In Good Tune Variety and Venues Spring from Deep Musical Roots
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livability.com/meridian MERIDIAN MISSISSIPPI NO PLACE LIKE HOME Group aims to retain young professionals GAME ON State Games benefit economy & community In Good Tune Variety and venues spring from deep musical roots 2013-14 | SPONSORED BY EAST MISSISSIPPI BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION 2013-14 EDITION VOLUME 4 ONLINE | livability.com/meridian MERIDIAN Recreation Index MISSISSIPPI Content Director | Lisa Battles Contributing Writers | Barbara Biehler, MORE ON MERIDIAN Nancy Mann Jackson, John McBryde, Go to the links below for more Melissa McDonald, Joe Morris Content Coordinator | Jessica Walker Boehm articles and photos about Staff Writer | Kevin Litwin Meridian’s business climate, Proofreading Manager | Raven Petty Lead Designer | Matt West recreation, food, schools, Senior Graphic Designers | Stacey Allis, health care, culture and more. Laura Gallagher, Kris Sexton, Jake Shores Graphic Designers | Jackie Ciulla, Kacey Passmore Creative Technology Analyst | Becca Ary TOP EMPLOYERS Lead Photographer | Michael Conti livability.com/meridian/ms/ Senior Photographers | Jeff Adkins, Brian McCord Staff Photographers | Wendy Jo O’Barr, Frank Ordonez business Color Imaging Technician | Alison Hunter Integrated Media Manager | Zach White DEMOGRAPHICS Sales Support Project Manager | Sara Quint livability.com/meridian/ms/ Sales Support Coordinator | Christina Morgan facts Sales Graphic Designer | Rachel Lorance Looking for a reason to Ad Production Manager | Katie Middendorf get outdoors? Learn about SCHOOLS Senior Graphic Designer | Vikki Williams Ad Traffic Assistants | Krystin Lemmon, Patricia Moisan recreation options for all ages livability.com/meridian/ms/ Web Project Manager | David Day at livability.com/meridian/ schools Digital Project Manager | Jill Ridenour ms/activities Digital Products Designer | Erica Lampley HEALTH CARE Web Developer I | Nels Noseworthy livability.com/meridian/ms/ Web Designer II | Richard Stevens health Web Product Manager | John Hood Photos Chairman | Greg Thurman NEIGHBORHOODS President/Publisher | Bob Schwartzman livability.com/meridian/ms/ Executive Vice President | Ray Langen living Senior V.P./Sales | Todd Potter, Jarek Swekosky Senior V.P./Client Development | Jeff Heefner Senior V.P./Operations | Casey Hester ATTRACTIONS V.P./Content Operations | Natasha Lorens livability.com/meridian/ms/ Audience Development Director | Deanna Nelson attractions Creative Services Director | Christina Carden Distribution Director | Gary Smith FOOD Photography Director | Jeffrey S. Otto livability.com/meridian/ms/ Web Services Director | Allison Davis food Controller | Chris Dudley Natural Beauty Senior Accountant | Lisa Owens See Dunn’s Falls Water Park and Accounts Payable Coordinator | Maria McFarland Accounts Receivable Coordinator | Diana Iafrate more great images from around IT Director | Daniel Cantrell Meridian. livability.com/ Executive Secretary | Kristy Giles meridian/ms/photos-videos Human Resources Manager | Peggy Blake Livability Meridian, Mississippi is published annually Military by Journal Communications Inc. and is distributed through the East Mississippi Business Development Corporation and its member businesses. For advertising information or to direct questions or comments about the magazine, contact Journal Communications Inc. at (615) 771-0080 or by email at [email protected]. For more information, contact: East Mississippi Business Development Corporation 1901 Front Street, Suite A • Meridian, MS 39301 Phone: (601) 693-1306 • Fax: (601) 693-5638 www.embdc.org Visit Livability Meridian, Mississippi online LOVE MERIDIAN? at livability.com/meridian Workforce Share the digital version of this ©Copyright 2013 Journal Communications Inc., 725 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 400, Franklin, TN 37067, Get more information about magazine, or grab a widget (615) 771-0080. All rights reserved. No portion of this and post it on your site or blog. magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part Naval Air Station Meridian at without written consent. livability.com/meridian/ms/ livability.com/meridian/ms/ Member The Association of Magazine Media business magazine Member Custom Content Council Livability.com/meridian is a part of Livability.com, Member East Mississippi Business Development Corporation a collection of America’s best places to live & visit livability.com @livability facebook/livability CONTENTS 4 Welcome to Meridian An introduction to the community Things to Do 8 Live Music In Good Tune Variety and venues spring from deep musical roots 12 Arts & Culture Gracing the Stage 14 Local Flavor Purveyors of Great Taste 2013 EDITION VOLUME 4 15 Sports & Recreation Game On MERIDIAN Living MISSISSIPPI 16 Education Track of Success 18 Health 8 In Fine Health 21 Community Profile Business 22 Business Overview Invest and Rest 24 Working Here No Place Like Home Group aims to retain young professionals 28 Entrepreneurship Right Place, Right Time Meridian economy spells 28 success for determined business owner 32 Chamber Letter Business Brewing 33 Economic Profile All or part of this magazine is printed with soy ink on recycled paper containing 24 10% post-consumer waste. PLEASE RecYCLE On The Cover Kayaking at Bonita Lakes Park THIS MAGAZINE Photo by Michael Conti LIVABILIty.COM/MERIDIAN/MS 3 At A GLAnce Meridian, Mississippi A QUICK, COMprEHEnsIVE OVErvIEW OF whAT’S grEAT ABOUT thE COMMUNIty The Meridian area’s location and proximity to major transportation routes earn it the name “Strategic LAUDERDALE Center of the South,” important for business logistics but also applicable to its concentration of 39 19 45 arts attractions, historic properties and health-care providers. 80 ENTERTAINING AND HIstoRIC 59 Meridian Meridian arts institutions, such as the MSU Riley Center and the Temple Theater, draw visitors for 20 20 ALABAMA music, theater and other special 45 events, as do well-supported 19 11 community events such as the 59 Threefoot Festival. The state also made its first East Mississippi entertainment district designation in Meridian, a status that incentivizes opening new and LocATION renovating existing entertainment Lauderdale County is located in the North Central Hills business facilities. region of Mississippi, on the Alabama border. Meridian is the History gets its due in Meridian, county seat and principal city. Interstates 20 and 59 connect too. The hometown of “The Singing and pass through the county. Brakeman” Jimmie Rodgers welcomes his fans with a museum and annual festival, while POPULATION architectural history lessons Lauderdale County manifest in the preserved homes TIME and buildings that are part of 80,261 Zone Meridian’s nine historic districts. Central BUSIness ADVAntAGes DIstAnces to THREE The East Mississippi area MAJOR CITIes neARBY allows easy access to two major Birmingham, Ala., 154 miles interstates, three U.S. highways Memphis, Tenn., 231 miles AnnUAL RAInfALL and four state highways, making New Orleans, La., 202 miles it a magnet for employers and jobs drawing from a 65-mile radius in Mississippi and West Alabama. 59”National Average: 30” FOR MoRE InfoRMATION Besides Meridian Naval Air East Mississippi Station, the city’s largest employer, Business other strong sectors include AccOLADE manufacturing, distribution, retail Development and health care. Four hospitals Corporation employ thousands of residents, 1901 Front Street, Suite A Meridian is known as and a major mall, shopping centers, Meridian, MS 39301 The Strategic Center and a thriving downtown ensure Phone: (601) 693-1306 of the South. a diverse economy. Fax: (601) 693-5638 Read on to learn more about www.embdc.org why Meridian is a great place to live and do business. 4 MERIDIAN Take a Ride Meridian’s beautifully restored Dentzel Carousel, originally designed in 1896, still operates in Highland Park and costs only 50 cents per ride. 4 MERIDIAN LIVABILIty.COM/MERIDIAN/MS 5 ThINGS TO DO Meridian’s must-do attractions, activities and dining Traverse a Trail Visit the 3,300-acre Bonita Lakes Park, which has approximately 20 miles of trails perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. The well-maintained, shady trails vary in length and terrain. The park’s location near three lakes, Long Creek Reservoir and Lakeview Golf Course allow easy access to outdoor fun. Museum Nostalgia Local Celebrities Music Connect Step BACK IN TIME WALK THE WALK BRAKE foR THE WITH HIstoRY Pick up movie See stars honoring SINGING BRAKEMAN Learn about Meridian’s memorabilia, roasted Mississippi Walk of Fame Explore the Jimmie manufacturing history at peanuts, bottled Coca- inductees along the area Rodgers Memorial the Mississippi Industrial Cola and old-fashioned in front of the Mississippi Museum to learn about Heritage Museum inside hoop cheese at the State University Riley this Meridian native the Soulé Steam Feed Causeyville General Store, Center. The walk includes known as “The Father Works site. The museum or visit The Simmons- celebrities with Mississippi of Country Music.” The includes the last George Wright Company, a roots such as Morgan museum includes W. Soulé built steam general store circa 1884, Freeman, Marty Stuart memorabilia, musical engine and hosts a for groceries, farm and B.B. King. instruments, trains and festival every November. supplies and antiques. railroad equipment. 6 MERIDIAN THINGS TO DO Take a Tour Explore Merrehope, which dates to 1858 and is one of Meridian’s oldest homes. Confederate General Leonidas Polk used the home as a headquarters during the Civil War, and it now offers public tours and event