By Staff
Dec. 26, 2000
Lt. Gov. Amy Tuck will lead a delegation to Meridian on Feb. 19 in hopes of gathering information that may encourage the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurship. The Meridian Star salutes the lieutenant governor's commitment to helping east Mississippi's businesses reach their potential as full partners in the state's economic progress.
Tuck announced last week she would bring other state officials and representatives of private business here as part of an "Entrepreneurship Tour" cosponsored by the Mississippi Economic Council. The Meridian meeting is scheduled at Union Station, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m.
Her hope is that information gathered on this tour may led to a statewide conference in fall 2001 identifying issues and opportunities for the Legislature to consider, and that such consideration may lead to legislative action.
With so many pressures on small business  taxes and regulations among them it is important to recognize that 97.5 percent of Mississippi's non-government, non-farm businesses have fewer than 100 employees. A spokesman for Tuck said the lieutenant governor wanted to include Meridian and east Mississippi in her tour because she believes the area is primed for progress. She is scheduled to visit six cities across the state.
Such high level attention to the needs of east Mississippi can only serve to help in the area's economic development activities. We look forward to having Lt. Gov. Tuck back in Meridian.