Establishment of an economic development organization to boost Pearl River County is underway.

According to previous coverage, in May the Pearl River County Board of Supervisors appointed five members to Board that will serve for this organization.

Vice President Hudson Holliday said he believes the paperwork required to establish the organization has been completed and is being reviewed by Board Attorney Joe Montgomery.

Holliday said the Board is working to establish a budget to sustain the organization.

“I don’t want to start the organization without the proper funding,” Holliday said.

He said the county has budgeted $150,000 to establish it.

Additionally, the city of Poplarville has offered $15,000 to support the project and the Board hopes to receive contributions from the city of Picayune.

He said the Board expects the organization to require a total operational cost of $250,000.

Holliday said once they secure funding the Board will advertise to hire the Council’s executive director. The candidate to serve in that capacity would be required to show a proven track record of success in economic development, he said.

It will be the goal of the executive director try to promote Pearl River County as a place to locate a business or industry, while also helping established businesses, Holliday said.

The Board’s current goal is to secure adequate funding so the organization does not fail because if it does fail Holliday said it would take another 10 years before it could be re-established.