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Reports on the rebuilding efforts of Mississippi Power Co. after the occurrence of Hurricane Katrina. Efforts to survey damages; Number of transformers out of service; Impact of the location of the transformer manufacturing plant Howard Industries in the rebuilding efforts of the company.

Reports on the number of additional employees to be hired for the transformer plant of Howard Industries. Howard Industries' expansion into six diverse divisions; Need to meet the demands of customers; Supply of transformers at an accelerated rate.

Looks at the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the economy and business community in the city of Petal, Mississippi. Damages to downtown properties; Impact on development projects in the city; Business owners' concern over construction delays and funding.

Reports on the expansion of the service industry in Mississippi. Improvement of non-agricultural employment; Average annual salary of the group; Identification of manufacturing, transportation and public utilities as the leading employment sector.

Presents the corporate profile of USA Yeast, a yeast-producing plant in Mississippi. Business operation; Year established; Customer service. INSET: Way back when.

Reports on the acquisition of several properties on which the airport parkway project will be built in Mississippi. Need for additional federal and state funding in order for the project to begin; Cost of the acquisition in Jackson, Flowood and Pearl; List of the engineering firms selected for the project.

Focuses on the speculation about the impact of the commencement of the construction of the Turtle Creek Crossing retail development in the celebration of the 10th anniversary of its competing retail center, the Turtle Creek Mall, in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Optimism of the mall officials on Turtle Creek Mall, about the changes they encountered now that the competition is tough; Other current changes that were encountered by the mall officials; Construction of Turtle Creek Crossing as power strip center, which is the trend with new shopping centers in the southern states.

Features the Central Sunbelt Federal Credit Union in Laurel, Mississippi. Total asset of the credit union; Comments of Riley B. Wynne, chief executive officer, on the growth of the credit union.

The article reports that the 36th-annual Mississippi Oilmen's Invitational Golf Tournament takes place on May 13-14, 2005 at Dixie Golf Club. According to Bill Bryan, an account manager with Hughes Christensen and chairman of the committee organizing the event reported that there are companies that have never drilled in the state that are now considering drilling there. Bryan opined that the only problem with the upswing in production is a shortage of drilling rigs because when things were slow, they were moved to other areas.

The article reports on the business growth of Fenceworks Inc. After Fenceworks Inc. has introduced its ClinchFence process in 2004, its sales last year reached 900,000 dollars, according to its vice president Steve Strickland. Strickland indicated that sales of the ClinchFence system are not just in the Southeast Mississippi but have "spread out all over." The ClinchFence introduces a new fastening system that dramatically reduces labor costs and installation time. The patented system eliminates exposed fasteners and the need for on-site welding, making installation a "breeze" and "much less expensive."

Reports on the construction of the Victorian-era Grand Opera House in Meridian, Mississippi. Involvement of Mississippi State University in the project; Financial terms of the renovation project; Terms of the redevelopment project.

The article focuses on the growth of constructions in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Hattiesburg construction showed an increase of more than US dollar 50 million in 2004 in an explosion of growth that was called "astronomical". The latest available figures indicate that the 2003 cost of construction in Hattiesburg, US dollar 45 million had soared to US dollar 95 million in 2004. One of the largest projects started in 2004 was the Turtle Creek Crossing retail center in the Lamar County part of the city. In what has been called Hattiesburg's most significant commercial development in a decade, the US dollar 39.8 million center will feature such national retailers as Target, Old Navy, PetsMart, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Starbucks.

This article repots that with the opening of the BioDerm Sciences Inc. headquarters and manufacturing facilities in the new Oxford Enterprise Center this past October, officials hope that the momentum has been created for the development of a pharmaceutical cluster in North Mississippi, with Oxford as its hub. BioDerm is located in the new Oxford Enterprise Center, a city-owned site for start-up companies. It will occupy some 12,000 square feet for its U.S. headquarters and manufacturing facility and its expected to provide 55 high-paying jobs.

The article reports on the trend toward buying artificial trees for Christmas that has been going on for years. But now, growers and sellers of natural trees have gone on the offensive. Another aspect of the offensive is that more and more Christmas tree growers and sellers are turning to the Internet. Many customers still want the traditional tree-buying experience, but they also want the convenience of Internet shopping, so they research the best place to get a tree before they go out to buy one.

Reports on the expansion of South Central Regional Medical Center in Mississippi. Purchase of additional building intended for its business operations; Negotiations initiated for a loan package to be used for improvements and expansion of new services; Launch of the new Laurel Surgery and Endoscopy Center.

Reports on the explosion of residential housing construction in Lamar County, Mississippi. Number of new developments projected for the year 2004; Total lots contained in the developments; Identification of subdivision projects in various stage of developments.

Reports on the decision of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to sell blueberries in its stores from Mississippi. Shipment of cases of blueberries to the stores; Growth in the production of blueberries in the state; Prediction for an increase of production of blueberries in the state.

Reports on the annexation of land by the city of Ellisville, Mississippi in order to develop the area into industrial and technology centers. 40% increase in the city's size; Companies that have located in Ellisville including Hudson's Inc. and Max Robertson Construction; Planned use of annexed land for industrial, technical and institutional purposes.

Reports on the celebration of Laurel Machine & Foundry Co.'s 100th anniversary in Laurel, Mississippi. Changes in the company; Number of employees; Customers; Products and services; Achievements; Future plans.

Reports on the operations and services offered through the Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based EValueville over the electronic business service, eBay. Auctions; Business strategies; Advertising and merchandising.

Reports on the opening of branch banks in Laurel, Mississippi. Trustmark; Bank of Jones County; First National Bank of the Pine Belt.

Features the Tech Park South (TPS) industrial Park in southeast Mississippi. Major tenants of TPS; Construction of the Howard Electric Substation Transformer Plant; Infusion of aesthetics in the conception, planning, and construction of TPS; Advantages offered by setting up operations in the park.

Focuses on the security standards for private guards in Mississippi. Problem with nation's private security guards; Rating given by the Service Employees International to Mississippi's security standards for private guards; Ways to improve the quality of guards.

Reports on the business of The Merchants Co. in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Sales volume of the food service distributor; Organizational structure of the private company; Range of product and service offerings.

Reports on the performance of oil business in Mississippi. Oil prices; Importance of the oil production to the economy; Leading oil producing counties in the state; Oil and gas revenue; Total number of employees in the oil services business.

The article reports on the evacuation of the people from the Gulf Coast and New Orleans to Hattiesburg, Mississippi due to hurricane Katrina. Due to the evacuation of the people, hotels occupancy rate in the place increases. The sales of clothing decreases. The Hattiesburg infrastructure remains intact after the hurricane. The number of patients at Wesley Medical Center increases.

The article discusses the growth of Bay Springs, Mississippi-based Magnolia State Bank (MSB). MSB has assets of $154 million, total loans of $72 million and employs 46 people. According to president, CEO and chairman of the board Thomas Brown, there are several factors for the bank's continued vitality in its competition with larger banks. These include continuity and consistency in mission, the ownership has remained unchanged, low rate of employee turnover and customer service.

The article reports that South Central Regional Medical Center (SCRMC), which overcame damage and serious shortages to remain functioning during Hurricane Katrina, is continuing with its expansion and renovation plans by opening South Central Place, a 43,000-square-foot community health entity and service center in the U.S. The facility, located in a former Wal-Mart store, will house SCRMC's home health and hospice divisions, patient accounts, accounting, community health education meeting rooms and other medical service functions.

Focuses on the business operations of Laurel, Mississippi-based Signature Coffee House. Offer of espresso, cappuccino, flavored coffee drinks, soups, wraps and salads; Description of the shop's interior design; Dishes included in the menu.

Reports that operator of convenience stores and fast food outlets and provider of fuel distribution services, RAMCO Inc. will consolidate its operations in the Deep South Industrial Park in Purvis, Mississippi. Plans to open a facility before the end of 2005; Renovation of two former buildings of Deep South Trucking Co.; Total number of storage tanks to be installed at the facility.

Profiles Dr. Samir Husni, chairman of the Department of Journalism at the University of Mississippi and president and chief executive officer of Magazine Consulting & Research. Specialization of the company in magazine launches, the repositioning of established magazines and packaging publications for improved presentations and sales; Success of the publication of small, niche magazines in the 21st century according to Husni; Appeal of magazines that cannot be matched by media; Start of Husni's involvement with magazines.

Reports on the retention of the headquarters of Sanderson Farms in Laurel, Mississippi. Lack of objections to the company's request to annex the general offices facility; Use of the facility for corporate meetings and training sessions; Expansion, remodeling and updating of the existing building; Growth of the company in poultry production.

Discusses the marriage of art and economic development in the North Mississippi college town of Oxford. Exhibition by two painters; Economic conference; Local support of the arts.

Discusses the expansion of the restaurant Doe's Eat Place via franchising in the United States. Food specialties; Quality control; History of the company.

Features Jackson, Mississippi-based Tompkins Barron PLC. Company history and ownership; Products and services offered by the company.

Reports on the progress of the construction of the Trent Lott National Center for Excellence in Economic Development and Entrepreneurship on the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Expectation for the building to be completed on time; Description of the design of the building; Area of the building when completed.

Focuses on a building program at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Cost of the proposed Student Life Center and conversion of the area to the west into a pedestrian mall; Renovation of the former power plant into an upscale restaurant; Plan of replacing a pedestrian walkway.

Presents a corporate profile for Philips Contracting Inc., a family-owned construction firm, in Columbus, Mississippi. Company background; Number of employees; Amount of money generated from the company; Services offered by the company; Advantages of working with family; Current projects of the firm.

Presents a corporate profile of Cybergate Inc., Mississippi-based Internet company. Corporate history; Executive management; Product and services; Management scheme; Competitive advantage.

Reports on the competitive corporate tax rate and abatements in Mississippi. Attraction of new business enterprises; Assessment of the state business tax climate index; Emphasis of the extensive array of incentives offered by Advantage Mississippi; Stimulation of economic growth and prosperity. INSET: Tax Credits & Abatements.

Profiles Barbara Logue, a senior demographer in Mississippi. Career history of Logue; Educational background; Interest in demographic work; Discussion of the importance of births and what is to be expected in the future; Determination of population growth; Disclosure of the occurrence of brain drain in the state.

Reports on the low cost of living and housing in Mississippi. Assessment of the advantages of living in a state with one of the lowest per capita incomes in the country; Increase in the number of retirees residing in the state; Reduction of taxes; Comparison of salaries and housing prices.

Reports on the opposition of Mississippi state authorities on the plan of the federal government to privatize Amtrak, the only state-owned passenger rail line in the U.S. Decision of the administration of President George W. Bush to delete Amtrak's operating subsidy in the 2006 budget; Struggle of mayors to lobby Congress to preserve the rail service; Position of U.S. Senator Trent Lott, chairman of the Commerce Committee overseeing the railroads, on the issue.

Reports on the number of construction projects in downtown Jackson, Mississippi. Renovation of the Mississippi Museum of Art; Establishment of a center of arts, entertainment, education and convention facilities; Foundation of the Mississippi Art Association to promote the original work of local artists, sculptors, writers and craftsmen.

Reports on the renovation of a former Kmart Corp. retail space into a Westover Crossing shopping center at U.S. 98 in Mississippi. Owners of the new property; Plan of Academy Sports & Outdoors Ltd. and LongHorn Steakhouse to rent space in the new property; Schedule for the completion of the renovation works.

Reports on the plan of the U.S. Department of Defense to close several military installations in Mississippi. Number of civilian and military jobs expected to be affected under the Base Realignment and Closure process; Citation of military facilities considered for closure; Statement of U.S. Representative Gene Taylor regarding the impact of the closure on the soldiers.

This article reports that Howard Computers company has introduced a first-of-its-kind system that blends the performance and power of a traditional desktop computer with the ultra thin, sleek form of a notebook and provides businesses the means to save significantly on its computer costs. The ELVM desktop is driven by Intel Corp.'s Centrino technology, previously found only in notebooks. The ELVM is quiet and uses low power but gives high performance that lets users work without with the hassle of antennas, cards and cables.

Discusses the important role of Mississippi's literary history in the development of tourism in the state. Preservation and celebration of Mississippi's literary heritage; Renovation of the Eudora Welty house and garden in Jackson; Annual Oxford Conference for the Books; Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference; Annual Tennessee Williams festival; Literary and Cinema Celebration being hosted by Natchez, birthplace of Richard Wright.

Reports on a May 2005 groundbreaking scheduled for the Summit, a multi-use project being built by Hattiesburg, Mississippi developer Nick Welch and two partners from Heritage Properties Inc. Infrastructure works expected to begin in May 2005; Features of the project; Other Heritage properties in Hattiesburg.

The article reports that land has been cleared for Oxford Commons, a $350-million commercial, residential, hospitality and entertainment development project that will cover some 565 acres on the east side of Oxford, Mississippi. Oxford Commons will be built in segments over a 10-year period, according to Kenny Farrell, one of the two partners in Kenlan Development of Memphis, which is developing the project. His partner is Lance Forsdick. There will be retail stores and restaurants on the ground floor and condominiums on the second and third floors.