Results Found:
11
News
- Chamber (10)
- Community (9)
- Economic (3)
- Education (2)
- General News Article (8)
- Press Release (6)
Friday, October 09, 2026
The Marion County Development Partnership (MCDP) is now accepting entries for the annual Parade of Lights, set for Saturday, December 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Businesses, churches, schools, and community groups are invited to enter lighted floats, walking groups, and vehicle groups. Every float and vehicle must be decorated with lights. Judges will score floats on use of lights, creativity, ...read more
Categories: Chamber, General News Article, Community
Thursday, September 17, 2026
Are You Ready for a Loan?
Barrier 1: Weak Personal or Business CreditWith suggestions on how to repairThe First Number a Lender Looks AtBefore an underwriter reads your business plan, before they analyze your projections, and often before they even open your tax returns, they will pull your credit reports. Within the first ten minutes of receiving your application, the lender already knows ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Community, Economic, Education, General News Article
Monday, July 27, 2026
Are You Ready for a Loan?A Borrower's Guide to the Barriers Between You and a "Yes"Introduction to the Series"The bank did not turn me down because they did not like my idea. They turned me down because I failed to prove I was a good investment."Few moments are more frustrating than hearing a lender say, "We cannot approve your loan request at this time."To many entrepreneurs, the denial feels ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Economic, Education
Tuesday, June 30, 2026
There’s no shortage of technology available to today’s business owners and if you can’t find what you need today, wait around a minute and it will undoubtedly appear. (If not, the tech exists that you could probably create it yourself with some AI coding tool.) Artificial intelligence can write marketing copy. Social media platforms can target customers with remarkable precision. Search engines ...read more
Categories: Chamber
Friday, April 10, 2026
Building a successful small business comes down to a handful of disciplines applied consistently over time. The fundamentals — a clear brand, smart technology use, a strong online presence, and the financial discipline to sustain growth — separate businesses that thrive from those that stall. Whether you're opening your first storefront in Columbia or looking to scale an established operation, ...read more
Categories: Community, Press Release, Chamber, General News Article
Thursday, March 19, 2026
A well-executed storefront display is one of the few marketing tools a small business controls completely — and the data is clear on its impact. According to VM & Retail Magazine data compiled by Contra Vision, window displays alone can boost retail foot traffic by 23%, while 8 out of 10 shoppers base their buying decisions on what they see in-store. For businesses along Columbia's main ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Community, General News Article, Press Release
Monday, March 09, 2026
Salon revenue can look healthy while the business quietly runs short of cash. Poor cash management accounts for 82% of small business closures, and operating expenses can consume up to 80% of salon revenue — leaving almost nothing between a busy week and a cash crunch. In Hattiesburg's service economy, where salons compete for discretionary dollars alongside the restaurants, boutiques, and ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Community, General News Article, Press Release
Monday, February 02, 2026
Marion County Development Partnership works with organizations that need clearer visibility into shifting customer behavior. Real-time data offers that visibility: a way to interpret what buyers are doing right now so leaders can respond with precision rather than intuition.
Learn below about:
How organizations can turn live data flows into operational advantages
Ways to organize customer ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Community, Press Release, General News Article
Tuesday, December 02, 2025
Everything is moving, faster than it ever has. If you're not already adapting, chances are, you're slipping behind. Businesses today aren’t just flirting with transformation—they’re overhauling their bones, nerves, and brains to survive in a market that rewards adaptability over tradition. You can’t slow the wave, but you can decide how you ride it. The new rules? Think sharper, automate ...read more
Categories: Chamber, General News Article, Community, Press Release
Friday, October 17, 2025
Launching a new business is exciting — but balancing ambition with limited resources can feel impossible. Founders often face a false choice: spend heavily to appear credible, or cut so deeply that quality suffers. The truth lies in strategic optimization — not compromise.
TL;DR
You can reduce start-up costs without losing quality by:
Focusing on essentials that create real customer ...read more
Categories: Chamber, Community, General News Article, Press Release
Thursday, September 18, 2025
PHOTO CAPTION: Thomas McElroy of Cooperative Energy; Lori Watts, President, MCDP; Matthew Ware and Anthony Harris of Pearl River Valley Electric. Watts is presented with the Site Invest Award.The Marion County Development Partnership is proud to announce that MS-98 Industry Plex North has been awarded the prestigious Cooperative Energy SiteInvest Premier Property designation, recognizing its ...read more
Categories: Community, Economic
