THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
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Year in Review 2019
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
What a Wonderful Year it has been for Itawamba County! 34 New Businesses created jobs for our citizens; our county & municipalities experienced tremendous increase in revenue; a new Itawamba Jr. Leadership Class gathered; and Community Projects enhanced our communities countywide. Business Planning Sessions for new shopping events and Municipality Planning Sessions have everyone working together to sustain and grow our existing businesses while planning for the future. Thanks to our members, elected officials, community organizations, businesses, and the ICDC Board for your support and participation in growing Itawamba. The best is yet to come!
“Itawamba County, Making Extra Ordinary”
ICDC building upgrades included a long time dream of an Itawamba County Mural! With the support of the County Board of Supervisors, ICDC Board, and the artistic design of mother and daughter team of Kit Stafford and Reid Caldwell, we have improved the look of downtown Fulton and are drawing visitors in every day to take pictures with the mural. Make sure and stop in as we have gift items featuring the mural. All donations will go towards the creation of more murals and to raise funds for our Fixer Up Small Business Grant program. We have t-shirts, tea towels, aprons, coasters, and pillows. Give a little Itawamba for Christmas, and give back to Itawamba too!
Year End Review ‘19
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Ribbon Cuttings This Year
Year End Review ‘19
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Itawamba Jr. Leadership Class of 2020 We began the training of 21 future leaders in August and will have a session each month until March. We can’t wait to see the community projects revealed, all the growth that each student will experience, and preparation of these students for college & career! We are always looking for new committee members that are passionate about our students. If you would like to be a part, please let us know. Applications for next year’s class will be available in January. See your school counselor or visit our website at
http://itawambams.com/jr-leadership/ Committee Members: Dr. Joe Lowder, Tony Green, Jim McCullough, Vicky Gray, Romona Edge, Trae Wiygul, Ronnie Gholston, David Brown, Melanie Taylor, Thomas Spradling, and Teresa McNeece
Thank you to our 83 Volunteers for pickingup over 4.25 tons of trash for our 4th Annual Keep Itawamba Beautiful: Ferguson, Families First, Dorsey Lions Club, Itawamba County Sherriff’s Department, Itawamba County Sanitation Department, Fulton Lions Club, Lake Bud Isaiah Group, Mantachie Board of Aldermen, Mantachie Pilot Club, Houston Community Pilot Club, Patton Flat Group, Carolina RCDC, Always Tan, Midway Marina, Shiloh United Methodist Church, Always on the Go Homemakers, and individuals for making this event such a success!
Year End Review ‘19
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
RCDC Annual Banquet The RCDC Annual Banquet was hosted by Ryans Well RCDC to a record crowd for food, fun, worship, and celebration of this year’s accomplishments! They also hosted the 1st candidate speaking of the season for candidates running to serve Itawamba County. We thank the sponsors that helped make this banquet possible: SprintPrint, 1st American National Bank, Pro Tool, JESCO, Montgomery Enterprises, Legacy Hospice, and Itawamba County Times. Congratulations to our award winners: Houston RCDC- Publicity Award nd 2 Place-Mayor Matt 3rdAward Place- Mayor Barry Pleasant Grove - Recognition Fennell & David Kelso Childers Ryans Well RCDC- Secretary’s Award Ryans Well RCDC- Merit Award Houston RCDC-Excellence Award
Romona Edge Retires from MSU Extension Service Voted Itawamba County Ambassador consecutively over the past few years, this power house of southern sass served Itawamba County for 26 years. She didn’t really leave us because she has been spotted at ICDC serving as a board member and helping register Medicare Part D consumers. She has spent the past few months of retirement traveling and living it up with friends and her husband, Vaudry. We are so proud of all the work Romona and her team have performed, all the communities they served, and all the individuals that have been impacted in a positive way. Romona, you are a true blessing and womanly example to us all! Thank You for choosing to spend your career serving Itawamba County!
We always enjoy welcoming our guests to the Itawamba Welcome Center each year during Tourism Week! Over 300,000 visit the Itawamba Welcome Center each year.
Year End Review ‘19
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Fixer Up Small Business Grant Program A brand new grant program rolled out this year to help ICDC Members improve the appeal of their storefronts. This grant is up to $1,000 match grant for awnings, signage, lighting, and fresh paint. The purpose is to make the storefronts more colorful, inviting, and aesthetically pleasing to their customers. In January, we will roll out the next round of storefront improvements. Applications are available at itawambams.com/fixerup. We can’t wait to see the applications for this year. Only three will be selected. If you would like to apply or have any questions, please contact us at 862-4571 or vmartin@itawambams.com
Community Projects FY 2019
ICDC Building Upgrade
Year End Review ‘19
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Houston RCDC-Itawamba Jr. Leadership Class of 2019
Ryans Well RCDC- Itawamba Jr. Leadership Class of 2019
Pleasant Grove RCDC-Itawamba Jr. Leadership Class of 2019
Carolina RCDC-Itawamba Jr. Leadership Class of 2019
Year End Review ‘19
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Planning Sessions with businesses and municipality elected officials gives our businesses the opportunity for face time with officials. Our business are working together in a collaborative effort on shopping events that encourage shoppers to visit their stores. Lots of wonderful ideas have sprung from these meetings and momentum is building. The life blood of our community rest with our existing businesses. Their continued success in staying and growing ensures overall success for our municipalities and the county as a collective whole.
Year End Review ‘19
THE MEMBERSHIP NEWSLETTER OF THE ITAWAMBA COUNTY DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Upcoming Events
For more information on Itawamba County, please visit our website at itawambams.com and like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Snapchat, and come by any time to visit us! If you have an event you would like to promote, please send an email with the flyer to vmartin@itawambams.com or give us a call at 862-4571. Thank you for supporting our efforts in Itawamba County “Making EXTRA Ordinary”
Year End Review ‘19