1906 – The Commercial Club Of Columbia is Formed
1917 – The Training School 1917 – The Training School
1922, October 9 – The Chamber Of Commerce
1932 – Reliance Manufacturing Company
1952 – Balance Agriculture With Industry
1968 – Improve, Promote and Develop
2004 – Marion County Development Partnership.
Today

1906 – The Commercial Club Of Columbia is Formed

This organization worked on behalf of the economic and community development in business and industry in the early years of the 20th Century and began the history of the Marion County Development Partnership as the second-oldest such organization in the state

1917 – The Training School

The Commercial Club of Columbia donates 3000 acres and $50,000 to the State of Mississippi for the development of the “Mississippi Industrial Training School,” which later became known as the Columbia Training School.

1922, October 9 – The Chamber Of Commerce

The Commercial Club becomes the Marion County Chamber of Commerce.

1932 – Reliance Manufacturing Company

Columbia Mayor Hugh White and the Chamber of Commerce lead the citizens of Columbia to invest money to build a factory for Reliance Manufacturing Company.  This action was so successful, increasing sales tax revenues in Columbia by 26% while they were falling by 32% in the rest of the state, that Mississippi adopted “The Columbia Plan,” attracting multiple industrial projects to the state during The Great Depression. Reliance Manufacturing became today’s Pioneer Aerospace, Mississippi’s first aerospace company, still providing hundreds of jobs for Marion County.

1952 – Balance Agriculture With Industry

Hugh White is now Governor of Mississippi and implements a version of The Columbia Plan as his program “Balance Agriculture With Industry,” known as B.A.W.I.  Columbia leads the State in the use of the program to build the first B.A.W.I. plant, New Orleans Furniture. This program was the precursor to today’s Industrial Revenue Bond program, used nationally to incentivize industrial development

1968 – Improve, Promote and Develop

Marion County formed its Economic Development District to “improve, promote and develop” the county’s economy. The Marion County Chamber of Commerce donates land for the development of the Columbia Water Park, working actively in community development.

2004 – Marion County Development Partnership.

The Marion County Chamber of Commerce and the Economic Development District merge to become the Marion County Development Partnership.

Today

The Marion County Development Partnership strives toward its mission of providing a framework within which public and private resources can be utilized effectively to promote community and economic development in Marion County. MCDP works to create opportunities in Marion County through the development of its resources so businesses can thrive and residents and visitors alike can enjoy a great quality of life.

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412 Courthouse Square  |  P. O. Box 272  |  Columbia, MS 39429  |  P: 601.736.6385  |  F: 601.736.6392

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