Entergy Mississippi is awarding eight economic development organizations, including Jefferson Davis County, with grants that will help boost their marketing, strategic planning, and site readiness goals through the Excellerator Competitive Communities program.

The grant will be used for updating the website, graphic design and marketing materials for branding Jefferson Davis County as The Garden Spot of the Earth and also for brochures and marketing materials for Bassfield,  Prentiss, Jeff Davis Lake, The Longleaf Trace and Prentiss Institute.

“I am grateful for the interest Entergy has shown in helping move the county forward,” said Jefferson Davis County Economic Development Director Gary Bass. “Utility companies have a vested interest in economic development and growth. Chris Hinton of Entergy has been a great support to the JDC Economic Development District.”

The program, now in its seventh year, helps county economic development organizations within Entergy’s service area draw in companies looking to expand or locate new facilities in their communities. This year, the power company is awarding $60,000 in grants, bringing the program’s lifetime contribution to $539,000 across 20 counties.

“This grant program allows Entergy to contribute to our communities and enhance their competitive advantage,” said Ed Gardner, Entergy Mississippi director of business and economic development. “Our economic development team works with communities year-round to help prepare them for growth, and this program provides actual resources to help them attract new or expanding businesses.”

The 2023 grantees will use the funds to support online marketing, visual content production, strategic-planning, and site readiness assessments to attract industrial growth. Along with Jefferson Davis County, this year’s grant recipients are:

Claiborne County Economic Development District, Pike County economic Development District, Rankin First Economic Development Authority, Port of Rosedale, Vicksburg-Warren Partnership, Hinds County Economic Development Authority and Tate County Economic Development Foundation.

“The success of a community is dependent on the health of its economic development organization, and we’re excited to see these communities grow as a result of the projects we’re supporting,” said Gardner. “We’re proud that throughout our 100-year history, we’ve helped advance economic development, starting with our Helping Hands Initiative—the state’s oldest private economic development program—and continuing with the Excellerator Competitive Communities program.”

Learn more about Entergy Mississippi’s economic development efforts at www.goentergy.com/our-region/mississippi/.