2014 PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

A&B DistributingAqua Yacht HarborATK Launch SystemsEllen AyersB&J SupermarketB&G Equipment of IukaDr. Jeff BallweberBarnett ApothecaryBelmont HotelBelmont Parts SupplyRobert BelueJames H. BethayBiddle & Sons CommunicationsBig Star of BelmontAlvia BlakneyBow-T’s CateringBrooks GroceryDonnie BrownBrown Insurance AgencyJackie BryantCaring Hands RehabCarrington HouseBob CarterCity of BelmontCity of BurnsvilleCity of GoldenCity of IukaCity of PadenCity of TishomingoClark Law FirmCoca ColaCook Coggin EngineersGreg Collier PropertiesKen CooleyComfort RevolutionCommunity Spirit BankPeyton CummingsD. L. Cutshall & SonsCutshall Funeral HomeNeil DavisTed DayLeroy DeanDeaton Funeral HomeDennen SteelEastport MarinaErshigs, Inc.Ralph FarrFellowship Christian RetreatFerrouSouthFidelity National LoansFirst American Insurance ServicesFirst American National BankPaul Fisher Oil CompanyFite Building CompanyG & G SteelGatlins PharmacyGeek ExpressGilley’s Outdoors, Inc.Harold GistGolden Forest ManagersGrace Long Real EstateDon & Mary Ann GrantDr. Phillip GrayJames GrishamHamilton Ryker GroupHampton Inn

Update

2014 PARTNERS IN PROGRESS

Harbin Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.Hodge AntiquesBeth HudsonIndustrial Finishes & Systems, Inc.International Converter LLCIuka Animal ClinicIuka Family DentalIuka HardwareJ. C. Jourdan Lumber Co.Dr. Ben KitchensKX TechnologiesJ. C. LambertHarold LomenickLittrell Lumber MillBob MarshallMax Home LLCSteve McAnallyMetrocast CommunicationsMike McKeeMill Creek MarinaMilligan Ready Mix, Inc.Mississippi Land BankMike MontgomeryMoore Automotive SupplyMoore’s Jewelers, Inc.Mike Nelson ContractorsOffice ProOle Country StoreCharlotte OrickHarold OswaltPaul’s Workworks LLCPeden’s Prop ShopPearson ConstructionPiggly Wiggly BelmontPiggly Wiggly IukaPlant Process SupportJimmy RamseyRoll Form GroupRyan Properties-Judy RyanJimmie SeagoSid’s Trading Company, LLCSkyline SteelSonic Drive-inSparks CPA FirmRoger Stegall Professional Guide ServiceSun-air Products, Inc.Tishomingo County Board of SupervisorsTishomingo Health ServicesTLH SalesTri-State Educational FoundationTri-State RecyclingBilly RaineyTBEIR. C. Tomey/McDonald’sMack L. WadkinsWealth Strategies, Inc.Mike WebbJohn L. WhiteYellow Creek Coating ServicesYesteryears TreatsDan & Betty YoungYour Errand Service

A Toyota grant will fund 50% of the wages of stu-dent internships. The grant is for three years al-though funding beyond three years may be pos-sible. Northeast Mississippi Community College is seeking input from business and industry into the design of the internship program.

The intent of the program is to bridge the gap between classroom learning and real life experi-ence. Interns may be scheduled for two days per week and it may be possible to schedule weeks or months of continuous time in the in-dustry or business. Interns may earn up to $14 per hour.

The top scoring second year career and techni-cal students are targeted for the internship pro-gram. Qualified students must maintain a 2.5 grade point average and apply for the program; pass a physical assessment skills simulation; earn at least a bronze level Career Readiness Certifi-cate; and complete a minimum of 86 hours of classroom instruction. Interns must be commit-ted to work in a team and problem solving envi-ronment. Students receive college credit for the internship. Insurance and payroll deductions for interns are handled by NEMCC.

The internship program is scheduled to begin fall 2014.

For more information on the TIGER Internship Program, contact Jody Presley at 662-720-7299, e-mail djpresley@nemcc.edu.

For more information on the Career Readiness Certificate, contact Ben Shappley at 662-720-7242, e-mail bshappley@nemcc.edu, or Greg James at 662-720-4078, e-mail gcjames@nem-cc.edu.

T raining I nnovationG rowthE xcellenceR esults

NEMCC TIGER Internship Program. NEMCC staff presented information on the TIGER Internship Pro-gram to representatives of local industry and business in Tishomingo County on March 25, 2014.

Tishomingo CountyDevelopment Foundation

Board of Directors:Hayden AblesAlvia Blakney, ChairmanMayor John Castleberry, IukaScott CaldwellBob CarterGreg CollierKen Cooley, Vice ChairmanPeyton CummingsDale Curtis, Secretary-TreasurerNeil DavisTed DayMayor Davy Ginn, GoldenHarold GistNicky McRae, President, Board of SupervisorsBeth HudsonGlen HodgeSteve McAnallyMike Montgomery, First Vice ChairmanMayor David Nixon, BurnsvilleSteve NunleyCharlotte OrickMayor Pam Oswalt, PadenTerrell PearsonJimmy RamseyMayor James Tennyson, TishomingoSidney WhitehurstTommy WilliamsMayor Buddy Wiltshire, Belmont & Past ChairmanDan Young

Economic Development

Authority Board of Directors:

Daryl ChambersCharles Emmons, Vice ChairmanMax Ray HutchesonMike LeeToney MobleyCharlotte Orick, Secretary-TreasurerWendel PhiferJimmy Ramsey, ChairmanJimmie Seago

Tourism Council:Ellen Ayers, Vice ChairBarbara BlakneyMary Ann Grant, Chair Bob MarshallLeigh Ann RobertsonLanny VinsonBuddy WiltshireTheresa Cutshall, Administrator

Mississippi Silicon Under Construction. Mississippi Silicon broke ground for its industrial grade silicon production facility in Tishomingo County in January 2014. Eu-taw Construction is the site work contractor on the 100 acre site. Nunley Trucking is the trucking contractor. B&B Concrete of Corinth will supply 14,000 cubic yards of concrete. Steel Service and Nucor in Jackson, Mississippi, will supply fabricated structural steel and rebar. SMS Siemag AG is building the furnaces in Germany. CV Engineering of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is the engineering consultant. Clint Carver is the construction manager for Mississippi Silicon.

The aerial photo above is compliments of Reggie Furtick of Aero Studio Aerial Photog-raphy, 662-554-5199, e-mail aerostudio@att.net, web site www.aerostudio.biz.

Family Fun Zone Expands. Family Fun Zone has expanded with separate rooms for the inflatable jump and slide houses, a black light inside miniature golf course, two private party rooms, and a separate dance floor. Ad-ditional arcade games have also been added along with new and additonal reupholstered seating. The Whitfield family owns and oper-ates the business.

Ashley Whitfield stated that “we have been overwhelmed by the reception by the com-munity and grateful for our faithful custom-ers from three states. We cater to families and young people but we are also open for birthday parties, church groups, and others. Concessions are available.” Jamie Whitfield stressed that “we have responded to requests for more activities and separation of those ac-tivities from the skating area. We thank the community and our customers for their en-couragement and support.”

Family Fun Zone is located at 2255 Highway 25 south of Iuka and is open from 4 PM to 11 PM Fridays and Saturdays and 1 PM to 4 PM on Sundays. The telephone number is 662-423-6642.

Start Your Own Business. The industries and businesses that we are trying to recruit and assisting to expand today likely started as small businesses years ago. Small business devel-opment is probably the only type of economic development that has a chance of moving Mississippi off the bottom of the per capita income charts.

The Small Business Development Center (SBDC) offers free in-dividual and private counseling services to businesses and in-dividuals who want to start a business. Contacts are Charles Killebrew at the Tupelo Renasant Center for Ideas, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, phone 662-680-6988, or James Carden at the SBDC in Oxford, Monday thru Friday, phone 800-725-7232. The SBDC web site at www.mssbdc.org offers valuable information for existing businesses, individuals wanting to start a business, inventors, exporters, and others. Some of the video presenta-tions include Starting a Business-First Steps; Cash Flow; Busi-ness Plans; Export Businesses; Government Contracting; Idea to Market-Guidance for Inventors; and others.

The most common sources of funding for small businesses (be-sides personal or bank funds) includes Northeast Mississippi Planning & Development District Revolving Loan Fund (662-728-6248), Small Business Administration loan funds (www.sba.gov/loanprograms), and Three Rivers Planning & Development District Loan Guarantees (http://www.trpdd.com/loans).

The Northeast Mississippi Business Incubation System offers space plus intensive technical assistance to help new and ex-panding businesses and industries to be successful in the mar-ketplace. More information is available by calling Ray McClel-land at 662-287-4369, e-mail nembis@att.net.

S T A R T Y O U R O W N B U S I N E S S

Mississippi Market Wholesale Show. Scheduled for June 5 and 6 at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson, the South's premier ORDER ONLY wholesale show has been bringing buy-ers and exhibitors together for 19 years. You'll find Mississippi products representing decorative accents, pottery, gourmet food items, linens, stationary, art, bath and body, fashion accessories, furniture, and more. Hosted by the Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Market is the only state-sponsored event of its kind. In 2013, hundreds of Mississippi companies took orders at the Missis-sippi Market Wholesale Show. TMI Gifts of Golden is a regular participant from Tishomingo County.

More information is available at http://www.mississippimar-ket.org/index.php.

Visitor’s GuideTishomingo County,

Mississippi

www.lisalambertmusic.com

Tishomingo County Tourism Council

1001 Battleground DriveIuka, mississippi 38852

800-386-4373 662-423-0051info@tishomingo.org

www.tishomingofunhere.org

New Visitors Guide. Tishomingo County Tourism Council has published a new visitors guide. Based on the state tourism theme of “coming home”, the Tishomingo County visitors guide features local music star Lisa Lambert on the front cover. 30,000 copies were printed and are distributed to the state’s 13 visitor centers, two state parks, chambers of commerce, and businesses in the region that cater to travelers and tourists. Copies are also mailed to potential visitors.

In addition to the new visitors guide, TCTC has also published a schedule of special events for J. P. Coleman State Park and Tishomingo State Park.

You may see the new visitors guide online at www.tishomingofunhere.org, or you can pick up a copy at the state parks, visitors cen-ters, TCDF, and other locations.

TISHOMINGO COUNTY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATIONTISHOMINGO COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

TISHOMINGO COUNTY TOURISM COUNCIL1001 Battleground Drive, Iuka, Mississippi 38852

800-386-4373 662-423-9933www.tishomingo.org wwww.tishomingofunhere.org

Upcoming Special Events

April 5. ABA fishing tourna-ment, J. P. Coleman State Park, 662-423-6515

April 12. 36th Annual Ole Tyme Music Festival, Tishomingo State Park, 662-438-6914

May 3. Bass Weekend Fishing Tournament, J. P. Coleman State Park, 662-423-6515

May 10. Native American Cus-toms & Traditions, Tishomingo State Park, 662-438-6914

May 10. ABA Fishing Tourna-ment, J. P. Coleman State Park, 662-423-6515

May 16. Relay for Life, Mineral Springs Park, Iuka, Robbie Archer, 662-423-9000

May 26. Dennis Day Festival, Dennis Community Park, 662-293-0136

June 7. National Trails Day Less Litter More Beauty Hike, Tishom-ingo State Park, 662-438-6914

June 14. Bass Weekend Fishing Tournament, J. P. Coleman State Park, 662-423-6515

August 8-9. Bass Weekend Fishing Tournament, J. P. Cole-man State Park, 662-423-6515

August 14. Dulcimer Festival, J. P. Coleman State Park, 662-423-6515

August 30-31. Iuka Heritage Festival, www.iukafestival.com, and Car & Tractor Show, Jimmy Ramsey 662-423-5448 or Paul Morris 662-423-8150

Contract Fabricators, Inc. (CFI). Contract Fabricators, Inc., has com-pleted construction on its 100’ high addition. Shown above is the crane system with lifting capacity of 240 tons and clearance of 85’. Construc-tion on the barge facility at CFI is underway (see photo below). More information about CFI can be found at www.contractfab.com.