Livability Meridian, MS 2013 by Journal Communications

Variety and venues spring from deep musical roots

oNliNe | livability.com/meridian

Recreation

l ooking for a reason to get outdoors? learn about recreation options for all ages at livability.com/meridian/ ms/activities

Photos

Natural Beauty

See Dunn’s Falls Water Park and more great images from around Meridian. livability.com/ meridian/ms/photos-videos

Military

Workforce

Get more information about Naval Air Station Meridian at livability.com/meridian/ms/ business

mississippi

Meridian, Mississippi

LAUDERDALE

lOCaTiON

Lauderdale County is located in the North Central Hills region of Mississippi, on the Alabama border. Meridian is the county seat and principal city. Interstates 20 and 59 connect and pass through the county.

POPulaTiON Lauderdale County

80,261

diSTaNCES

Ala.,

Tenn.,

The Meridian area’s location and proximity to major transportation routes earn it the name “Strategic Center of the South,” important for business logistics but also applicable to its concentration of arts attractions, historic properties and health-care providers.

ENTErTaiNiNg aNd hiSTOriC

Meridian arts institutions, such as the MSU Riley Center and the Temple Theater, draw visitors for music, theater and other special events, as do well-supported community events such as the Threefoot Festival.

The state also made its first entertainment district designation in Meridian, a status that incentivizes opening new and renovating existing entertainment business facilities.

History gets its due in Meridian, too. The hometown of “The Singing Brakeman” Jimmie Rodgers welcomes his fans with a museum and annual festival, while architectural history lessons manifest in the preserved homes and buildings that are part of Meridian’s nine historic districts.

BuSiNESS advaNTagES

The East Mississippi area allows easy access to two major interstates, three U.S. highways and four state highways, making it a magnet for employers and jobs drawing from a 65-mile radius in Mississippi and West Alabama.

Besides Meridian Naval Air Station, the city’s largest employer, other strong sectors include manufacturing, distribution, retail and health care. Four hospitals employ thousands of residents, and a major mall, shopping centers, and a thriving downtown ensure a diverse economy.

Read on to learn more about why Meridian is a great place to live and do business.

Take a Ride

m eridian’s beautifully restored d entzel Carousel , originally designed in 1896, still operates in Highland Park and costs only 50 cents per ride.

tHinGs to do

Meridian’s must-do attractions, activities and dining

Traverse a Trail

Visit the 3,300-acre bonita l akes park , which has approximately 20 miles of trails perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The well-maintained, shady trails vary in length and terrain. The park’s location near three lakes, long creek Reservoir and l akeview Golf course allow easy access to outdoor fun.

Museum

CONNECT

wiTh hiSTOry

Learn about Meridian’s manufacturing history at the mississippi industrial heritage museum inside the Soulé Steam Feed Works site. The museum includes the last George W. Soulé built steam engine and hosts a festival every November.

Nostalgia

STEP BaCk iN TimE

Pick up movie memorabilia, roasted peanuts, bottled CocaCola and old-fashioned hoop cheese at the Causeyville general Store, or visit The Simmonswright Company, a general store circa 1884, for groceries, farm supplies and antiques.

Local Celebrities walk ThE walk

See stars honoring mississippi walk of Fame inductees along the area in front of the Mississippi State University Riley Center. The walk includes celebrities with Mississippi roots such as Morgan Freeman, Marty Stuart and B.B. King.

Music

BrakE FOr ThE

SiNgiNg BrakEmaN

Explore the j immie r odgers m emorial museum to learn about this Meridian native known as “The Father of Country Music.” The museum includes memorabilia, musical instruments, trains and railroad equipment.

Cemetery Pay yOur rESPECTS

Visit rose hill Cemetery to see the final resting places of such historically significant people as Meridian founders Lewis A. Ragsdale and John T. Ball. Other popular grave sites belong to Emil and Kelly Mitchell, the first American Gypsy King and Queen.

Restaurant

graB a BiTE

Pull into The d epot deli for a sandwich, pastry or daily special, such as chicken pasta salad or taco soup. Located downtown in Meridian’s Union Station, the restaurant serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday.

Take a Tour

e xplore Merrehope , which dates to 1858 and is one of meridian’s oldest homes. confederate General l eonidas Polk used the home as a headquarters during the civil War, and it now offers public tours and event space.

Food Festival

Buy, EaT lOCal

Head to Earth’s Bounty Festival in downtown Meridian’s Singing Brakeman Park for farmfresh produce, baked goods, jams, jellies and other items. The event takes place on the first Saturday of the month from June to November.

Attractions

gO FOr a whirl

Take a spin at Highland Park on the d entzel Carousel , an 1896 carousel that is a National Landmark. Throughout the city, you’ll see painted horses that are part of Around Town Carousels Abound, a public art project benefiting Hope Village for Children.

A Toe Tappin’ Good Time

country music singer moe Bandy opened the threeday 2013 Jimmie rodgers Festival, which honors meridian native and music legend Jimmie Rodgers.

good Tune In

vARIET y AND v EN u ES SPRING FROM DEEP M u SICAL ROOTS

The people of Meridian are accustomed to tapping toes, clapping hands and music in the air all year long, thanks to many outdoor music festivals, downtown concerts and bands playing nearly every night at several local venues.

These images all reflect Meridian’s deep musical roots. Music lovers still celebrate local legends such as Jimmie Rodgers, “The Father of Country Music,” and proudly claim markers for the Mississippi Blues Trail and Country Music Trail.

maiN STrEET SuPPOrTS CrE aTiviT y

The sounds of the past blend harmoniously with those of the present, and the city’s downtown revitalization group capitalizes on that to promote and foster a creative economy, according to former Meridian Main Street Executive Director John McClure, who recently accepted the post of community development director for the city.

Meridian Main Street presents Downtown After 5 Alive, a free five-week concert series. McClure says he is excited about the 2013 series, after such a strong, overwhelming response of more than 500 people at each show last year.

McClure says the series was something the community simply needed.

“It was an idea whose time had come,” says McClure,

who established Meridian Main Street in 1985. “People enjoy getting out and experiencing a sense of unity.”

And in its second year, McClure says the series will not disappoint, with bigger names to expand the market.

The concert series is familyfriendly, McClure says. The first 2013 concert, which fell on Maundy Thursday during the Christian observance of Holy Week, was alcohol-free and featured Gypsy Carns and the Cross Mountain Praise Band.

“As Meridian has such a strong tradition of performers and songwriters, we provide a venue for emerging artists as well as people who want to get on stage and perform for their hometown,” McClure says. “Live music and supporting the arts is an important part of our mission – the revitalization of downtown. We try to incorporate music in everything we do.”

In addition to the spring concert series, Meridian Main Street also sponsors a children’s art crawl, which features many young artists; Earth’s Bounty, offering fresh, local produce as a fun family event; and a Charlie Brown-themed jazz event near the Christmas season, to

introduce young people to the jazz music genre.

“People have heard jazz; they just don’t know they like it,” McClure says.

aFTEr-hOurS ENTErTaiNmENT

While sunny afternoons often bring music to downtown, it continues long into the night at several bars and clubs, too.

For its size, Meridian has a surprising number of spots for live music most days of the week, including Faces Jazz and Blues Lounge, Rhythm and Brews, local barbecue joint Squealer’s, and Echo Lounge, which has nightly shows.

Echo owner Randy Harrison, a 15-year Meridian resident, books all genres of music, from country to blues and jazz to heavy metal.

Harrison knows his customers expect variety, so he books bands to suit, and the atmosphere changes often. That’s what enriches the lives – and nightlife – for local residents, he says.

“There’s a different crowd every night,” Harrison says. “Music just makes everybody have a good time.”

by Melissa McDonald by staff photographer Michael Conti

Meat and Music

SquealeR’

S SeRVeS u P li V e Ba NDS o N TH u RSDaYS

Ladies and gentlemen: Goodhope Goulash. No, that’s not one of the menu items featured at Squealer’s Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que, but one of several local bands that have played before large Thursday night crowds at the restaurant located on Great River Drive.

“We’ve been welcoming music crowds on Thursday nights since early 2012, and word has spread so much that not only do local bands want to play here, but we’re also getting inquiries from groups based in cities like Atlanta, Birmingham and Jackson,” says Teresa Cranmore, who co-owns Squealer’s with her husband, Terrance.

Cranmore says that besides Goodhope Goulash, other local bands who have graced the Squealer’s stage include The Al Brown All Stars and Blues Messengers.

“Bands on Thursdays play from 6:30-9:30 p.m., and as the weather gets better in the spring and summer, we block off our parking lot to put tables and chairs outdoors to seat even more people,” she says. “We’re thinking of maybe adding another band night in the future, but for now, area music fans know that Squealer’s is the place to be on Thursday nights.”

ChiCkEN aNd ChariTiES

As for its menu, the restaurant serves dishes such as pulled pork and chicken, brisket, steaks and half-pound burgers, plus a number of craft beers are on tap.

The staff also gets involved in numerous charity efforts and has raised more than $1 million for worthy causes since opening in 1998.

By Kevin Litwin

People gather in downtown meridian to hear music during the Jimmie rodgers Festival

Gracing the Stage

PeRFoRmiNG aRTS aND VeNueS G aiN iN PoPulaRiTY

For patrons of and participants in the performing arts, Meridian offers a treasure trove of venues, shows and acting opportunities, with a long tradition of arts appreciation. On any given weekend, a resident or visitor might take in a performance at the Temple Theater for the Performing Arts, MSU Riley Center or the Meridian Little Theatre, a community theater with the largest membership of any in the Southeast.

a riCh hiSTOry

“Meridian has a legacy of performers that can be seen in her rich heritage of artists who, through the years, have graced the

stages in Meridian,” says Sidney Covington, a long-time actor and volunteer at the Meridian Little Theatre. “One needs only to visit our MSU Riley Center, formerly the Grand Opera House, where the likes of George Gershwin and Helen Hayes performed, to know that we’ve been at it a long time. We’ve handed this legacy down through the years, and it continues to grow.”

While some larger cities have lost their symphony orchestras, Meridian continues to support its own Meridian Symphony Orchestra, evidence of the community’s commitment to the arts. In addition to offering year-round performances for adults,

Enduring Arrangement

The Meridian symphony orchestra has built a loyal following and distinguished history here over more than 50 years of performing for local audiences.

Meridian also incorporates the arts into its school systems. Meridian Little Theatre, for instance, has a vibrant and active youth theater, CenterStage, which hosts a summer workshop for children, stages an elaborate annual production, and produces 22 performances per play for the schools in and around Meridian.

“As a city, we value the rich contributions the arts play toward our community and economic development,” Covington says.

a lE adEr’S lEgaCy

While Meridian residents from all walks of life contribute to the city’s performance legacy, no one has played a larger role than the

“Meridian has a legacy of performers that can be seen in her rich heritage of artists who, through the years, have graced the stages of Meridian.”

idNE y COviNgTON , RESIDENT

late Jimmy Pigford, full-time director at the Meridian Little Theatre from 1965 until his death in February 2013.

A Meridian native, Pigford went to Hollywood after college and embarked on a notable stage and screen career during the 1950s. He returned home to Meridian in 1960, “bringing with him a passion and determination to give back to his hometown,” Covington says. “Jimmy threw himself into creating the Meridian Little Theatre and set the standard for what community theater should be. His charm and charisma drew people to him, and his enthusiasm was contagious. The education he gave on the stage served us well. Always teaching, always coaching, always encouraging, Jimmy did as much to shape the lives of each individual as he did to shape the theatrical profile of Meridian.”

As the city’s theatrical community mourns the loss of a favorite son, it is determined to keep the legacy alive. Just as Meridian has always celebrated life on the stage, it will continue. Being involved in community has helped generations of Meridian residents grow and stretch their talents and their worldviews, and “we want that to continue,” Covington says.

by Nancy Mann Jackson

Relax and Enjoy a Show

Msu riley Center features a fully restored, circa 1889, grand opera house and a 200-seat studio theater.

The Time Jumpers featuring Vince Gill play the Msu riley Center

Purveyors of Great Taste

meRiDiaN ReSTauR aNTS aND maRkeTS FeaTuRe FlaVoRFul FooDS

Local flavor blends with Southern hospitality to create great food, inviting atmospheres and signature dishes in Meridian restaurants and markets.

Local Favorites

POPular E aTS

weidmann’s, a Meridian favorite since 1870, specializes in traditional Southern cuisine and new classics. Diners can sample a variety of Southern favorites, such as gumbo, shrimp and grits, and blackened catfish po’boys for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.

Meanwhile, a rotating selection of salads, sandwiches and pasta have made d eli on 5th a downtown weekday lunch favorite. Foodies also know to stop by Cater’s m arket for specialty items, organic products and a selection of “gourmet-to-go” casseroles and classic lasagna.

Fresh Produce

mEridiaN arE a FarmErS markET

When summer rolls around, locals can find fresh fruit and veggies from local farms on Front Street near Union Station at the meridian area Farmers market, which is part of the Mississippi Certified Farmers Market Program The market opens June through September, Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Trying a new recipe? To help plan before you go, check the market’s Facebook page for updates on what types of produce are available as the season progresses.

International Food

For traditional Japanese cuisine in a casual setting, try sake sushi, left, which has a full sushi bar staffed with experienced chefs, as well as those who can prepare delicious steak, chicken or shrimp and other hibachigrilled fare. nick & a l’s n ew york style pizzeria offers a large selection of hand-tossed pizzas, italian pastas, calzones and paninis. i f you crave m exican food, l a p inata serves classic favorites and tasty margaritas. el norte’s three locations also serve traditional m exican food, including a variety of dinners, vegetarian specialties and mexican beers.

Comfort Food COuNTry FavOriTES

Now located in a single, expanded location, Squealer’s hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que is Meridian’s go-to restaurant for tasty barbecue. Have the pulled pork, pulled chicken or brisket sandwich, or try the “redneck nachos” with your choice of smoked meat and other decadent toppings while you listen to live music on Thursday nights.

Northwood Country Club members and their guests can enjoy the club’s Sunday brunch, which usually includes many choices of down-home Southern cooking, such as squash casserole, deviled eggs, slow-cooked country vegetables and more.

Steak and Seafood OFF ThE grill

Looking for a great steak? rustler Steak house and lounge serves high-quality steak and seafood dishes in an upscale atmosphere. Ole Farm Beef house offers an assortment of charcoalgrilled steaks, seafood, chicken and other family favorites.

After a round of golf, relax in Northwood Country Club ’s members-only dining room and order the six-ounce tenderloin of beef or another of their fine dining specialties, such as crab cakes.

By Barbara Biehler

check out more great places to eat in meridian at livability.com/meridian/ ms/food

Game On

aNNual S TaTe GameS oF miSSiSSiPPi BeNeFiT meRiDiaN aRea ecoNomY

In 1992, the city of Meridian began hosting the annual State Games of Mississippi. Now, more than 40 sports competitions are held annually throughout the month of June, with nearly 30 of the events staged in Meridian and Lauderdale County.

“The State Games are an excellent way to get moving in a fun, competitive environment,” says Leslie Lee, director of marketing and development for State Games of Mississippi. “All rules and events are governed by the National Congress of State Games, which is affiliated with the prestigious U.S. Olympic Committee.”

The opening ceremony in downtown Meridian at City Hall usually draws thousandsincluding 8,000 to 10,000 athletes, and features a parade of athletes, lighting of the Games torch and a fireworks show.

SEvEral CiTiES hOST

Events take place primarily on weekends (Thursday through Sunday) to encourage the most involvement from athletes, and competitions are for all ages.

Lee says that one year, the Games welcomed a five-year-old, and another year, a 96-year-old.

Other cities that host events include Bay St. Louis, Clinton, Hattiesburg, Jackson, Laurel and Philadelphia.

wOrTh $6.5 milliON

Lee adds that the State Games remain a big economic engine for the East Mississippi region.

“Every five years, we compile an economic impact survey, with the last one occurring in 2010, and it showed that the Games generate $6.5 million annually for East Mississippi,” she says. “Local athletes participate in events such as 5K runs, baseball and softball

games, tennis, golf, canoeing and track. Plus, East Mississippi welcomes hundreds of out-of-town athletes to our venues. The survey shows that each visiting athlete brings an average of three family members with them.”

Since the State Games of Mississippi is a nonprofit, the event’s local sponsors and 500-plus volunteers are vital to its success.

“As long as we continue to produce the solid financial and volunteer backing, the Games should be here for many years to come,” Lee says.

To learn more about the State Games of Mississippi, visit the organization’s website at www.stategamesofms.org.

by Kevin Litwin

check out more fun things to do in meridian at livability.com/meridian/ms

athletes from all over the region compete in the state Games of Mississippi, which has 40 events and contributes more than $6.5 million to the local economy.

Track of Success

RoSS colliNS c Tc HelPS STuDeNTS PaVe caReeR PaTHS

Since opening during World War II, the Ross Collins Career and Technical Center continues its tradition as a training ground for students throughout the Meridian area.

When it opened in November 1942, Ross Collins trained workers for local factories. Students today gain skills for careers in a far wider variety of areas, from culinary arts to welding. The center enrolls more than 400 area high school juniors and seniors annually as they prepare for vocational and technical careers.

“It’s a good place, and we have

very good teachers,” says Terry Moore, director of Ross Collins CTC. “We look at it as another avenue for kids to be successful.”

hE ad STarT

Ross Collins, Mississippi’s oldest and largest vocational center, currently offers 12 two-year programs to students from Meridian Public School District, Lauderdale County School District, the Home Schoolers Association and private schools.

“If you just go by numbers, the favorite programs seem to be

Get Ahead with Hands-on Training

Students gain valuable skills and industry experience at the ross Collins Career and technical Center in meridian.

culinary arts, auto mechanics and health science,” Moore says. “Those are probably the top three, but all of our programs are well-represented by enrollment.”

Though students typically don’t receive all the certifications they would need to go directly into their focused industry, the curriculum at Ross Collins gives them a head start. Plus, it allows them to have an opportunity to interact with local business and industry leaders who often work with the center.

dual PurPOSE

Students can also earn dual enrollment for some college programs, such as those at Meridian Community College, Moore says.

“For instance,” he says, “if you’re taking drafting at Ross Collins, you will also be enrolled in CAD (computer automated drawings). So you’ll get credits at MCC while you’re at Ross Collins. Basically, you’ll start earning college credits while you’re in high school.”

As an example of a successful alumnus of Ross Collins CTC, Moore points out Hartley Peavey, founder of Peavey Electronics in Meridian in 1964. Peavey continues to serve as an ambassador for the center.

“He toots our horn a lot,” Moore says.

by Kevin Litwin

“We look at [career and technical training] as another avenue for kids to be successful.”

TErry mOOrE , DIRECTOR OF ROSS COLLINS CTC

Read more about meridian’s education options at livability.com/ meridian/ms/schools

Students may choose from some programs at Ross collins, such as drafting, that allow for earning dual credit at Meridian Community College.

In Fine Health

meRiDiaN’ S HealTH-caRe iNDuSTRY BeNeFiTS ReSiDeNTS, ecoNomY

Medicine creates a healthy industry in East Mississippi, and that includes hospital employment figures. Meanwhile, residents benefit from both the economic factor and options for care.

Rush Health Systems, which comprises seven hospitals and 30 physician practice sites employs more than 3,000 workers, while Anderson Regional Medical Center has 1,600 employees, and East Mississippi State Hospital has 1,500. Alliance Health Center employs 385.

Also contributing to the medical betterment and overall economy of Meridian and Lauderdale County are facilities such as Pine Grove Outreach Center, The Specialty Hospital of Meridian and Weems Community Mental Health Center.

“All of these top facilities provide quality treatment and

services not only to residents of Meridian and Lauderdale County, but also to people throughout east central Mississippi and west central Alabama,” says Wade Jones, president of the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation. “The health-care industry remains vital to this region, with 1,000 physicians and a total of 6,000 medical-based employees.”

CaNCEr, hE arT, PSyChiaTriC SErviCES

With a history dating to 1928, Anderson Regional remains the largest area hospital, with 400 beds. It features two campuses, plus houses the region’s sole comprehensive cancer center, and also offers services such as a pain management center, wound healing center, Level III ER and a

medically based fitness center.

The 215-bed Rush Foundation Hospital traces its roots to 1915, and today, has five affiliated 25-bed critical access hospitals in its network, Rush Health Systems. Rush Foundation services include Rush Heart Institute, the Family Birth Center at Rush, Rush Pain Treatment, Rush GI Lab, Wound Care and Hyperbaric Center, Rush Sports Medicine and The Vein Center at Rush, as well as other specialty services.

East Mississippi State Hospital is the second-largest mental health hospital in the state, while Alliance Health also serves patients with mental health or substance abuse issues.

“Anderson Regional and Rush Foundation are our acute-care hospitals in Meridian, and both have greatly extended their

“The hospitals provide a number of on-site health education opportunities, as well as a variety of classes in convenient settings. Plus their staff members volunteer in many programs and activities throughout the community.”

wadE jONES , EMBDC PRESIDENT

services throughout the region with the acquisition and establishment of several medical clinics,” Jones says. “Those clinics help address immediate primary care needs in many small rural communities within about a 65-mile radius of Meridian, including nine counties in Mississippi and three in Alabama.”

advaNCEd aNd EFFECTivE

Jones adds that the area’s medical facilities also champion wellness for residents, especially important given increasing CDC statistics on obesity and reports about the associated quality of life

and economic impact.

“The hospitals provide a number of on-site health education opportunities, as well as a variety of classes in convenient settings. Plus, their staff members volunteer in many programs and activities throughout the community,” Jones says. “The health-care facilities are good neighbors and community supporters within East Mississippi, and the industry means so much to our overall economy. We are lucky to have an advanced, impactful health-care industry in Meridian and Lauderdale County.”

by Kevin Litwin

r ush Foundation Hospital in meridian is part of the Rush Health Systems network.

CoMMunity proFile

COST OF liviNg

$35,420

Median Household Income $85,200

Median Home Price $568

Median Rent for a Two-Bedroom Apartment

TraNSPOrTaTiON

Median Travel Time to Work

Invest and Rest

meRiDiaN BuSiNeSSeS PRoVe STReNGTH aND PRoFiTaBiliTY

Meridian, the “Strategic Center of the South” is a regional draw for jobs, retail, culture and health care for a 65-mile radius that covers not only Mississippi but also West Alabama.

Location, Transportation, Military

m eridian’s location gives residents and businesses easy access to interstates 20 and 59; uS Highways 11, 45 and 80; and State Highways 19, 39, 145 and 493; and the city has its own air transportation. Meridian regional airport offers daily flights to atlanta, Ga., and boards approximately 2,000 travelers a month. The airport is home to Key Field, the longest public-use runway in the state. key Field houses m ississippi a ir National Guard 186th a ir Refueling Wing and a rmy National Guard 185th army aviation Support Facility. The city’s largest employer is Meridian naval air station, with 3,300 workers.

Leading Industries

diSTriBuTiON aNd maNuFaCTuriNg COmPaNiES

mitchell d istributing , a familyowned distributor and wholesaler of Anheuser-Busch products, is headquartered in Meridian.

Southern Pipe and Supply Company also makes its home base here. The company is one of the nation’s largest private-independent wholesalers of plumbing, heating and air-conditioning materials.

van zyverden inc. ships hundreds of millions of bulbs to all states in the U.S. and Canada, making it one of the world’s largest wholesale flower bulb distributors.

Product manufacturing, a large contributor to the area’s business climate, includes manufacturers such as Peavey Electronics , a very dennison, Structural Steel Services i nc. , m agnolia Steel , l ockheed martin, atlas roofing and Southern Cast Products. Products range from adhesive products to steel.

Retail

mEridiaN ShOPPiNg

Bonita lakes mall, which houses more than 100 stores and four department stores, provides consumers with lots of shopping choices. Specialty shops, restaurants, eateries and a theater are located on site. meridian Crossroads, sits on 375,000 acres of space where approximately 30 businesses reside.

By Raven Petty

l earn more about m eridian’s business climate and workforce at livability.com/meridian/ ms/business

Business Spotlight

aTlaS rOOFiNg COrPOraTiON

Based in Meridian, where the company began in 1982, Atlas Roofing Corporation manufactures shingles, roof underlayments and insulation, and other materials for homeowners, contractors, builders and distributors. www.atlasroofing.com

dEaN airCraFT SErviCE

This aircraft maintenance and repair company has a 33,000-square-foot facility at the Meridian Regional Airport. Dean Aircraft’s mechanics have serviced Cessna 421, Cessna Citation 500 and Beechcraft King Air aircraft. www.deanaircraftservice.com

PiONEEr auTOmOTivE iNduSTriES llC

Headquartered in Meridian, Pioneer Automotive Industries LLC supplies customers with engine parts, filter kits, flywheels and flexplates, and other materials for vehicles of all makes and models. http://173.12.245.227/web

ThE SErviCE COmPaNy

Providing heating, air conditioning, electrical and plumbing assistance for residential and commercial customers, The Service Company is based in Meridian. Preventive maintenance programs are also available to keep systems running smoothly. www.the-service-company.com

idEal SOFT warE SOluTiONS iNC

Meridian-based Ideal Software Solutions Inc. supplies integrated hardware and software systems to the family entertainment industry, as well as to the check-cashing, payday advance, rent-to-own and title loan industries. www.idealss.com

A Place to Create & Thrive

meridian offers young entrepreneurs a great place to create and grow or start a business. courtney Taylor, co-owner of angel Court Jewels, moved back to the area after living in New York for 10 years.

hOmE No Place Like

M ISSISSIPPI yOu NG P ROFESSIONALS GROu P AIMS TO RETAIN yOu NG TALENT

Many people may be surprised to learn that Courtney Taylor began her career in fashion not by moving to New York from her hometown of Meridian, Miss., but by doing just the opposite.

Inspiring young Leaders

more than 250 young professionals attended the 2013 Mississippi young professionals summit in meridian to help “Rethink mississippi.”

After 10 years working for Delta Airlines in New York City, Taylor was ready to return to Meridian, and from there, her jewelrydesigning hobby has become a thriving business. Jewelry from Angel Court Jewels is sold in stores across the country and worn by celebrities and rock stars.

“One of the best educations a person can have is to move away from your roots for a period of time,” Taylor says. “It’s after that time away that you see how you connect with the place you are from and learn to appreciate it.”

grE aT yOuNg TalENT

That connection is something that Fredie Carmichael of the Mississippi Development Authority would like to see more of from young professionals such as Taylor. He heads up the Mississippi Young Professionals organization, which kicked off its first year with a summit at the MSU Riley Center in late April. More than 250 young professionals attended the 2013

event to learn about their home state’s career opportunities and to network.

“Our slogan for this summit was Rethink Mississippi,” says Carmichael, regional development manager for MDA. “We’ve got a lot of great young talent here, and too many times they leave the state because they don’t see the opportunities that are right here in front of them. We wanted to at least address the perception issue.”

“We feel like Mississippi has a lot to offer. For whatever reason, we have a lot of people from our state who want to look outside our border for careers, and we’re trying to change that so they’ll see all the innovation and creation that comes out of this state and why it’s important to stay here.”

imPaCT ON COmmuNiT y

Or in Taylor’s case, why it was important to return here. She and longtime friend Angela Burgess are business partners in Angel Court Jewels. Taylor designs the

jewelry in a downtown studio in Meridian and Burgess handles marketing from her home in Little Rock, Ark.

Not only does Taylor choose to live in Meridian because of the supportive network she enjoys with her family and friends nearby, she says the city also has been a good place from which to create.

“Living away from the fashion mecca keeps my creativity fresh and shields me from the influence of other designers,” says Taylor, a member of MSYP.

Keyes Kennard can attest to the benefits of MSYP and of staying in-state to launch a business. He was in his mid-20s when he borrowed money from the bank to purchase a mobile phone accessories kiosk in Bonita Lakes Mall, and just a few years later that business venture has led to the opening of five AT&T Mobile Solutions stores across the state.

Kennard, who is president of the company, believes the MSYP can help other young entrepreneurs.

“It’s something where you give your time, and the return may be hard to measure, but it’s a pretty big deal in my opinion. You’re able to see the impact you have on the community ”

“It’s been a good organization for me,” says Kennard, an MSYP board member who was one of the featured speakers at the kick-off summit. “It’s something where you give your time, and the return may be hard to measure, but it’s a pretty big deal in my opinion. You’re able to see the impact you have on the community.”

John

McBryde

and Nancy Mann Jackson by staff photographer Michael Conti

• New Construction

• Rehabilitation

• HDD

• Compressor and Meter Stations

• Inland Water Marine and Marsh

kE yES kENNard, aT&T moBile Solu TioNS

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digiTal magaziNE

l ala enterprises’ Holiday inn Meridian is one of the area’s newest hotels. The hospitality and restaurant group’s owner abdul l ala credits his company’s growth and success largely to the meridian area’s supportive business environment.

riGHt tiMe Right Place,

M ERIDIAN ECONOM y SPELLS S uCCESS FOR DETERMINED B u SINESS OWNER

When Abdul Lala immigrated to the United States in 1971 from his native India, he quickly settled into a career path.

But then he met a Meridian businessman who offered an opportunity, and soon everything was different.

Lala had studied engineering at Texas A&M University, earned two master’s degrees in chemical and petrochemical engineering, and made his way to Chicago, where he worked as a chemist.

“The company I worked for sold cosmetic and hair-care products for large cosmetics companies,” Lala recalls. “I met Charles Young, Sr., the owner of Young Manufacturing in Meridian, and he was having some problems with his products. His orders weren’t big enough to be processed right away, and he finally decided to find someone to help him make his own products in

his Mississippi facility. He offered me a position as a consultant, I came to Mississippi and we solved his problems. I had been looking at some other opportunities, but decided to give Meridian a try.”

hOSPiTaliT y iNduSTry wOrTh aN iNvESTmENT

Lala was doing fine in his new job, but his wife Farida “was bored, because she’d been working in Chicago, but hadn’t found anything here,” he says.

As entrepreneurial as her husband, Farida soon changed that situation.

“A friend offered her a part-time position in a small motel, and one evening when I returned from work, she began to tell me what a good business that was and how we should invest,” he says. “I told her I really didn’t think it was my kind of work, but she said it was too late, because she’d made a $5,000 deposit and signed an agreement.”

That was in 1981. And from a property that was “in pretty bad shape,” the Lalas have built a franchise business, Lala Enterprises, which now has hotel properties in Mississippi and surrounding states. The company

Kick Off your Shoes

m odern amenities and comforts encourage guests to relax and unwind at l ala enterprises’ Holiday inn Meridian, the newest of several area hotels owned by local entrepreneur and meridian advocate abdul l ala.

recently branched out into other areas, such as restaurants. And Lala says it’s all thanks to a business climate that not only supports, but also encourages, entrepreneurship.

mEridiaN EmBraCES STarTuP BuSiNESSES

“This community, the city and county governments, have been extremely supportive of us,” Lala says. “We had to work hard in the beginning to get established, but as we started growing, we developed good relationships with the banks and other vendors. We got our first loan approved in 1988, and ever since then we’ve kept growing. After a while, we stopped buying properties and began to build our own, which we could not have done without the business support that we’ve found here.”

Next up for Lala, who won the EMBDC’s 2012 Harvey D. Peavy Award for Entrepreneurial

Excellence, is more growth in the restaurant aspect of his business.

“We have three restaurants in our hotels, and almost two years ago, we opened a Buffalo Wild Wings that has done very well,” he says. “Now we are looking at an IHOP franchise, and of course, we’ll continue to build hotels.”

And as for Meridian, Lala says, “We wouldn’t take anything to leave this city. We have been able to build a business here, then diversify that business. This is home.”

by Joe Morris

by staff photographer Michael Conti

l earn more about what it’s like to do business in m eridian at livability.com/ meridian/ms/business.

Glover, YounG, Walton & SimmonS, pllc

Attorneys At L Aw

H. Wingfield Glover, Jr. Ralph E. Young, Jr. Ronnie L. Walton

H. Wingfield Glover, III

William W. Simmons

Stephen B. Jackson Reed C. Darsey

Post Office Drawer 5514 1724A 23rd Ave. Meridian, MS 39302-5514 (601) 693-1301 (601) 693-1363 Fax www.gloveryoung.com

Mon.-Fri.: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat.: 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

8000 Hwy. 45 N. Meridian, MS 39305 (601) 483-5858 www.meridianoutboard.com

Sea a rk Boats Qwest Pontoons Generac Generators

“We wouldn’t take anything to leave this city. We have been able to build a business here, then diversify that business. This is home.”

aBdul lala, RESIDENT & ENTREPRENEuR

snapsHot

and guests.

Five Locations to Serve You: Meridian, MS • Jackson, MS • Gulfport, MS Memphis, TN • Nashville, TN (800) 782-6651 • www.hnrsupply.com Suppliers/Designers to the Food Service

(x2)

www.sequelelectricalsupply.com

The Boat Repair Shop

Donnie Croley

Matthew Croley

kem’s restaurant inside Lala’s Holiday Inn serves American favorites to visitors

Ad Index

23 Alli A nce He A lt H c enter

c 2 Anderson r egion A l Medic A l c enter

21 At M os e nergy

19 d r. dA n H. s ingley d M d

17 eA st Mississippi

c o MM unity c ollege

32 eA st Mississippi e lectric p ower Associ Ation

31 g lover, young, wA lton & s i MM ons pllc

10 HolidAy i nn Meridi A n eA st

31 Hotel & r estAur A nt s upply

1 lAuderdA le c ounty touris M

20 Meridi A n c o MM unity c ollege

31 Meridi A n o utboA rd

10 Mississippi p ower

20 n ewell pA per

27 p rogressive p ipeline

c 4 r us H FoundAtion HospitA l

31 s equel e lectric A l s upply

10 tH e c itizens bA nk

19 wo MA n’s g roup o F Meridi A n pllc

Business Brewing

cHamBeR exPaNDS memBeR BeNeFiTS, FRom NeTWoRkiNG eVeNTS To WeBSiTe

The East Mississippi Business Development Corporation brews lots of coffee once a month to help its member businesses.

A 30-minute Morning Coffee Break takes place from 9-9:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month, so chamber members can meet the business community while enjoying a cup of coffee.

“A different business hosts the event each month, and it doesn’t cost anything for that business to serve as host. The EMBDC backs the program,” says Meredith Rea, public relations coordinator with the EMBDC. “About 90 percent of our 600 chamber members either own or are affiliated with small businesses that have 25 employees

or fewer, and the Morning Coffee Break allows the EMBDC to further help that chamber demographic with networking.”

Rea says all chamber members are invited to the monthly events.

“It’s an easy way for people from smaller businesses to network, and anyone new to the group gets a few minutes to introduce themselves to the crowd,” she says. “You’re probably going to have a morning cup of coffee or juice anyway –might as well network and perhaps attract some business during those 30 minutes once a month.”

mEmBErS-ONly

diSCOuNTS

EMBDC members also have access to exclusive discounts through deals from other chamber members.

“In this program, a member business must make their discount exclusive to other members – the discount can’t be available to the general public,” Rea says. “All our chamber members receive discount availability cards they can give to their employees, plus members can post all their discount deals through our EMBDC website.”

rEdESigNEd wEBSiTE

The EMBDC has redesigned www.embdc.org to make it easier for users. Members can now add available discounts to their account and register for chamber events.

“I know there are some people whose only quiet time during the day might be 9 o’clock at night, so they can sit down then and access the website to check everything that is worthy of their interest,” Rea says. “Leading Edges in Meridian performed our website upgrade, and the EMBDC was very detailed in what we wanted. It’s a really nice, user-friendly site.”

by Kevin Litwin

eConoMiC proFile

TaxES

Total Sales Tax (State)

Exempt: prescriptions, motor fuel, home utilities, newspapers, health care services, payments by Medicare and Medicaid

3%-4%-5%

State Income Tax

High School Graduate Only, or with Associate Degree Bachelor’s Degree or Higher Other

$1.3b

Annual Retail Sales

$136M Annual Hotel and Food Sales

6,323

Total Number of Firms

Alliance Health Center www.alliancehealthcenter.com

Anderson Regional Medical Center www.jarmc.org

Atmos Energy www.atmosenergy.com

Dr. Dan H. Singley DMD www.singleydr.com

East Mississippi Community College www.eastms.edu

East Mississippi Electric Power Association www.emepa.com

The first $5,000 of taxable income: 3%; $5,001 to $9,999: 4%; $10,000 +: 5%

$100,000+

$30,000-99,000

Naval Air Station Meridian, Peavey Electronics Corp., Rush Hospital, East Mississippi State Hospital

Meridian Public School System, Lauderdale County Public Schools Avery Dennison, City of Meridian, Air National Guard

$29,999 and under

Holiday Inn Meridian East www.lalaenterprises.com

Hotel & Restaurant Supply www.hnrsupply.com

Lauderdale County Tourism www.visitmeridian.com

Meridian Community College www.mcc.cc.ms.us

Meridian Outboard www.meridianoutboard.com

Mississippi Power www.mississippipower.com

Newell Paper www.newellpaper.com

Progressive Pipeline www.progpl.com

Rush Foundation Hospital www.rushhealthsystem.org

Sequel Electrical Supply www.sequelelectricalsupply.com

The Citizens Bank www.thecitizensbankphila.com

Woman’s Group of Meridian PLLC www.womansgroup.net