December 2013 - DeSoto County

December 2013
B u i l d i ng f o r t h e F u t u r e
December 2013
The DeSoto Council’s mission is to facilitate, promote and provide effective, unified leadership for economic development and improved quality of life.
Horn Lake Chosen for High Speed Internet and Lands Walmart
The City of Horn Lake has been
selected by C-Spire Wireless as one
of nine cities statewide for ultrahigh speed Internet.
The 1 Gigabit service is 100 times
faster than other Internet services
readily available.
DeSoto County Economic
Development Council
316 W. Commerce Street
Hernando, MS 38632
Phone: 662.429.4414
Fax: 662.429.0952
www.desotocounty.com
Horn Lake joins Batesville, Corinth, Ridgeland, Starkville, Hattiesburg, Clinton, Quitman, and
McComb among other cities listed
in the first phase of the C-Spire
effort to provide ultra high speed
Internet fiber optic cable to the
home.
Horn Lake will now move into the
next phase of the competition. The
city with the highest number of
participants who sign up will be
among the first to receive the ser-
vice, according to C-Spire officials.
The first city to sign up the most
subscribers or "goes green" will be
designated the ultimate winner in
the competition. The city that gets
50 to 80 percent of density coverage in neighborhoods signed up
first, will be the first to get the service.
Horn Lake Mayor Latimer said the
benefits of ultra high speed Internet
service will spread to other areas.
"It's an advantage for businesses
and homeowners," Latimer said.
The next step in the internet process
for Horn Lake is to sign up subscribers.
The cost of the ultra high speed
Internet is approximately $80 a
month — or $100 a month if phone
Inside this issue:
Desoto County Shares in
Positive Growth
2
I-269 Brings Change
2
“It’ll be the new center of town and
there’s a lot of land out there to be
expanded on,” said developer Dale
Wilson. The 25 acre project at the
corner of Horn Lake Road and
Goodman will pull business to a
part of town that’s largely been
residential.
Leadership Desoto Announces New Class
3
Education Foundation
Holds Awards Reception
4
Calendar of Events
7
The plans call for a full-fledged
Walmart Supercenter and several
other shops and restaurants surrounding it. Officials hope it will
bring in big money to Horn Lake.
New Members
7
Congratulations from the
Council
7
Another economic boost for Horn
Lake came last week as the city
learned it has been selected as a site
for a Walmart SuperCenter.
New Career Technical Center to Improve Workforce
DeSoto County Schools have announced plans
in the construction of a new Career Technical
Center for the west side of the district, which
state economic officials say can help improve
the state's workforce development.
Newsletter is also online: www.desotocounty.com
service is bundled with high speed
Internet— or $140 a month if television service is added.
Board members have approved using Allen &
Hoshall as the architect for the new CTC-West
campus to be built in Horn Lake at the corner
of Nail Road and Highway 51. The architectural firm will also design the renovation of
the current facility, which is on the campus of
Southaven High School and Southaven Middle
School.
Gov. Phil Bryant recently praised DeSoto
County for its efforts to help improve the
state's workforce and specifically noted the
new Career Technical Center planned in Horn
Lake.
A similar building is already in operation for
schools in the eastern half of the district in
Olive Branch. The Olive Branch and
Southaven centers offer technical education
courses for students who have an interest in
those skills as part of their course work.
DCS Officials say the current facility will be
renovated to allow for more classroom space
for the high school and middle school. "We'll
renovate those into classrooms and that will
take care of the overcrowding there," Superintendent Kuykendall said.
A new facility will also operate in partnership
with Northwest Mississippi Community College. The new CTC West facility helps address a growing need for technical education
in DeSoto County and elsewhere.
"Only 20 percent of the jobs in America require a college degree," said the DCS superintendent. "65 percent of the jobs are skilled
labor jobs. "We need to work more toward
having skilled labor."
Page 2
December 2013
December 2013
State Official Discusses Positive Growth in MS
Scott Waller, senior vice president for public
affairs for the Mississippi Economic Council,
the state's Chamber of Commerce, spoke at a
recent meeting in Desoto County and says that
Mississippi ranks in the upper tier of Southeastern states in business and economic outlook and is at a high level in some national
rankings.
On business growth, Waller told Olive Branch
Rotarians that one recent poll shows the state
"ranks fifth nationally and first among Southern states in entrepreneurial activity."
The state is No.1 nationally in shipbuilding as
a result of the Ingalls Shipyard on the Gulf
Coast, he said. Ingalls is celebrating its 75th
anniversary this year.
session for the creation of health care zones
that provide incentives to bring healthcare
related businesses to the state. Desoto County
Waller said the No. 1 manufacturing growth is has benefited from the creation of health care
in the automotive field and aviation and aero- zones in Olive Branch and in Southaven.
space is No. 2. Agriculture remains huge in
the state and furniture manufacturing continues The health care zone and other initiatives came
to be a major part of the state's economy, Wal- through the Blueprint Mississippi strategic
ler said.
planning effort, he said.
The John C. Stennis Space Center in Hancock
County is "really impressive" and has had a
major impact on the state, Waller said.
A major emphasis must continue on improving
education in the state if Mississippi's economy
is to continue to expand, Waller said. By 2018,
54 percent of all jobs in the state will require
In another area, he noted that Gov. Phil Bryant some type of post-secondary education, he
made a successful push in the 2012 legislative said.
I-269 Progress Will Bring Change to Desoto County
Desoto County Officials believe when Interstate 269 is completed by the end of 2016 or
early 2017, the nation's newest super highway
between Mexico and Canada will put DeSoto
County in the driver's seat for economic progress and change.
District 5 Supervisor Harvey Lee spoke recently to a group in Hernando and says," It
really changes the whole outlook of our county very drastically." The proposed I-269
project, stretches from the present intersection
of I-69 and I-55 in Hernando to an eventual
link with Tennessee Hwy. 385 in Collierville.
Officials understand motorists could be get-
ting on Craft Road and driving to the rural
Tennessee hamlet of Arlington by midsummer or early fall of 2016. "They've had
some good weather and they are getting it
(timetable) down to a fine art," Lee said.
Lee has said in his discussions with Mississippi Department of Transportation officials,
Craft Road will be five-laned all the way to
Byhalia Road as part of road improvements.
There will be an off ramp at Laughter Road
and Getwell Road as well, according to Lee.
"We're hoping that in four or five years, we'll
have an (I-269) ramp at McIngvale Road,"
Lee said.
Lee said the reason MDOT had not signed off
on an I-269 ramp at McIngvale Road just
beyond Green T Road is that an environmental impact study had been completed on the
project before a McIngvale ramp was made
part of the official discussion. Interstate
ramps are supposed to be a mile a part, but in
the McIngvale Road case, the distance between a potential exit there and the next exit
was three-fourths of a mile.
Lee has said he and other Desoto County
officials will continue and pursue a McIngvale Road interchange with state and federal
officials.
McKesson Holds Tour for Secretary of State
McKesson recently hosted a tour for the Secretary of State and the Mississippi Development
Authority to discuss their local operations in
Olive Branch.
They also presented opportunities for the State
to explore new tax legislation to improve our
competitive advantage.
The tour was attended by representatives from
the MDA, Secretary of State’s office, Desoto
County Economic Development Office,
McKesson officials, and the State Senator
representing Olive Branch.
Pictured left to right are: Doug
Davis- Secretary of State Chief of
Staff; Senator– David Parker; Secretary of State– Delbert Hosemann;
Chad Gober– McKesson; Kathy
Gelston– CFO MDA; Mickey Milligan– Existing Industry Division
MDA; Jay Newman– McKesson;
Billy Klauser– Finance Division
MDA; Jim Flanagan– Desoto Council
Page 7
2014 Upcoming Calendar of Events:
Dates Subject to Change
See the 2014 Complete Calendar on DeSoto Council Website.
January
14
Tax Advisory Committee
15
Government Relations Committee
16
Leadership Desoto– Education Session
16
Metro Industrial Park Lunch
16
Industrial Relations Committee
17
Executive Committee
20
Holiday: Martin Luther King Jr. Day
21
Desoto County Greenways/ Parks Committee
27
Chamber Directors’ Lunch
31
Council of Governments Committee
March
5-7
Washington Briefing Committee
6
Leadership Desoto– Healthcare Session
11
Tax Advisory Committee
12
Government Relations Committee
18
Desoto County Greenways/ Parks Committee
20
Metro Industrial Park Lunch
20
Industrial Relations Committee
20
Leadership Desoto –Community Service Day
21
First Quarter Board of Directors’ Meeting
21
First Quarter Membership Luncheon
28
Council of Governments Committee
31
Chamber Directors’ Lunch
February
6
6
11
12
12
13
13
14
17
18
20
24
28
Desoto Council Capital Breakfast
Leadership Desoto– Legislative Session
Tax Advisory Committee
New Board Member Orientation
Government Relations Committee
Industrial Relations Committee
Executive Committee
Infrastructure Committee
Holiday: President’s Day
Desoto County Greenways/ Parks Committee
Metro Industrial Park Lunch
Chamber Directors’ Lunch
Council of Governments Committee
April
4
8
9
10
11
15
17
17
18
25
28
Executive Committee
Tax Advisory Committee
Government Relations Committee
Leadership Desoto –Local Government Session
Infrastructure Committee
Desoto County Greenways/ Parks Committee
Plant Managers’ Forum/Metro Industrial Park Lunch
Industrial Relations Committee
Holiday: Good Friday
Council of Governments Committee
Chamber Directors’ Lunch
Congratulations from the Council:
We congratulate Teleflex Incorporated on
their ribbon cutting and opening of its distribution facility in Olive Branch. Over the
next four years, the facility is expected to
employ 225 workers.
Congratulations to the City of Horn Lake
for being selected as a new site for a
WalMart Supercenter and Commercial development.
Congratulations to Doug Davis, for being
named the new Chief of Staff for Secretary of
State Delbert Hosemann.
We congratulate Dan Lehman, for being
named the Southaven Chamber of Commerce
“Man of the Year.”
Congratulations to Hernando Mayor Chip
Johnson, for being selected to receive an
award from Michelle Obama and her “Let’s
Move” Campaign. Johnson received the
award on behalf of the City of Hernando for
his work to decrease obesity, establishing a
new city parks department that has created
five parks and started exercise programs for
seniors, as well as his work in establishing a
pedestrian and bicycle friendly city, and help
in creating and promoting the city’s farmers
market which is the state of Mississippi’s
largest farmers market.
Welcome New Members:
Summit Church
SergMD Healthcare
Page 6
December 2013
DeSoto Council 2013 Board of Directors:
Peggy Leigh - Bob Leigh and Associates
David Baytos - Methodist LeBonheur Healthcare
Karen Cummins - Atmos Energy Corp
Jim Rone - Newly Weds Foods Inc
Mary Monteith - Austin Law Firm PA
John Stubbs - NIDEC Motor Corporation
Brian Walhood - BancorpSouth
Kevin Doddridge - Northcentral Electric Power
James Huffman - Baptist Memorial Hospital - DeSoto
Marcia Spencer– Parker Hannifin Corp.
Donnie Chambliss - Bob Leigh & Associates
Tom Bryant– Pickering Firm
Emily Rygg - Bonne Terre Country Inn & Café
Gregory Ryan– Pinnacle Real Estate LLC
Simon Weir - Community Bank
Shawn Clayton– Renasant Bank
Brett Ray - Integrity Furniture Group
Louis Patron– Rite Hite Products Corp
Wayne Spell - Entergy
Raymond Hollins– Sarnova Medical LLC
Keith Schreiber - Fiskars Brands Inc
Shelby McCloud– ScanSource
George Ready - Attorney
Barry Bouchillon– State Farm Insurance
Carol Ramirez - Hart & Cooley
Jim Webster– StyleCraft Home Collection Inc.
Chris Brunetti - Lambert's Inc
Ken Purvis– Sycamore Bank
Mark Aquadro - Martin Tate Morrow & Marston PC
Randy Mathis– Triton Stone Group
DeSoto Council
Executive Committee:
December 2013
Page 3
Leadership Desoto Announces 2013-2014 Class
Leadership Desoto has selected the newest
class of thirty Leadership Desoto participants.
Class participants attended a two-day opening
orientation session on November 21-22. Orientation included a day of focus on Leadership
followed by a second day focus on teamwork
building exercises on the Ropes Course at
Parkwood Hospital.
After orientation, the class will meet monthly
beginning in December, for one-day sessions
with a designated topic related to Desoto
County. Sessions include: Economic Development, Education, State Government,
Healthcare, Community Service and Local
Government. The 2014 Leadership Desoto
Class will graduate in May.
Leadership Desoto is a program of the Desoto
Economic Development Council. If you are
interested in being in or nominating someone
for the 2014-2015 class, or have questions
about the program, please contact Leadership
Desoto Coordinator, Lisa Biglane at
lbiglane@desotocounty.com.
DeSoto Council
Staff:
Wayne Spell, Chairman
Entergy
Barry Bouchillon, Vice Chairman
State Farm Insurance
Jim Rone, Treasurer
Jim Flanagan
President/CEO
Deborah Morgan
Office Administrator
Education Foundation
Newly Weds Foods
Cynthia Ramsey -Short
Administrative Assistant
George Ready, Secretary
Ready Law Firm
Lisa Biglane
Leadership DeSoto
Quarterly Newsletter
Greg Ryan, Past Chairman
Pinnacle Real Estate
Larry Jarrett
DeSoto Co Greenways
Pictured above is the 2013-2014 Leadership
Desoto Class. Participants include: Brian
Abraham, Citizens National Bank; Johnny
Allen, Baptist Hospital- Desoto; Cedar Arendale, Atmos; Ryan Barnes, Edward Jones
Investment-Olive Branch; Gayle Bond, BancorpSouth; Natalie Bright, Desoto County
Greenways; Brian Burnette, Dex Imaging of
Tennessee; Brian Coleman, Serve Pro; Patrick Conrad, Life Fellowship Church; Tammi Crawford, Mississippi Department of Human Services; Ashley Ellis, Funderburk Phar-
macy- Ole Miss; Barbara Evans, First Regional Library; Jeff Field, Landers Automotive Group; Ken Givens, City of Olive
Branch; Sondra Howell, Seedco; Annelise
Jensen, Methodist Hospital-Olive Branch;
Clotilde Jones, Belhaven University-Desoto;
Debbie King, Southaven Chamber of Commerce; Diego Lejwa, Express Employment
Professionals; Tony Martin, Desoto County;
Edi McIlwain, City of Southaven; Allison
Moffett, Northpoint Christian School; Jason
Moss, DCRUA/Severn Environmental; Stacye
Rawlings, JA of Desoto County; Daniel Ruff,
Renasant Bank; Mayor Scott Phillips, City of
Olive Branch; Kaitlyn Vassar, Palmer Home
for Children; Jason Ware, University of Mississippi; Dwayne Williams, City of Hernando;
Page 4
December 2013
Education Foundation Awards $74,000 to Teachers
The DeSoto County Foundation for Excellence in Education thanks our sponsors for
making possible another successful teacher
grant year. The Foundation recently held its
annual Salute to Education Classroom
Teacher Grant Ceremony and Reception,
awarding 166 classroom teacher grants,
totaling $74,600.
All 42 of the DeSoto County Schools were
represented as well as Sacred Heart School
and Northpoint Christian School. Speakers at
the ceremony included DeSoto County
Schools Superintendent Milton Kuykendall,
Sacred Heart School’s Principal Bridget Martin and Northpoint Christian School Development Director, George Carnall. Also speaking
also honored at the ceremony with
presentation of certificates and letters
designating which teacher they sponsored. This is about building strong relationships between our businesses and our
schools. A top notch school system is an
economic development and quality of life
issue and our schools are a major part of
why Desoto County continues to prosper.
were Regina Walker from United Way of the
Mid- South and Matt Crain, the 2013 president
of Krewe of Hernando.
At the ceremony, each teacher was presented
an award certificate and an award letter designating their particular sponsor. Sponsors were
The Foundation is $95,000 away from
reaching the One Million Dollar mark in the
awarding of teacher grants since its 1989 beginning. Thank you, DeSoto Council Members, for your support!
Pictured below: Teachers, administrators, and sponsors are honored at the
Education Foundation Teacher Reception. Winners and sponsors pose for
pictures in showing appreciation for the generous donors that make the
grants possible.
December 2013
Page 5
Consider a Holiday or Year-End Donation to the Education Foundation