“2008” - Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce

On Target
A Quarterly Publication of the
Clarksdale/Coahoma County Chamber of Commerce & Industrial Foundation
January - March 2009
“2008”
Another Year Gone By
T
he year 2008 has come and gone. As we embark on another
year, we take a moment to look back on some of the sights
and sounds we remember most from another busy year at the Chamber
and Industrial Foundation.
Chris Card accepts the Small Business of the Year Award on behalf of The Ranch
from Dianne Mitchell of the Chamber’s Membership Committee. Chris was quite
excited to meet author and chef Robert St. John, guest speaker at the event.
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Yvonne Stanford humbly
accepts the Citizen of the
Year Award from Chamber
director Ron Hudson at the
Chamber’s Annual Banquet.
The Chapel Hill Male Chorus renders music
at the dedication ceremony of the first Walk
of Fame plaque in honor of Sam Cooke. A
busload of Sam Cooke Fan Club members and
many members of the community attended the event. It was a great kick-off to the Clarksdale Walk of
Fame effort. Five plaques were dedicated in 2008 and more are already planned.
Funk de Ville of Memphis
presented their slate of
“oldies but goodies” at the
25th Annual Delta Jubilee.
Many festival attendees took
to the makeshift dance floor
and had a great time.
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Monica Li proudly displays
her plaque and balloons as
Wong’s Foodland was selected
as the Chamber’s Member
of the Month for December.
The store was cited numerous
times for outstanding customer
service and quality merchandise.
Corner Grocery was
the very first recipient of the
award.
inside...
More Photos from 2008
Getting Set for Delta Jubilee 2009
Manufacturers Association Revived
Industrial Update
Calendar/Dates to Remember HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL!!
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On Target
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Gearing Up for
Delta Jubilee 2009
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The Holiday Festival Parade
brought out the real spirit of the
season as Santa mounted his
sleigh and flew into town.
Ron Hudson addresses attendees at the very first Membership
Exchange held. Northwest MS Regional Medical Center ▼
hosted
the
event.
You can’t expect
people to look eye
to eye with you if
you are busy
looking down
on them.
Plans are being made now for the 26th
Annual Delta Jubilee set for June 5 - 6
at the Coahoma County Expo Center
at the Fairgrounds. Jubilee will again
feature various cooking competitions.
Other events will include the carnival,
arts and crafts, 5K run/walk, bicycle
ride, children’s fishing rodeo, musical
entertainment, and much more. We
are hoping to expand our customary
offerings to make the event more
family-friendly overall. Meetings are
getting underway to begin planning.
As always, Jubilee relies on the kind
support and assistance of numerous
volunteers and sponsors to succeed.
Please be ready and willing to offer your
support again this year as we prepare
for Jubilee ‘09! Call 627-7337 to offer
your time and energy or to become a
sponsor for this year’s event.
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Thank You!
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The Chamber capped
off the year with a
holiday party given in
honor of our members.
There was plenty of
good food, good music,
and good fun to be had.
We even had a couple of
reindeer and a candy
cane stop by.
The 15th class of Youth Leadership Clarksdale graduated from the program, each
member having completed 30 hours of community service. This program, presented
at no cost to the students, is always in need of donations. All help is appreciated!
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We would like to take this opportunity to thank
all of our members for supporting the efforts
of the Chamber of Commerce & Industrial
Foundation for another year. Without your
continued support, many of the events, programs, special projects, and community service
we sponsor would not be possible. Please know
that every time you renew your investment in this
organization, you renew your investment in this
community! We are all working toward the same
goals. The Chamber and Industrial Foundation
and Clarksdale/Coahoma County thank you!!
New Face at the Chamber
Who is that new voice you hear on the line at the
Chamber? We are proud to welcome Martha Harthcock
aboard! We’re sure you already know Martha. If you
do, you know she is a go-getter and will leave no stone
unturned to get the job done. She will be working for the
Chamber on a part-time basis, specifically in membership
recruitment/retention and special projects. Stop by or
give us a ring and welcome her to our staff!!
On Target
Spotlight
on
Industry
Delta
∆
If you would like to add
something to our calendar
of events, please contact us
at 627-7337 in advance of
publication. Next edition is
April 2009.
Oil Mill
Triple J of Mississippi
Gator Mills, Inc.
Southeastern Bulk
Bag Connection
StephensAdamson
The Coahoma County Manufacturers Association is getting a
second wind. After a long hiatus, Industrial Foundation staff
members have decided to revive its group of manufacturers.
The group once met monthly or quarterly on topics of interest
to local companies. Meetings provided a forum for company
officials to vent frustrations, share alternative solutions to
problems, even develop new training programs beneficial to
many. Speakers also occasionally addressed the group, covering
topics such as environmental regulations, OSHA regulations,
training, the state of manufacturing in Mississippi, and more.
We are hopeful that the companies are eager to begin participating in such a group again and will lend their wholehearted
support and participation. Suggestions for meeting topics are
sought from companies.
Membership Committee Efforts
The 3rd Chamber Membership Exchange is tentatively
scheduled for January 2009. This quarterly event allows
members to come together over lunch and share ideas and
tips, offer suggestions, etc. All members are encouraged to
attend and take part. We want to hear from you.
This committee hopes to create its Young Professionals group
for persons 20 - 35 years of age. The goal is to encourage
more young people to be involved in the inner workings
of the Chamber and Industrial Foundation. Anyone with
nominations should contact Tana at 627-7337.
Check us out at:
www.clarksdale-ms.com
Industrial Report
A
major component of successful industrial development is
being ready when that really great prospect visits your community.
Not only do you need an outstanding local
development team to meet with the prospect
and effectively present the community’s
business case, but physical assets need
to be ready as well. In fact, an expedited
occupancy is normally the rule rather
than the exception. The Coahoma
County Economic Development
Authority (EDA) has made considerable
If you don’t
progress in 2008 by making the
learn from your
Sunbelt Industrial Park ready for
mistakes, there’s
immediate occupancy. Through the
no sense
support and efforts of the Board of
Supervisors, Sunbelt Drive’s western
making them.
segment will soon be overlaid and new
roadway will be built on the eastern
segment connecting to Little Simmons
Road. The new roadway will open up the
eastern properties consisting of over 100
acres for immediate development. The
entire park, for the first time, will be fully
serviced by water, sewer, and road facilities.
The County, City, and Clarksdale Public Utilities
combined efforts previously on a major water and sewer grant
program thru the Corps of Engineers to fully serve the park.
Installation of dual gas taps on 18” Texas Gas Transmission lines
crossing the park is nearing completion. The taps will enable
the EDA to extend lines in the future within the park to serve any
prospect that would be a major natural gas consumer. The taps were
negotiated thru the Board of Supervisors, their attorney, and recently
retired County Administrator Hugh Jack Stubbs. Additionally, as a
result of dealing with an industrial prospect in the eastern portion
of the park over the past 12-18 months, it was determined that 13
acres of existing woodlands was classified as US Wetlands. The
staff of EDA filed a 404 permit which was approved by the Corps of
Engineers, allowing the lands to be cleared by the County for immediate industrial development. Loss of the wetlands in the Sunbelt
Park is being mitigated thru the planting of 26 acres of bottomland
hardwoods on lands owned by the Board of Supervisors adjacent
to the soon to be developed State Park at the north end of Moon
Lake. Hartley Kittle, EDA President, said, “There is much preparation
that has to precede a successful industrial location and our entire
industrial park will soon be ready for immediate occupancy, a real
plus when competing with other communities. Local cooperation
is vital to success.”
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On Target
Dates to Remember
January
March
1
NEW YEAR’S DAY
5
Walk of Fame Dedication - John Clark
Sponsored by City of Clarksdale
19
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY
17
April
February
14
VALENTINE’S DAY
16
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
20
St. Elizabeth School Draw Down
Coahoma County Expo at the Fairgrounds
ST. PATRICK’S DAY
12
EASTER
18
Juke Joint Festival
24
Friday at the Stage Begins
This is YOUR Chamber of Commerce & Industrial Foundation.
It’s a brand new year and we want to know your ideas. Please
share your thoughts with us. We could not possibly do many
of the things we do without your kind support!
P. O. Box 160
Clarksdale, MS 38614
662.627.7337 • 800.626.3764
www.clarksdale-ms.com
chamberofcommerce@clarksdale-ms.com
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Chamber & Industrial Foundation Staff
Ron Hudson
Executive Director
Tana Pittman Vassel
Economic Dev. Manager
Kappi Allen
Tourism Manager
Sherry Carraway
Secretary/Receptionist
If you have renewed your membership but do
not have your 2008 - 2009 membership sticker,
please let us know. Duplicates are not sent to
multiple employees of any organization unless
with multiple offices.
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