The State Chamber of Commerce - Mississippi Economic Council

FROM THE WEBSITE:

About MEC: The State Chamber of Commerce

• MEC deals with broad issues that relate to Mississippi businesses
• MEC pulls together coalitions to make overall statewide progress
• MEC focuses on issues with a bottom line return
• MEC focuses on fairness and equity
• MEC is building a base of involvment to have a united business
front

Building a Sense of Statewide Community

Advocacy: MEC has been the voice of business since 1949. Today,
we use a high-tech, two-way communication database aimed at
linking more than 7,000 business leaders in an effort to influence
the legislative process within minutes Research: Recommendations
are based on thorough investigation and sophisticated polling so
that MEC issues fully reflect those of business leaders across
Mississippi Resources: Benefits are designed to save members
time and money and programs aimed at providing business leaders
access to the policy-making process

Leadership: This independent, statewide organization of buisness
and professional leaders is focused on the future. To build our
future, we offer one of the most prestigious leadership training
programs available A Brief History of the Mississippi Economic
Council

In 1948, Mississippi's business leaders were invited to Jackson
to express their views on a critical labor relations issue before
the Legislature. Only two business representatives appeared before
the legislative committee, along with scores of Mississippians with
a different point of view.

Greenville business executive Edmund Taylor was one of those two
business leaders at the hearing. Afterwards he began a crusade to
organize business in the state to assure that business would have
a voice in governmental affairs.

In December, 1948, more than 300 people gathered in the
Heidelberg Hotel in Jackson for an organizational meeting
of the Mississippi Economic Council. The purpose, according
to Mr. Taylor, would be to marshal the resources of the
state's commercial, industrial and professional communities
to improve the economic, cultural and governmental life of
the state and its citizens.

When chartered in 1949, the MEC and its members made other
committments:

• The Council would be nonpolitical, focusing on issues and not
personalities.
• The Council would represent every geographic region of the state
• The Council membership would be open to all Mississippians who had
an interest in the improvement of the state
• The Council would be rooted in research and reasoned deliberations.
The Council would be financially supported by its members