Mississippi Development Authority

Program Overview, Rules and Procedures

Purpose

The Mississippi Development Authority (MDA), in partnership with the Office of the Governor and the Mississippi Economic Development Council (MEDC), recognizes private sector businesses that have made a significant impact within their local community through the Governor’s Cup Awards. These awards are given to honor businesses for their contributions during the past calendar year, raise the general awareness about their successful efforts, and showcase their results.

The local nominating entity for each District Winner is awarded $1,000 for their local existing industry and business program.

The local nominating entity for each Statewide Winner receives an additional marketing grant if their nominee is chosen as the Statewide Winner. The amount of this award is determined each year based on available funds.

Nominations

Any local or regional Economic Development Authority/Foundation or Chamber of Commerce can make nominations. Only non-profit organizations or local government entities are eligible to receive awards, which are Economic Development Marketing Grant funds.

Organizations that already have a recognition program in place may nominate their local winners for this statewide program. Businesses that are nominated must be within the organization’s geographical area, not just a member of the organization.

For example: The Industrial Foundation of Washington County may nominate businesses physically located within Washington County. The Greenville Area Chamber of Commerce may only nominate businesses physically located within the city limits of Greenville.

Awards and recognition will be given to each winning business and cash awards will be made to the local nominating entities to use for their local existing industry and business program.

The eight MEDC districts are combined to form three districts statewide. Districts 1, 2 and 3 comprise the Northern District. Districts 4 and 5 are the Central District and Districts 6, 7 and 8 are the Southern District. Nominations will compete against all other nominations within the same District. See map of MEDC Districts at www.medc.ms.

Selection Criteria

All nominees must be a for-profit, private sector company. Nominations are for the company, not a person within the company.
Contributions must have occurred within the past calendar year.
Only ONE business in each category may be nominated.
Any company that has been a previous Statewide Winner may not be nominated again for a period of two years. For example, the 2006 Winners (for calendar year 2005) may not be nominated again until 2008 (for calendar year 2007).

Community Involvement: Company contributions to the local community. How the company recognizes itself as an integral part of the community. Employee participation in various community activities, such as civic, humanitarian, and environmental.
Economic Impact: The number of new jobs created through start-up, expansion, or relocation of related businesses. Jobs created in an area of significant unemployment or under-employment. The impact of the business on the community relative to its size.
Human Resources: Safety, employment assistance programs, training development, daycare, health or wellness programs, tuition reimbursement.

Selection Process

Nominations will be returned to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) by the designated deadline. Information on all nominated businesses within each of the three districts will be sent to all in-state members of the MEDC to vote on one winner in each category from their designated district. (MDA employees, Students and Members who do not pay dues are not eligible to nominate or vote.)

Original ballots will be returned to MDA. MDA will inform the local nominating developer of the District Winners, who will in turn, inform their local winning company. A panel of anonymous judges determine the Statewide Winner from each category. The Statewide Winners are announced at the MEDC Awards Banquet.

Awards

All winners, the business and the local nominating entity, must be present to receive awards.

Awards are presented at the annual MEDC Summer Conference Awards Banquet. Usually held in July of each year, the location varies.

District Winners – The District Winners in each category will be recognized and receive a Governor’s Cup Award along with $1,000 being given to each of the local nominating entities.

Statewide Winners - (In addition to the District Winner awards) The Statewide Winner in each category will be recognized and receive a crystal Governor’s Cup Trophy along with a marketing grant for the local nominating entity. After a period of one year, the local nominating entity will relinquish the trophy and the trophy will be rotated to the next year’s winner. An engraved plaque will replace the trophy for permanent display in the community. The winning company will permanently retain their trophy. If any winning company is not present, the business with the next highest points will then be asked to receive the award, and their community will receive the planning grant.

Grant Recipients

The awards for the Statewide Governor’s Cup and all categories of the Community Economic Development Awards (CEDA) are funded through the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) Economic Development Marketing Grant Program, and therefore must follow the guidelines and requirements for the grant program. Only non-profit economic development organizations or local governments are eligible to receive funds.

As a winner of either of these awards, the applicant automatically receives the grant and does not have to adhere to the application process, or go thru the process and selection criteria.

To receive funds, the applicant must match the amount of the grant 1:1. It is up to the award recipient to fulfill the grant requirements, and then submit receipts and an invoice to MDA Asset Development/Regional Services Division for the TOTAL amount of the award. Matching contributions must be in hard cash, not in-kind contributions. As only one disbursement will be made, receipts submitted must total the entire amount of the award. Receipts from any combination of approved projects are acceptable. Actual receipts may equal more than the award amount, but only the designated amount will be dispersed.

Once the invoice with accompanying receipts are received and processed by MDA, the recipient will be sent a letter notifying them their payment is in process and to expect a check or electronic transfer soon.

For additional information on this grant program, check the MDA website under PROGRAMS - www.mississippi.org.

Amenities

For each District Winner, one company representative and their spouse/guest will be invited to attend the Awards Banquet as a guest of MDA. A one-night stay at the conference hotel and breakfast the next morning is included.

Other company and developer guests are welcome to attend, but must make their own arrangements for hotel and meals. Each winning company will be allotted one table (8-10 people, depends on location) at the banquet to seat themselves, the local developer/spouse and any others. Banquet tickets may be purchased through MEDC. Additional information will be in the District Winner packet sent to the winning business and developer following the announcement of winners.

For more information:
Existing Industry and Business Division
Telephone: 601.359.3593
Fax: 601.359.2116
eibus@mississippi.org