Mississippi HR 130: City of Greenwood and Leflore County; commend 70th anniversary of the economic development partnership.

Bill Text

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To: Rules
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representative Shanks

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 130

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CELEBRATING THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY 1
OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY OF 2
GREENWOOD AND LEFLORE COUNTY THAT LED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE 3
GREENWOOD-LEFLORE INDUSTRIAL BOARD. 4
WHEREAS, on March 31, 1956, the Mississippi Legislature 5
approved House Bill 963, authorizing "the board of supervisors of 6
Leflore County and the governing authorities of the City of 7
Greenwood to employ and pay the salary of an industrial engineer 8
or similar expert for advertising purposes, in which they may act 9
separately or jointly," thereby laying the legislative foundation 10
for coordinated economic development efforts in Greenwood and 11
Leflore County; and 12
WHEREAS, this legislative action led to the establishment of 13
the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Board, one of the oldest public 14
economic development organizations in the State of Mississippi, 15
created to promote industrial growth, job creation, and investment 16
in the region; and 17
WHEREAS, over the past seventy years, the partnership between 18
the City of Greenwood and Leflore County has fostered sustained 19

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economic growth and diversification, resulting in the successful 20
recruitment and expansion of manufacturing and industry, including 21
AerCap Materials, America's Catch, Baldwin Piano, Balkamp, Coburn 22
Supply, Conmar, Ferguson Machine Tools, Hickok-Waekon, Heartland 23
Catfish, Hydra Tool, Irvin Industries, John-Richard, Milwaukee 24
Tools, National Picture Frame, Saylor Wheel, Staplcotn, Takata, 25
Upchurch Services, Viking Range, Wurlitzer, and other prominent 26
employers; and 27
WHEREAS, the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Board, comprised of 28
seven members appointed to oversee development within the 29
2,200-acre Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park located at the 30
intersection of Highway 82 West and Highway 49 South in Greenwood, 31
continues to serve as a central driver of regional economic 32
activity and job creation; and 33
WHEREAS, the organization's scope was further expanded in 34
1980, with the creation of a 501(c)(6) non-profit entity, the 35
Greenwood-Leflore Economic Development Foundation, Inc., enabling 36
broad-based membership, private fundraising, and enhanced capacity 37
to pursue economic development initiatives; and 38
WHEREAS, in 1990, the Foundation formally changed its name to 39
the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation, 40
Inc., reflecting its expanded service area to include Carroll 41
County and demonstrating an ongoing commitment to regional 42
partnership and prosperity; and 43

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WHEREAS, today the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic 44
Development Foundation is governed by a 27-member board of 45
directors, with a seven member Executive Committee, providing 46
strategic leadership to advance economic opportunity and 47
industrial recruitment initiatives across the region; and 48
WHEREAS, in 2025, the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic 49
Development Foundation formalized a partnership with Carroll 50
County, designating the foundation as the official economic 51
development partner for Carroll County, further strengthening 52
regional cooperation; and 53
WHEREAS, in 2026, the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Board and 54
the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation 55
launched a master planning effort to guide future development of 56
the Greenwood-Leflore Industrial Park, reinforcing the community's 57
long-term vision for growth, infrastructure, and economic 58
resilience: 59
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF 60
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby 61
commend and celebrate the 70th anniversary of the economic 62
development partnership between the City of Greenwood and Leflore 63
County that led to the establishment of the Greenwood-Leflore 64
Industrial Board, recognize the enduring legacy of cooperation and 65
innovation that has produced decades of job creation, investment, 66
and community prosperity, and extend our sincere appreciation to 67

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ST: City of Greenwood and Leflore County;
commend 70th anniversary of the economic
development partnership.
all those public and private leaders who have contributed to this 68
success over the course of seven decades. 69
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Legislature of the State of 70
Mississippi expresses its gratitude to the Greenwood-Leflore 71
Industrial Board and the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic 72
Development Foundation, Inc., its board members, executive 73
leadership, staff, business partners, and community stakeholders 74
for their steadfa