www.mississippilink.com Vol. 20, No. 34 JuNe 19 - 25, 2014 50¢ Ward 6 special election Business matchmaking and results in runoff between economic development conference Hendrix and Sweet premiers in Jackson in September Hendrix Sweet By Ayesha K. Mustafaa Rashad Crisler with 429 (22.58 Lemonis Price Quinn McMullan Editor percent) Nine candidates vied for the None of the other candidates Special to The Mississippi Link he is the only business turn- open city council seat to repre- received 10 percent of the re- The inaugural Connect 1 around expert on television in- sent Ward 6 in the special elec- maining votes. Conference will be held Sep- vesting millions of his own dol- tion held June 17, 2014. With all And although Rashad Crisler tember 17-18, 2014 at the Jack- lars to save small businesses. 12 precincts reporting in Ward 6, made a good showing in the fi- son Convention Complex in After speaking to the con- three candidates received above nal vote, the runoff election will Jackson, Miss. targeting more ference general assembly 20 percent of the votes: be between Tyrone Hendrix and than 500 attendees. The Mis- on Thursday morning, Lem- Tyrone C. Hendrix with 546 sissippi Link, a Jackson-based onis will moderate a panel of votes (28.74 percent) media and event company is the funders and investors who will Runoff conference organizer. listen to “business pitches” of a Dennis Sweet IV with 537 Continued on page 6 (28.26 percent) The conference is an eco- cies, educational institutions, economic development. select group of companies who nomic development network- venture capitalists, bankers, in- Speakers headlining the con- are seeking funding. ing event for entrepreneurs, vestment bankers, funders, me- ference include Marcus Lem- Price is the founder and own- home-based businesses, new dia and more. onis, Lisa Price, and Joe Quinn. er of Carol’s Daughter, Inc., a City gives notice to look for start-ups, established busi- It is designed to match people Lemonis is CEO and chair- beauty empire she established nesses, minority contractors/ and businesses to one another, man of Camping World and suppliers, prime contractors, including capital funding, start- Good Sam, and Star of the Connect 1 workers installing new water major corporations, inventors/ up funding, new start-ups, tech- CNBC TV Series “The Profit.” Continued on page 2 meters in neighborhoods innovators, government agen- nology, energy, business and A self-made multi-millionaire, Photo of the Week College Hill men encouraged to please God through prayer College Hill male chorus in grey suits, musicians and program participants with (front row) Rev. C.J. Rhodes, College Hill Pastor Michael T. Williams and Deacon John Morris Sr. PHOTOS BY KEVIN ROBINSON See page 16 PHOTO BY AYESHA K. MUSTAFAA By Ayesha K. Mustafaa of the Automatic Meter Reading Editor (AMR) represents new water tech- Mayor Yarber embarks on seven-session The city of Jackson and Siemens nology that will provide, according Industry put on a “show and tell” to the city’s communications of- Tuesday, June 17, outside the St. fice, “faster, more efficient billing ‘Listening Tour’ throughout Jackson James Episcopal Church, 3925 Oak process, eliminating the need for Ridge Drive, which already has its By Ayesha K. Mustafaa ing the city. Editor new water meter installed. Moderator was Shelia Byrd, the A demonstration for a small busi- Water meters Mayor Tony Yarber began city’s director of communication. Continued on page 4 ness and residential installation his seven stop ‘Listening Tour’ The mayor was joined by city throughout Jackson Monday representatives of the Economic night, June 16, 2014, with a town Development Department, Jason hall meeting at Bellwether United Goree and Carl Allen. Methodist Church, 4624 Old After the mayor’s presentation, Canton Rd. attendees offered their concerns The backdrop to the meeting and suggested solutions to every- reflected return to the city’s mot- thing from a new transit system to of “The Bold New City” and that could reach as far out as Can- working theme, “This is Our Mo- ton, serving workers going to and ment, Our Time.” from the Nissan plant, to zoning Carl Allen, Jason Goree, Mayor Tony Yarber and Shelia Byrd on The mayor introduced the tours changes, to improving the image listening tour at Bellwether Church. PHOTO BY AYESHA K. MUSTAFAA as “creating the opportunity for of the city from the blight of di- the ideas and solutions of Jack- lapidated buildings. nomenal for economic develop- in Jackson can do so. There is a sonians to be heard.” He called The mayor said, “We have to ment. Thirty percent of the coun- business start up kit and personnel U.S. SENATE REPUBLICAN RUNOFF it “free/volunteer consultation,” tell our own story,” to market the try’s population is within 600 with those ideas and solutions city emphasizing its positive at- miles of Jackson.” presented by citizens to be consid- tributes. Goree contunued, “Everyone Yarber Continued on page 4 TUESDAY, JUNE 24 ered in rebuilding and redevelop- Goree said, “Jackson is phe- who wants to start a business “This is Home: Did UNCF Myrlie Evers- Share this issue with a friend Medgar Evers, ‘make a deal Williams Institute by mailing it to: Mississippi and with the devil’? for Elimination of Inside The Moment” Health Disparities exhibit Page 17 Page 12 Page 3 2 • the mississippi link June 19 - 25, 2014 www.mississippilink.com Connect 1 Continued from page 1 in 1994 that now boasts ce- ecutives and companies with- lebrity customers like Jada in the same industries where Pinkett-Smith, Erykah Badu, there are common interests. Rosie Perez, and Halle Berry, Registration is available and backing from other ce- for attendees from the greater lebrities like Jay-Z and Will Jackson region, Mississippi, Smith. She will keynote the the U.S., and outside the U.S. awards dinner on Wednesday The conference focus will be evening. on the economic development Quinn is a Walmart cor- of Mississippi by highlighting porate executive. As Pub- Mississippi to the world, and lic Affairs and Government bringing and matching old Relations senior director, he and new industry opportuni- helps build national Walmart ties to the state. relationships with elected of- Along with promoting eco- ficials, suppliers, customers, nomic development in Missis- communities, and associates. sippi (especially in Jackson), Quinn is currently focused on the conference is focused the major Walmart effort to on enhancing business op- bring manufacturing and jobs portunities for minority and back to the United States. women owned companies The company has commit- with prime contractors, major ted to buying an additional corporations and institutions. $250 billion in American This conference will com- products during the next ten pliment and supplement ef- years. Quinn will keynote the forts in Mississippi to encour- opening session on Wednes- age and facilitate innovation day morning. and economic development, More conference speak- by presenting another mean- ers and presenters will be ingful and productive oppor- announced over the next 60 tunity for people and compa- days. nies to come together under The conference will feature that theme. an exhibition hall showcasing Conference registration businesses, business opportu- is $50 for each registrant nities, products and technol- through July 15, $75 through ogy, and more. August 15, and $100 begin- The conference will host ning August 16. So, early reg- demonstrations of innova- istration is encouraged. tions, technology, products There are numerous op- and services of highlighted portunities for vendors, busi- companies and individuals nesses and agencies to exhibit for the media and registered in the exhibit hall during the public. conference. The exhibit hall There will be educational will be opened to the public workshops and breakout ses- all day on Wednesday, Sep- sions that will focus on the tember 17. Registration for “how to” and “where to” of exhibiting starts at $500. Call entrepreneurship and busi- 601-368-8479 for custom ness development. pricing. The conference will also Find more information provide “matchmaking” about the conference on the rooms to match subcontrac- conference website: connect- tors (especially minority and 1conference.com. You may women-owned) with con- also contact Lonnie Ross, the tractors, institutions and cor- event organizer, by email at porations; match start-ups event@connect1conference. and growth companies with com or by calling 601-368- investors and match more ex- 8479. LOCAL www.mississippilink.com JunE 19 - 25, 2014 THE mississippi link • 3 Myrlie Evers-Williams Institute for Elimination of Health Disparities By Stephanie R. Jones The ‘UMMC Myrlie cal Center (UMMC) and the tion will focus Contributing Writer Evers-Williams Institute for Jackson State University on three main A facility in Jackson will the Elimination of Health College of Liberal Arts. It areas of con- bear the name of Myrlie Disparities’ has been dedi- signifies the renaming of cern in Mis- Evers-Williams for the first cated at the Jackson Medi- the Mississippi Institute for sissippi: child time without that of her cal Mall Thad Cochran the Improvement of Geo- health dis- late husband attached. Civil Center. Evers was on hand graphical Minority Health parities, mi- Rights leader Medgar Evers’ to celebrate the launch of Disparities, created to close nority men’s name graces other facilities the institute Friday, June 13. the gap between those who health and re- Dr. Myrlie Evers-Williams, foreground, unveils the sign marking the institute named in and a Naval carrier, some of The institute is a new part- receive proper medical care search train- her honor during a dedication inside the Jackson Medical Mall in Jackson, June 13, which also bear Evers-Wil- nership between the Uni- and those who don’t.