Home (Town) economics | Free News

Pair of projects pitched to supes

A pair of Home Town stars were behind closed doors pitching one of two economic-development projects to the Jones County Board of Supervisors during the regular meeting on Monday morning at the Jones County courthouse in Ellisville.

Mallorie Rasberry and Josh Nowell were joined by Kim Hobbs and Kevin Drye of “Kim’s No Bull” auto dealership and Laurel Mayor Johnny Magee to meet with the county officials about the project. The board signed a resolution to approve TIF — tax increment financing — for the Hobbs Autoplex and another economic-development proposal dubbed only the Cannery Row Project.

Ross Tucker, president and CEO of the Jones County Economic Development Authority, and EDA Vice President Shelley Jones were also in the meeting with supervisors and Tax Assessor Tina Gatlin Byrd. Economic development discussions are exempt from open-meetings laws, so no details about either project were known.

But all parties were all smiles when they emerged from the meeting room after about 20 minutes of talks.

It’s believed that the property that was being discussed by Hobbs, Kim’s Autoplex General Manager Drye and the Home Town regulars had to do with property just off Interstate 59 at the 16th Avenue exit and Grandview Drive, that has been designated as the future home of Kim’s for more than a year.

A TIF allows local taxing entities to invest in the development of an area based on the belief that the investment will lead to future gains.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7rbHAnZyrZZOWua16wqikaKaVrMBwstGenJimlazAcLTOppxmrJ%2Bsu26xwqilqKWZmMBwrdGtoJyklZSvd4XAa5prbF1ssKaDjGponp1dlrKlhIxxmWxslGp%2BebHCm51noKSiuQ%3D%3D