House Resolution 112

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING MR. GARY MATTHEWS OF TISHOMINGO COUNTY UPON BEING RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE "TEN PERSONS WHO MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE SOUTH" IN 2009 BY SOUTHERN BUSINESS AND DEVELOPMENT.

WHEREAS, Gary Matthews, the Executive Director of the Tishomingo County Development Foundation, who is responsible for the hands-on, day-to-day face of the foundation that works to attract business, industry and jobs to Tishomingo County, was recently named on a list published by Southern Business and Development that featured governors, a senator, and CEOs as one of the "Ten Persons Who Made a Difference in the South" in 2009; and

WHEREAS, Matthews, who is the first to admit that it takes years of work with potential industrial prospects to actually land a project, especially in today's economic climate, is credited with promoting job development in the small, mostly rural county of Tishomingo, in securing about 1,000 new jobs in 2009, which were actually the fruit of many years of wooing prospects; and

WHEREAS, Southern Business and Development magazine, published in Birmingham, is the recognized authority on economic development projects in the South that tracks projects in the Southern United States; and

WHEREAS, Matthews, with more than three decades of experience in economic and community development, was nominated for the honor by Gray Swoope, Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, for the honor, after securing and finalizing a deal with ATK, which announced an expansion of its Tishomingo County Plant that represents 650 new jobs and a minimum investment of $175,000,000.00; and

WHEREAS, equipped with bachelor's of science and master's of science degrees and an internship in Economic and Impact Analysis under renowned writer and lecturer Dr. Reginald Isaacs of Harvard University, Mr. Matthews, over the past 35 years, has earned over three dozen certifications in economic and community development and has been involved in the creation of over 11,000 new jobs in Mississippi, has received numerous awards and was named national "Dealmaker of the Year" in 2000 for putting together $470,000,000.00 in deals in one year; and

WHEREAS, a native of Neshoba County, Mississippi, Mr. Matthews has worked in Washington, D.C., Harrison County, Jackson County, a nine county region in East Central Mississippi, Kemper County, Attala County, and in Tishomingo County since the end of 2003; and

WHEREAS, since his arrival, Tishomingo County has rated in the top ten counties in new and expanded industrial projects for four of the last six years, was rated number one in the South for new and expanded projects for communities under 22,000 in population in 2009 and also received a national honor from Trade and Industry Development journal which selected the county from over 1,000 communities in North America; and

WHEREAS, through the efforts put forth by individuals of Mr. Matthews' caliber, Mississippi is well on its way to the forefront as a leading state in economic development and market stabilization; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to commend the notable works of such a well-versed and learned individual as Mr. Matthews, whose economic prowess has afforded Tishomingo County and the State of Mississippi national recognition as a leader in job development:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate Mr. Gary Matthews upon being recognized as one of the "Ten Persons Who Made a Difference in the South" in 2009 by Southern Business and Development, and extend most sincere wishes for continued success in all of his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Matthews, the Tishomingo County Development Foundation and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.