Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mississippi Power outlines commercial development incentives for Quitman; board to pursue follow‑up
Summary
Mississippi Power presented a five‑pillar commercial development program that includes lease reimbursement (presenter cited 50% up to $50,000), building and mixed‑use grants (presenter referenced up to $100,000 for mixed‑use in one example), franchise fee reimbursements, energy rebates, and market‑analysis support; the company offered follow‑up technical assistance.
A representative of Mississippi Power presented the utility company’s commercial development investment program designed to help downtown business recruitment and redevelopment. The program was described as having five pillars: a tenant/lease reimbursement (presenter cited reimbursing 50% of a qualifying tenant’s lease, with a cap mentioned at $50,000), building‑improvement grants, mixed‑use development support (presenter referenced an amount that could be "up to $100,000" in some cases), franchise‑development reimbursement (50% of franchise fee up to $50,000), and energy‑efficiency rebates (presenter cited a cap in the neighborhood of $30,000).
The presenter (introduced in the packet as "Mr. Mika Derwe, Mississippi Power commercial project development manager" and who then identified herself in remarks as "Tika Rally") explained the utility also offers a Small Business Redevelopment (SVR) rate (15% off base power for qualifying tenants in vacant spaces), free market‑analysis services, feasibility‑study assistance for larger projects and help packaging sites for retail recruiting. Board members asked whether incentives can be stacked; the presenter said many incentives can be combined depending on program rules and suggested Mississippi Power staff would follow up to tailor support to Quitman’s zoning and housing needs.
Board members expressed interest in follow‑up, especially in light of anticipated job growth referenced during the meeting; the presenter invited further meetings and a site tour to identify eligible projects and potential financing stacks.
