CREATIVE RENAISSANCE IN THE DELTA
By Gray Swoope
Mississippi Development Authority
With the opening of the B. B. King Museum in Indianola on September 14, Mississippi will expose to the world its rich, creative history of the blues. The heritage and spirit of the Delta are evident in the people, the landscapes and the distinctive culture that resonates in every community. A thirst exists for this type of musical culture that makes people worldwide want to experience the Mississippi Blues heritage.
This point was demonstrated to me at the inaugural Mississippi Blues Heritage Trail marker unveiling ceremony honoring Charley Patton in Holly Ridge. As I scanned the audience to determine which media chose to cover this important event, I was surprised to note that representatives from the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) were there covering the event. The BBC’s presence proves the fact that a large market exists of people who enjoy the blues and who want to learn more. It also underscored the fact that we, as Mississippians, often take for granted the very things that others, particularly international audiences, value.
As cultural and recreational attractions grow throughout the Mississippi Delta, spin-off industries will be necessary to build vibrant and sustainable business communities to support these venues. Entrepreneurs with bright ideas and strong work ethic should take advantage of the opportunity to be first to market. If Mississippians do not seize the opportunities, someone else will. Mississippi Development Authority’s (MDA) Existing Industry & Business division and the Minority & Small Business division work each day with both start-ups and existing firms who are seeking assistance to take their ideas from dream to reality.
This is just one example of using an asset-based approach to economic development. The Delta has many other assets to explore and we are continually seeking innovative ways to promote the state and to help showcase its communities. It is imperative for Mississippi to distinguish itself from the crowd. While we may not have the resources other states have, we are unlimited in our ability to be creative in the way that we present our state and our communities. The same creative spirit that has produced literary and musical greats from across Mississippi can also impact business and drive the Delta’s economic development efforts.
This same creative culture is an advantage for the region when it comes to economic development. Companies today want a workforce that can be creative and solve real-world problems. They also look for communities that can put a team together to support their existing businesses.
An example of putting together a team that used creativity and innovation to help a business can be found in Cleveland. Faurecia worked with a team that included MDA, the Delta Council, Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Studies, Mississippi Delta Community College’s Capps Center, Entergy, the city of Cleveland and Bolivar County to address start-up concerns. Together, they applied innovative solutions to solve the company’s problems. A year later, Faurecia is one of only three winners of Chrysler’s 2008 Global Supplier Quality Award. The team’s action to enhance training efforts which ultimately led to the company being recognized for quality excellence is a testament to how far a little creativity, innovation and perseverance can take an organization.
MDA’s work with existing industries such as Faurecia is crucial not just to the company’s continued success, but also to business recruitment. Successful companies become one of the state’s best recruitment tools.
MDA believes in the importance of team work to support our existing businesses, to actively pursue asset development and to continue to build our products such as the Blues Heritage Trail. Ultimately, each of these strategies helps with the business recruitment process.
The Mississippi Delta has a wealth of resources to offer the world. Our job is to help the global community see how far we’ve come and just how much farther we can go. With each new creative -- and economic -- milestone, we can unveil a whole new perspective on our state.
By Gray Swoope
Mississippi Development Authority
With the opening of the B. B. King Museum in Indianola on September 14, Mississippi will expose to the world its rich, creative history of the blues. The heritage and spirit of the Delta are evident in the people, the landscapes and the distinctive culture that resonates in every community. A thirst exists for this type of musical culture that makes people worldwide want to experience the Mississippi Blues heritage.
This point was demonstrated to me at the inaugural Mississippi Blues Heritage Trail marker unveiling ceremony honoring Charley Patton in Holly Ridge. As I scanned the audience to determine which media chose to cover this important event, I was surprised to note that representatives from the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) were there covering the event. The BBC’s presence proves the fact that a large market exists of people who enjoy the blues and who want to learn more. It also underscored the fact that we, as Mississippians, often take for granted the very things that others, particularly international audiences, value.
As cultural and recreational attractions grow throughout the Mississippi Delta, spin-off industries will be necessary to build vibrant and sustainable business communities to support these venues. Entrepreneurs with bright ideas and strong work ethic should take advantage of the opportunity to be first to market. If Mississippians do not seize the opportunities, someone else will. Mississippi Development Authority’s (MDA) Existing Industry & Business division and the Minority & Small Business division work each day with both start-ups and existing firms who are seeking assistance to take their ideas from dream to reality.
This is just one example of using an asset-based approach to economic development. The Delta has many other assets to explore and we are continually seeking innovative ways to promote the state and to help showcase its communities. It is imperative for Mississippi to distinguish itself from the crowd. While we may not have the resources other states have, we are unlimited in our ability to be creative in the way that we present our state and our communities. The same creative spirit that has produced literary and musical greats from across Mississippi can also impact business and drive the Delta’s economic development efforts.
This same creative culture is an advantage for the region when it comes to economic development. Companies today want a workforce that can be creative and solve real-world problems. They also look for communities that can put a team together to support their existing businesses.
An example of putting together a team that used creativity and innovation to help a business can be found in Cleveland. Faurecia worked with a team that included MDA, the Delta Council, Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, Central Mississippi Planning and Development District, Mississippi State University’s Center for Advanced Vehicular Studies, Mississippi Delta Community College’s Capps Center, Entergy, the city of Cleveland and Bolivar County to address start-up concerns. Together, they applied innovative solutions to solve the company’s problems. A year later, Faurecia is one of only three winners of Chrysler’s 2008 Global Supplier Quality Award. The team’s action to enhance training efforts which ultimately led to the company being recognized for quality excellence is a testament to how far a little creativity, innovation and perseverance can take an organization.
MDA’s work with existing industries such as Faurecia is crucial not just to the company’s continued success, but also to business recruitment. Successful companies become one of the state’s best recruitment tools.
MDA believes in the importance of team work to support our existing businesses, to actively pursue asset development and to continue to build our products such as the Blues Heritage Trail. Ultimately, each of these strategies helps with the business recruitment process.
The Mississippi Delta has a wealth of resources to offer the world. Our job is to help the global community see how far we’ve come and just how much farther we can go. With each new creative -- and economic -- milestone, we can unveil a whole new perspective on our state.
