Partners for Pearl River County met Monday night, at their regular board meeting, and was honored to have Senator Angela Burks Hill as their speaker.

Senator Hill addressed ideas and legislative bills that could promote an integrated approach to leadership for developing a stronger community. She mentioned bills that were passed last term, such as the bill that phases out inventory tax, a tax that no neighboring state has and made Miss. appear less business friendly to potential industry relocators.

Hill also addressed the caliber of people who are county residents, specifically mentioning the late Roy Estes and the late Glade Woods, who founded Partners for Pearl River County.

“We have capable people in this county and I would be proud to introduce anyone in this room to someone who would be a decision maker in industry relocation,” said Hill.

Recently, Senator Tony Smith shared ideas and concepts with the board concerning education and its effects on growth in the region.

Partners, a not for profit, is organized to plan, encourage, and facilitate the economic growth and development of Pearl River County and the adjacent region.

Partners encourages the growth of existing businesses while providing proper assistance to any new firm or individual seeking to locate in the area. Partners strives to stay informed from local government to state government and its effects on the development in Pearl River County.

Board member Darlene Adams stated, “Partners needs to be utilized by both county and city officials for the future of economic development in our area. As a nonprofit organization, there are many ways we can assist them.

“I was at a local meeting where the suggestion was made that there should be a consortium of community leaders to work with government on economic development, not knowing that there has been one for many years. I am pleased to hear that Senator Hill, as well as Senator Smith at last month’s meeting, believe that Partners is relevant and are willing to work with this organization.

“We are at an opportune time when both the City of Picayune and the City of Poplarville are working well together with our Board of Supervisors. Mutually, with Partners, perhaps our marketing strategy could be ‘Invest in Pearl River County; we work together for the betterment of Mississippi.’” Partners also sponsors a leadership program for Pearl River County, which was awarded the prestigious American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) designation, New Orleans chapter for its content and design qualities.

The program, Partners in Leadership, is a ten month training program designed to teach Pearl River County leaders and residents the particulars of local and county government, county economic development, health and human services, history and arts, environment, education and contemporary leadership techniques. This course will acquaint students with needs, opportunities and demographic information about the county. Students are matched to worthwhile community projects where they will apply their skills and talents to some of the most pressing initiatives facing our County. The class has been attended by some of the most dedicated leaders in the county. For more information on Partners or the Leadership class please visit the website at www.partners.ms.