Hattiesburg American from Hattiesburg, Mississippi • 4

4A Friday, May 3, 2002 From Page One HATTIESBURG AMERICAN State opens World Trade Center war Products leaving the state in 1 iii um "ul jmiimii 11.11,11 .,,1,1, ,11 1 im mm fiifl Of) A l.i j- r-- i i-" -v. v-, f. tablishing a World Trade Center was part of his Advantage Mississippi economic development initiative, which includes tax breaks, employee training, technology improvements and other measures to lure better-paying jobs to the state. "This center brings global attention to our state and announces to the world our commitment to international economic development," said Musgrove, who revealed Thursday he'll travel to Japan next week to meet with existing and prospective investors. Musgrove's trip to Asia will be his third in six months.

He traveled to South Korea in December and February in the state's failed attempt to attract Hyundai Motor which chose Alabama for its $1 billion auto plant. The governor said Mississippi's exports topped $3.5 billion last JACKSON (AP) Mississippi opened its World Trade Center on Thursday, the first such organization launched in the United States since Sept. 11. "This is a great statement," said Herbert Ouida, executive vice president of the World Trade Centers Association in New York. "You brought Nissan here, and that was a big plus for the state.

Now you're saying, "We're going beyond Nissan. We're serious about international business. Ouida was referring to Nissan Motor $930 million auto assembly plant under construction and scheduled to open next year in Madison County, just north of Jackson. State officials say the idea behind the new trade center is to help businesses large and small take part in global commerce. Gov.

Ronnie Musgrove said es cluded cotton, paper, plastics and ships built at yards on the Gulf Coast. The Mississippi World Trade Center, which has its offices on the second floor of the Landmark Center in downtown Jackson, will coordinate international programs and services as part of a public-private partnership. The partnership includes the Mississippi Development Authority, the U.S. Department of Commerce, colleges and universities and BellSouth, which donated the office space. The state has pledged $100,000 for the next three years to support the center.

The goal, said executive director Barbara Travis, is to become self-sufficient by that time through membership fees and money generated from seminars, workshops and other services. Bryant may get board nomination cation from William Carey College. "I can bring a future to the board," he said. "I'm interested in our children, and our children are our future." He has no agenda or platform, he said, just "what's in the best inter est of the children of the Hattiesburg Public Schools." Councilwoman Betsy Rowell "in ft is A said DuPree FROM page 1A against Wilson has ended any possibility of another vote. "I have been lobbying for him," DuPree said.

think the council has made it very apparent though, that they are not going to change their vote. We do have to at some point move forward. So we are in the process of determining where we are going." If selected, Bryant would replace outgoing school board member Gladys Jackson. Councilmembers who voted against Wilson said they based their opposition on the fact that Wilson had only lived in Hattiesburg for four years and doesn't pay property taxes because his church, Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church, provides him with a house. Those who supported Wilson cited his close work with city schools.

Bryant, 44, is a Hattiesburg native and has been a State Farm Insurance agent for more than 12 years. He said DuPree approached him about the position. "(My wife and I) discussed it and prayed about it and if the council feels that I am worthy of the position then I would be willing to serve," Bryant said. "I thought that Carlos was an excellent candidate; however, I understand the council's position on his tenure in Hattiesburg and the property taxes." Wilson couldn't be reached for comment Thursday. Bryant currently serves on the Area Development Partnership's executive board of directors, the University of Southern Mississippi Foundation's executive board of directors, the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club advisory committee and the Hattiesburg-Forrest County Industrial Park Commission.

He graduated from Hattiesburg High School in 1975 and received a bachelors degree in business edu trying to set up times for the council to meet I .3 Rowell with Bryant. "I want to be able to have a chance to sit down and talk with him," Rowell said. "We were not given that opportunity with the other candidate the mayor presented." She said she looks forward To meeting and hearing his ideas on the school system. Businessman buys Albertsons for SIM 1 The Leadership Jones County Class of 2002 Howard Technology Park Beatification Project Team would like to Thank the following contributors: Howard Industries Bancorp South Coca-Cola Bottling Co Reeder, Street Thames Headrick Company Home Nursery Kenny Flowers Construction Laurel-Leader Call Howse Implement Co Parra Sales, Inc. Walters Construction Hodge Walley Forestry Consultants, Inc.

Trustmark National Bank JIC Trading Bank of Jones County Community Bank Timberline Forest Products Stover Smith Electrical Supply WDAM TV Hattiesburg American Hobert-Walters, Inc. Advanced Marketing Concepts South Central Regional Medical Center Andy Dial-Beat IV Supervisor Robert Smith Beat IV Foreman Michele Keen Endom Trailer Chris Welch 1 FROM page 1A Albertsons to Hattiesburg, wants to move quickly to help make a deal on the property. "Being so familiar with Cloverleaf (Center) and being here on site, I think we can help him either move the property or lease it," Floyd said. Floyd expected the property to sell Thursday for a higher price, but having a tenant ready to buy or lease the property was an obstacle given the nation's shaky economy. "Most of these people who were here were people who would be landlords or owners, not users," Floyd said.

"I think that's kind of the drawback we've had not having a tenant in hand. If we had a fairly good prospect that we thought we could move fairly quickly we would have possibly hive bid on it." The Hattiesburg Albertsons store opened in 1999. Last year it was one of 165 stores closed in Albertsons' chain of 2,500 stores. The proximity of one of Hattiesburg's Wal-Mart SuperCenters across U.S. 49 South from the old Albertsons store might be another deterrent to bringing in a new tenant who could not compete with it But Floyd feels differently.

"I think there's retailers all over the nation that would love to be in the vicinity of a Wal-Mart, just because of the draw and using Wal-Mart as an anchor for an area," Floyd said. "I don't think it's going to be a drawback at alL I think it adds a lot of credibility to the area." Of the 77 Albertsons locations being auctioned by Higgenbottyim's firm, he said the Hattiesburg facility is the newest store to be put on the auction block. He said $5 million is the most any of the stores he's auctioned have brought so far. In other Cloverleaf Center news: Floyd said that he will be making an announcement within the next two weeks about a new retailer coming to the Cloverleaf Center that would occupy the space of Jo-Ann's Fabrics and Crafts which will close May 25. "We start construction on the new tenant next week and we hope to IS BARRY BEARD Hattiesburg AMERICAN Marty Higgenbotnam explains the; rules and conditions before an auction of the Albertsons building Thursday.

Ray Sims won the auc' ton with a bid of $1 million. have them open by Jury 1," Floyd said. Kevin Walters can be reached by tete phone at (601 584-31 1 8 or by e-maM at kevinftpamerican.net. day forecast Today Mostly cloudy ...8371 Sunday Sun moon phases Sunset today New moon VI? Partly Cloudy p.m. Rrst quartet 519 Sunrise tomorrow Full moon 52S 8868 i 5:09 a.m.

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