HC0108_S_Amend

WHEREAS, in 2000, visionaries from the Northeast Mississippi Counties of Pontotoc, Union and Lee formed the PUL Alliance in response to the Advantage Mississippi legislation that was passed by the Legislature in August 2000; and

WHEREAS, the coalition of these counties that began seven years ago, helped to facilitate the 2007 deal with Toyota that will result in a $1.5 Billion investment and the creation of over 2,000 jobs by Toyota in Blue Springs; and

WHEREAS, the coalition worked together to have the Legislature enhance the original Advantage Mississippi legislation by revising it to allow neighboring counties to create partnerships that share expenses and revenues related to an economic development project, instead of limiting those expenses to the city or county in which the project was located; and

WHEREAS, these counties again worked with the Legislature to improve the Advantage Mississippi legislation to allow these new partnerships to exist over multiple projects and not be limited to a one time short term deal, and this change was critical to the formation of the PUL Alliance which allowed them to plan as a region and lay the foundation for the current Toyota project; and

WHEREAS, the PUL Alliance suffered a setback in 2003 when it lost a Toyota Tundra plant to San Antonio, Texas, but used this experience as a catalyst to improve the Wellspring site to better fit Toyota's needs; and

WHEREAS, Toyota explained that two things were necessary to improve the site: engineering information on the site and land ownership control; and

WHEREAS, in 2003, important legislation known as the Rural Impact Act was signed into law and helped the PUL Alliance to obtain the engineering information needed by Toyota; and

WHEREAS, with site certification, the PUL Alliance took the Wellspring project to the Automotive World Congress in
Barcelona, Spain, and introduced the project to the automotive industry; and

WHEREAS, because land ownership control was still needed, in 2006, the PUL Alliance sought legislation to create an unprecedented partnership between local and state governments to secure ownership of the Wellspring Project site; and

WHEREAS, the tenacity and vision of the boards of supervisors of these counties motivated them to pass three resolutions allowing Three Rivers Planning and Development District to begin purchasing over $10 Million to gain control of the land; and

WHEREAS, over the past seven years, many unprecedented partnerships and collaborations were created as a result of the vision of economic development by Pontotoc, Union and Lee Counties, and the economic development and business leaders in these counties for the citizens of Northeast Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, the following public officials, public agencies, foundations and partnerships were instrumental in facilitating this project: Governor Haley Barbour; Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck; Speaker Billy McCoy; Toyota Motor Engineering; Toyota Manufacturing North America; Mississippi Development Authority; Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality; Mississippi Department of Employment Security; Mississippi Department of Transportation; University of Mississippi; State Board for Community and Junior Colleges; Consortium of Northeast Mississippi Community College; Northwest Mississippi; Community College, Itawamba Community College; Pontotoc County Board of Supervisors; Union County Board of Supervisors; Lee County Board of Supervisors; Town of Blue Springs; PUL Alliance; Community Development Foundation; Three Rivers Planning and Development District; Tennessee Valley Authority; New Albany Light and Gas; the Mississippi State Senate; and the Mississippi House of Representatives; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the contributions of Mississippi counties, agencies and officials who worked together for the citizens of our state:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend Pontotoc, Union and Lee (PUL) Counties for having the vision to form the PUL Alliance and recognize its contributions in facilitating the Wellspring site for the Toyota plant.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to members of the Boards of Supervisors for Pontotoc, Union and Lee Counties and made available to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.