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 tha 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 commitments:
- 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
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