East Mississippi Business Development Corporation focuses on growth; Delshad named director of Meridian Main Street

Published 4:15 pm Tuesday, December 12, 2017

The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation unveiled its newest component, the Alliance for Growth, at its 21st annual meeting Tuesday at the MSU Riley Center in Meridian.

The Alliance was one of the primary topics discussed by local business leaders at the meeting.

EMBDC chairman Jeff McCoy calls the Alliance for Growth “a regional gathering of business leaders throughout a multi-county region.”

Now about a year old, there are about 85 members so far in East Mississippi and West Alabama. The Alliance serves “as a catalyst for change throughout our region,” said Alliance Chairman M.L. Waters.

“We completed our first year of the organization at our first annual meeting a month ago, which was a great success,” Waters said. “It’s been a lot of work put in over the last 18 months…”

“It’s a growing group,” McCoy said in a previous report. “It was formed really to create a network of the business community…When they needed assistance, they’ve got this network of business leaders to go to to get that assistance to help with a project or a contact.”

Kim Houston, who represents Ward 4 on the Meridian City Council, said she was happy to see the annual meeting open to the public, and she likes the “regional approach” that the Alliance offers.

“I think that’s something we should have [done] years ago instead of making enemies,” Houston said. “ We should have been trying to work with our surrounding counties. Those kinds of things are powerful, and I think it’s going to impact our community positively.”

EMBDC Director of Membership Development Debby Delshad was also named Meridian Main Street’s new director. 

Delshad, who has been with EMBDC for nearly two years, will continue with her membership development duties as well, she said.

“I love Main Street, I’m familiar with main street, so I look forward to it,” Delshad said. “This is just such a good time for Meridian, and we see so many things coming to fruition. You can ask the merchants. There’s a different feel, there’s a different energy, and we’re just happy to be part of it.”

Also discussed were the new facades that will be installed for some businesses along Front Street between 22nd and 20th Avenues — facing the Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience. The facades are funded partially by a $25,000 matching grant from Mississippi Power.

Mark Tullos, President and CEO of the MAX, agrees that a lot is happening in downtown Meridian.

“Businesses outside of downtown are beginning to see the synergy that’s about to happen down here,” Tullos said. “You may own a business off [Highway] 19, and you may not be cognizant of the fact that business is going to really begin to boom. I think it’s really great that we’re beginning to communicate with all these other business leaders.”

The EMBDC also named its Ambassadors of the Year: Heather Woodall, third place; Casey Hendricks, second place; and Mary Atterberry, first place.