The Strategic Plan for Economic Development took center stage at the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors Meeting on March 29th. Mitchell delved deeper into the plan with the Board, discussing proposed additions and removals in detail.
“This project was funded through a state grant from the Mississippi Development Authority, through the support of the North Central Planning and Development District, with the intent of ‘addressing the quality-of-life issues for Montgomery County among other issues the citizens face by developing a strategic plan for Economic Development. This plan will include making educational, medical, retail, recreational, and industrial improvements to the County,’” the introduction of the plan states.
State Senator Lydia Chassaniol graced the gathering and has been instrumental in spearheading the implementation of this plan. Her commitment to fostering growth in Montgomery County is palpable and unwavering.
“I just want to thank Gary for doing this study. I’m working on a number of projects that are tourism related, of course, because that’s my committee,” Senator Chassaniol explained. “I will be meeting on the 15th of this coming month with Bill Cork, who is head of MDA (Mississippi Development Authority), and Michell Hicks, who is the tourism director for the State of Mississippi, and Nina Parikh, who is the film office director for Mississippi.”
Senator Chassaniol elaborated on the unique and vibrant food culture of Mississippi, highlighting its potential to attract tourism to the area. She has reached out to the producers of "Home Town," the popular HGTV series, proposing the idea of featuring "Home Cooking" in a potential series. Additionally, she is exploring collaboration with Mississippi Public Broadcasting to produce a pilot program showcasing Mississippi's rich culinary heritage.
“If we can do that, we’re going to pitch it to HGTV and see if they want to pick it up,” Senator Chassaniol said.
She expressed optimism about the potential for growth in Montgomery County, drawing parallels with the success stories of other small towns like Laurel, Miss. Senator Chassaniol highlighted the county's existing strengths, such as its affordable cost of living and status as a Right to Work state. Her words filled the room with a sense of hope for the county's future.
Following her remarks, Board President Ron Wood invited the Board to share any further discussions regarding the plan. After deliberation, the Board decided to dedicate the weekend to reviewing the plan in greater detail. The plan received approval at the subsequent Board of Supervisors meeting on April 1st.
