By By Steve Swogetinsky/The Meridian Star
June 22, 2001
Freshly returned from a business recruiting trip to England, the president of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp. said Thursday good international contacts can help prompt local economic growth.
In a report to the EMBDC board, Wade Jones said the trip was part of a strategy to put east Mississippi in the right place at the right time by promoting the area's attributes to potential prospects, both in the U.S. and abroad. He has already traveled to Seattle in pursuit of business prospects.
Jones' efforts were discussed during the meeting. He explained that during the trip to England, paid for by MDA, he functioned as part of the state team. Others areas of the state were also represented, including Harrison County, the Pine Belt and Northeast Mississippi.
Jones said he worked directly with an MDA staffer who works with European prospects when they visit Mississippi.
In other business:
The EMBDC board of directors opted to hold a strategic planning session Aug 7;
Accepted the nomination of six new members to the board  Wilbert Jones, Ray Long, Bruce Martin, Ralph Morgan, Wallace Strickland and Robert Smith;
Announced a Business After Hours will be held at Tommy's Steak &Seafood on July 17 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m.;
Issued a reminder that Meridian Day at the Neshoba County Fair is scheduled July 25, starting at 11 a.m., and
Confirmed earlier news reports that the Federal Highway Administration has approved a new access road on Interstate 20-59 for the new industrial park.
Steve Swogetinsky is regional editor of The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3217, or e-mail him at sswogetinsky@themeridianstar.com.