March 22, 2007 -

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PCDA' s Executive Director, Gary Walton, returned Saturday from a 5-day mission to Jefferson Davis County, Mississippi as part of the IEDC-EDA* Economic Recovery Volunteer Program.  The program, funded by grants from the Economic Development Administration (EDA), deploys economic development professionals to key regions of the hurricane impact zone. One of the program objectives is to assist with long-term economic recovery.  The IEDC volunteer program deploys economic development professionals to economic development organizations (EDOs) located in areas that suffered heavy damage from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Volunteers provided expert services to meet the needs of EDOs and the region.

The program provides volunteers to local organizations, such as the Jefferson Davis County Community Development Association (JDCCDA) in Prentiss, Mississippi, to assist the organization with long-range goals of sustainability and economic growth to help provide new jobs and income opportunities to local residents.

"The overall devastation becomes obvious when you actually visit communities touched by the hurricanes, consider the rural nature of an area like Jefferson Davis County, and the difficulties that rural areas experience while trying to attract and retain manufacturers.  The hurricanes make it an almost impossible task."

"I think it would be almost impossible to provide any type of meaningful assistance without actually visiting the area," according to Walton.  During the 5 full-day visit to provide assistance, Walton participated in in-depth meetings with the staff members of JDCCDA including, Kathy Cloyd, Director and Ben Hamby. "We visited with the Mayors of Prentiss and Bassfield and met many of the county officials and toured the county's industrial parks to determine what was available and what was needed," Walton said.  As a follow-up to the visit, Walton is preparing a white paper of observations and recommendations and will prepare a PowerPoint presentation to allow the JDCCDA a method of disseminating the information to the county's elected officials, residents and other interested persons.  " An important part of the on-site visit is the opportunity to serve as an objective third party."

As an example, the Town of Prentiss has a wonderful industrial property that is located at a new interchange on U.S. Highway 84, now under construction and to be completed by mid-2008.  In the park, two industrial buildings are available.  "I tried to help the JDCCDA identify potential users, uses for the properties and methods to make the properties more saleable." Walton said.

"With the exception of the flat ground in the county, the southern hospitality I experienced while visiting Jefferson Davis County, made me feel like I was back home in West Virginia."  Walton concluded.

 *  International Economic Development Council - Economic Development Administration, U.S. Dept. of Commerce