July 23, 2010
Hattiesburg Recognized as one of Top 50 Cities and 10 Lifestyles
Energizing Businesses of all Shapes and Sizes
http://www.entrepreneur.com/magazine/entrepreneur/2010/august/207496.html
April 29, 2010
First Army Division East Relocates the 158th Training
Brigade to Camp Shelby
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and the First Army Division East
leaders announced today that all members of the U.S. Army 158th
Infantry Brigade from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Puerto Rico will be
relocating to Camp Shelby in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. This move
will relocate approximately 250 soldiers to Camp Shelby and lead to
the establishment of 250 new households in the Greater Hattiesburg
Area. Camp Shelby is currently the largest state owned military
training site in the nation.
“We welcome
members of the 158th Brigade to South Mississippi where I
know they will find the support they need to settle into the
community and perform their duties for our country,” Governor
Barbour said. “These new families also will give the Hattiesburg
area a great economic boost.”
U.S. Senator
Thad Cochran, U.S. Senator Roger Wicker and U.S. Representative Gene
Taylor representing Mississippi’s 4th District are all
staunch supporters of the military and work daily to ensure that our
military is adequately funded and that our troops are well trained.
Senator Cochran stated, “The First Army’s decision to relocate
troops to Mississippi speaks volumes about their confidence in Camp
Shelby and the capacity that exists at this 136,000 acre campus.”
“This announcement is great news for Hattiesburg. The military
personnel and their families who are relocating to Camp Shelby will
be a welcome addition to the community, and they will further
strengthen the local economy,” said Sen. Wicker. Camp Shelby lies
within Congressman Gene Taylor’s 4th District and he
stated “I strongly support the First Army’s decision to select Camp
Shelby for the 158th Training Brigade. This will solidify
Camp Shelby’s presence as one of America’s premier training
facilities and positions Camp Shelby to be a vital military training
installation far into the future.”
Colonel Thomas
Hollis, 158th Brigade Commander, has been traveling to
meet with the relocating soldiers to brief them on their new mission
and to orient them to Camp Shelby and the Greater Hattiesburg Area.
According to Colonel Hollis, “Soldiers will be searching for
residential real estate, enrolling their children in local schools
and shopping at area stores and restaurants, which will have an
enormous economic impact on the region.”
City of
Hattiesburg Mayor Johnny DuPree added, “Camp Shelby is the
Hattiesburg region’s largest employer and we not only appreciate the
vast economic impact but also the sacrifices these men and women
make daily in serving our great nation. The City of Hattiesburg,
Forrest County and the Area Development Partnership work closely
together in partnering with Camp Shelby and appreciate the First
Army’s decision to move additional troops to our area.” Forrest
County Board of Supervisors President David Hogan stated, “Camp
Shelby continues to grow in stature and has become an economic
engine for the county and the entire Pine Belt region. We have the
utmost respect for those who volunteer to serve and sacrifice daily
in protecting the freedoms that we all enjoy as Americans. I am
elated to welcome the soldiers and their families to the Pine Belt,
a place I know they will fall in love with. ”
Soldiers begin
moving to the Pine Belt region in mid-May and continue through
August. The Area Development Partnership is gearing up for an
influx of inquiries and will work with the new residents to provide
information about the area.
First Army
Division East mobilizes, trains, validates, and deploys Reserve
component units in accordance with combatant commander, Department
of the Army and Forces Command Directives. As directed, is also
provides training to joint, interagency, combined and active Army
Forces.
The 158th
Infantry Brigade provides training assistance and support to Army
National Guard units that are federally mobilized to deploy in
support of our national defense. The 158th synchronizes
training support within AOR in order to enhance individual and unit
readiness to meet directed pre- and post- mobilization and/or
wartime requirements. On order, the 158th deploys a
Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) and/or a Defense Coordinating
Element (DCE) to coordinate Military Support to Civilian Authorities
(MSCA) during federal disaster response operations.
April 7, 2010
South Lamar Industrial Park Celebrates Expansion
Lumberton, MS -
The Lamar County Economic Development District (LCEDD) and the Area
Development Partnership (ADP) hosted a Ground Breaking Ceremony
commemorating the expansion of the South Lamar Industrial Park.
Previously known
as the North Lumberton Industrial Park, the property was originally
purchased in 2004 by the Lamar County Economic Development District
from the City of Lumberton. In 2005, the vision of the LCEDD led to
the purchase of an easement allowing for proposed roadway
improvements making the Park accessible from Old Highway 11 and
providing an entrance less than two miles from Interestate 59.
The North
Lumberton Industrial Park was renamed the South Lamar Industrial
Park in July of 2008 and work began to prepare the Park for
industrial use. The South Lamar Industrial Park is currently
celebrating the addition of 130 acres to the original 160 acres,
thereby creating 290 acres of marketable industrial property.
Amenities that make the Park attractive include quick access to a
major interstate as well as a Norfolk Southern main rail line that
serves as the western boundadry of the new park. The South Lamar
Industrial Park provides quality available product in a thriving
region that contaisn a skilled workforce ready to meet the needs of
new employers.
“The South Lamar
Industrial Park is an incredible opportunity for regional growth by
potentially bringing industries, businesses, residents and more
importantly jobs into the southern portion of Lamar County,”
commented Paul Ockmand, Board Chair of the Lamar County Economic
Development District. “The Park is a much needed vehicle to draw
people and businesses to the area. Its expansion and development
will benefit the Lumberton community as well as the surrounding area
as industries begin to call it home.”
Members of Lamar
County Board of Supervisors, Lamar County Economic Development
District, City of Lumberton officials and the Area Development
Partnership worked diligently to make this expansion a reality to in
turn improve the marketability of the park to potential prospects
looking to locate to the region.
“I applaud the
collaborative efforts of our regional allies who made this project
come to fruition,” said Chad Newell, ADP President. “I am confident
the fruit of everyone’s labor will pay off as the expansion of the
South Lamar Industrial Park improves the attractiveness of the Park
to potential industries and will provide more opportunities for
economic progress.”
For more
information on the South Lamar Industrial Park please contact the
Area Development Partnership or the Lamar County Economic
Development District.
2010 Leadership
Pinebelt Class Announced
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Hattiesburg, Miss. – The 2010
class of Leadership Pinebelt, a long-standing program of the
Area Development Partnership (ADP), came together for the first
time yesterday for orientation where the fresh faces of the
Pinebelt’s future leadership learned about what to expect of a
certainly exciting year for all twenty participants.
Throughout 2010, these
individuals will attend a number of training sessions focusing
on different aspects of the community. The leaders will also
identify community needs and develop a strategy for meeting
those needs.
Class members were selected
based on their interests, community involvement and willingness
to work toward a common goal. A 20-member steering committee
selects the class and helps with program planning. The selection
process of Leadership Pinebelt is very competitive and it is
considered to be an honor to be chosen.
“Leadership Pinebelt is a very
prestigious program of the Area Development Partnership” said
Jerome Brown, Community Development division chair and
Leadership Pinebelt steering committee co-chair. “Those selected
for the program are individuals who have already contributed to
their community and are looking to continue those efforts in the
future.”
“Leadership Pinebelt is an
exciting opportunity for those interested in honing their
leadership skills and applying them to do good for the
community,” said Jay Slaughter, steering committee co-chair.
“Each year the program produces quality leaders who have the
potential to make a dramatic impact on the future of our
region.”
2010
Leadership Pinebelt Class:
-
Jeanetta
Bennett,
City of Hattiesburg
-
Christa
Bishop,
South Mississippi Electric Power Association
-
Rebecca
Brown,
Pearl River Community College
-
Jennifer
Clark,
Marathon Makeover
-
Ray
Coleman, Jr.,
Forrest County Sheriff’s Department
-
Scott
Covington,
Hattiesburg Coca-Cola
-
Trenidy
Davis,
Southern Company Services
-
Billy
Dorgan, Jr.,
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Company
-
Hunter
Douglas,
Hanco Corporation
-
Josh
Duplantis,
The University of Southern Mississippi
-
Kristen
Frierson,
Rowan Elementary School
-
SherRhonda Gibbs,
The University of Southern Mississippi
-
Anthony
Harris,
Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association
-
Jay
Hudnall,
Deaconess HomeCare
-
Whitney
Keyes,
Insurance Associates
-
Matt
Miller,
Copeland, Cook, Taylor & Bush, P.A.
-
Kesia
Pope,
Hattiesburg High School
-
Micah
Rehm,
Forrest General Hospital
-
Tasha
Riley,
Hattiesburg Clinic
-
Stacy
Thompson,
BancorpSouth
Leadership Pinebelt is designed
to identify and nurture emerging leaders in the Pinebelt area.
The initiative intends to broaden the base from which emerging
leadership comes, and to serve as a catalyst for increasing
diversity among future leaders.
“Since this program’s
inception, it has developed over 150 projects that have dealt
with many different concerns and needs of local citizens,” said
Susan Walker, Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce at the
Area Development Partnership. “The program teaches participants
to grow personally and professionally, but also demonstrates the
importance of making a positive impact on the community through
support and involvement.”
For more information about
Leadership Pinebelt, contact the ADP at 601.296.7500 or visit
our website at
www.theADP.com
ADP Announces New
President
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Hattiesburg, Miss. – The Area
Development Partnership (ADP) announced today that Chad Newell
has been named President, effective December 28, 2009. Newell
succeeds Dr. Angeline Godwin, who served as ADP President since
November 12, 2004.
“We are excited to have someone with
the experience of Chad Newell to lead the Area Development
Partnership,” said Mike Collins, current ADP Board Chair. “He
has a track record of economic development success in both the
public and private sectors. Chad and his family will be a great
addition to our area.”
Newell has been actively involved in
economic development for the last 16 years and currently serves
as a Developer at Newton Oldacre McDonald (NOM), LLC, a
privately held, full-service retail development firm based in
Nashville, TN. Newell previously served as Executive Vice
President of the Metropolitan Development Board in Birmingham,
AL, Director of Economic Development with the City of Opelika,
AL, and Director of Business Development at the Mobile Chamber
of Commerce in Mobile, AL.
Newell, a native of Meridian, MS,
earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics from Mississippi State
University and a master’s in Economic Development from the
University of Southern Mississippi.
“I am honored, humbled and elated to
be selected as President of the Area Development Partnership. We
will work diligently to help local companies grow and prosper
and to recruit companies from around the globe. The ADP will
continue to offer programs that meet the needs of our members as
we strive to enhance the quality of life within the Hattiesburg
region,” Newell said. “As a Southern Miss graduate and
Mississippi native, my family and I look forward to getting back
home and putting down roots in Hattiesburg.”
Newell returns to Mississippi with
his wife, Jennifer, their sons, Garrett (12) and Brooks (5), and
their daughter, Jordan (9).
The ADP, which has approximately
1,200 members, is a private, not-for-profit organization
dedicated to improving the quality of life for citizens of
Forrest, Lamar and Perry Counties through community and
economic development.
