Page 28 - South Mississippi Living - January, 2018

PEOPLE diversify and grow
ONE PLAN. ONE VOICE. ONE FUTURE. Business owners join legislators to present united Coast plan
story courtesy of Hancock Chamber of Commerce
During the Annual Meeting of the Hancock Chamber of Commerce and Hancock Community Development Foundation, members of the business community will meet face to face with elected officials to learn how issues that directly affect their businesses are being addressed.
The breakfast meeting will be January 26 at Diamondhead Country Club.
“The annual meeting
of the Chamber is an
opportunity to come
together to celebrate
our accomplishments,
focus on our priorities
and tackle the issues
affecting business and our quality of life,” said Tish Williams, executive director of the Chamber.
Results from the recent Gulf Coast Business Council survey confirm what many business owners already know, the Coast economy is average and nearing baseline. Business owners have expressed genuine concerns about the future of tourism in Hancock County and across the Coast. They want to work with government to look at the best short-term and long term opportunities to affect the Coast economy and ensure
funds from the Gulf Oil spill are spent on Coast projects.
Chambers across the Coast are joining with the Gulf Coast Business Council and Coast legislators to work toward a solution regarding the BP settlement funds. During the 2018
legislative session, they will meet with state leaders to present one united plan the business community can rally around.
Growing a reliable, skilled workforce surfaced as the number one issue when the Chamber joined the Hancock County Port
and Harbor Commission to launch
a business retention and expansion program. A workforce committee has been formed to become an ACT certified work ready community. Sign up at https://www.workreadycommunities.org/ business/form.
The Hancock Chamber has also been working with city and county government to devise plans and funding mechanisms to give the cities the economic development tools and resources they need to diversify and grow the economy.
28 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • January 2018
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UPCOMING JANUARY EVENTS
JANUARY 10
Coast Annual Legislative Reception Jackson Trade Mart, 5:30 p.m.
JANUARY 11
Coast Capital Day in Jackson 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
JANUARY 13
Krewe of Pupseidon All Canine Mardi Gras Parade, 1 p.m., Diamondhead Country Club; and Second Saturday, Old Town Bay St. Louis
JANUARY 18
Hancock Chamber Business After Hours Prestige Fitness, Diamondhead
JANUARY 19
Hancock Chamber Greenways & By-ways Meeting at unabridged Architecture, 8:30 a.m., Bay St. Louis
JANUARY 25
Bay St. Louis Rotary Chili Cook-off co-sponsored by the Hancock Chamber Bay St. Louis Community Hall
JANUARY 26
7:30 a.m., Hancock Chamber Annual Meeting, Diamondhead Country Club