand.

“Momentum Mississippi’s incentive package is based on three of the major recommendations from Blueprint Mississippi,” Wilson said, adding that over 1,000 public and private sector leaders provided input into the Blueprint process, which developed recommendations based on comparative research and this broad grassroots input.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.