Bill Text: MS HR93 | 2017 | Regular Session | Engrossed

Mississippi House Resolution 93 (Prior Session Legislation)

Bill Title: Appalachian Regional Commission; express support for and recognize its role in strengthening economic growth in Mississippi's Appalachian counties.

Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Passed) 2017-03-28 - Enrolled Bill Signed [HR93 Detail]

Download: Mississippi-2017-HR93-Engrossed.html

MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

2017 Regular Session

To: Rules

By: Representatives Reynolds, Hood, Massengill, Steverson, Sullivan

House Resolution 93

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE APPALACHIAN REGIONAL COMMISSION AND RECOGNIZING ITS IMPORTANT ROLE IN STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC GROWTH IN MISSISSIPPI'S APPALACHIAN COUNTIES.

WHEREAS, the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a federal-state partnership, whose mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in 420 counties across the 13 Appalachian states; and

WHEREAS, ARC's strategic plan identifies five investment goals to advance this mission: creating economic opportunity; preparing a ready workforce; building critical infrastructure; leveraging natural and cultural assets; and cultivating leadership and community capacity; and

WHEREAS, in partnership with the Mississippi Development Authority, ARC has supported 60 projects in Mississippi totaling $16.6 million, which have been matched by more than $7.2 million and will attract an additional $73 million in leveraged private investments in Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, ARC supported projects in Mississippi will also create or retain over 1,000 jobs, train and educate more than 4,500 students and workers, and benefit the nearly 629,000 residents in Mississippi's 24 Appalachian counties; and

WHEREAS, in Appalachian Mississippi, 14 counties were considered economically distressed in fiscal year 2016, and 54 projects totaling almost 93% of ARC investment dollars will have a direct impact on these counties; and

WHEREAS, ARC invested $8.9 million into East Mississippi Community College, Northwest Mississippi Community College and Itawamba Community College to prepare workers for the region's growing automotive, aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector; and

WHEREAS, the State of Mississippi has benefited greatly from the ARC, and it is imperative that the funding of the ARC continue so that our state's Appalachian counties can continue their growth and success for years to come; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize those great institutions who help grow the State of Mississippi and improve the lives of its citizens:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby express our support for the Appalachian Regional Commission and extend best wishes for continued success in strengthening all of the Appalachian states.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to ARC State Program Manager Mike Armour, the Mississippi Congressional Delegation and to the Members of the Capitol Press Corp.