Tamika Jenkins has been executive director of the Hinds County (Miss.) Development Authority for about a year; and her goal has been to attract and support area businesses.
With a $10,000 Entergy Mississippi grant, plus funds from the development authority, Hinds County will complete a $35,000 plan for business retention.
Entergy Mississippi announced in May that it was spreading $60,000 among eight in-state economic development partnerships - within its 45-county service area - for marketing, strategic planning and site work through its Excellerator Competitive Communities program.
The program has given over 60 grants to communities since 2016. Communities must provide matching funds for their projects.
Entergy reviews all applications and base decisions on the most innovative ones, says Entergy Mississippi Development Manager Chris Hinton.
Jenkins said Hinds County has been suffering from disinvestment and businesses leaving and Entergy saw the need to help get a plan in place to keep and attract those businesses.
The Claiborne County Economic Development District, Jefferson Davis County Economic Development District, Pike County Economic Development District, Rankin First Economic Development Authority, Port of Rosedale and Vicksburg-Warren Partnership are all using Entergy grants for marketing.
Marketing can involve the production of drone footage to showcase aerial views of properties and to share video on their websites and social media platforms to reach potential investors.
Entergy Mississippi gave the Vicksburg-Warren Partnership about $9,000 to update its current website and create a new website for the Port of Vicksburg.
President/CEO of the partnership, Pablo Diaz, explained the need for the port to have its own online presence for new development.
The Tate County Economic Development Foundation is using its $10,000 grant for “due diligence work” at the Greenfield Industrial Site in Coldwater.
Communities that receive Entergy grants are often able to leverage funding from the state and federal government because Entergy has vetted the project. (Mississippi Free Press 06/15/23) Mississippi Communities Receive $60,000 in Entergy Grants (mississippifreepress.org)
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