Greenwood, Miss. (Greenwood Commonwealth) –

Based on a survey his office did last year of Mississippi businesses, Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says economic developers should rethink their “incentives first” approach.

“The whole mind-set about what we’re doing as a state and what we’re doing with our economic development dollars needs to be revisited,” said Hosemann, speaking to a combined meeting Tuesday of the Greenwood Rotary and Exchange clubs.

One of the questions on the survey posed to Mississippi corporations was, “What is most important to your business?”

Only about 5 percent of the 1,800 respondents answered “state and local government incentives.”

The No. 1 answer was “educated workforce,” selected by almost 35 percent, and No. 2 was “community support,” selected by almost 20 percent.

Those answers, according to Hosemann, are a good indicator of where local communities should invest their energies if they want to lure new companies.

“If you schools don’t work, if you’re local government doesn’t work, they’re not coming,” he said.

Hosemann, during his speech, made no mention of future election plans.  The Republican, now in his third term as secretary of state, is widely expected to run for lieutenant governor in 2019.  He said after his talk that he would wait until next spring to make a formal announcement.

Hosemann concentrated many of his remarks on education — specifically how Mississippi can restructure its approach to high school to try to meet the needs of businesses today and in the future.

Again citing last year’s survey of state businesses, Hosemann said more than 40 percent said they would expand if they had an educated workforce, but half the time it takes three months or more to find a suitable candidate to fill an opening.

Hosemann said more needs to be done to embed junior colleges in the high schools, citing some pilot programs such as Delta State University’s collaboration with Cleveland Central High School, that allows students to earn credits from the two-year college while still in high school.  Many of these programs are emphasizing “technical skills” that translate well into the workplace, he said.

Hosemann, as he has frequently in recent years, again touted his successful implementation of voter identification in Mississippi.  By working with the U.S. Justice Department throughout the process, he said the state, which has a history of run-ins with the federal agency that overseas voting-related changes, was able to avoid litigation.

“We were the only state in the country that didn’t get sued for voter ID,” he said.

He singled out Dale Persons, a Rotarian who worked as a field representative for the secretary of state on voter ID education, for his contributions to acclimating Mississippi voters to producing identification when they come to the polls.

Hosemann’s office also announced Tuesday that Leflore County will receive $16,585 from the recent sale of 57 tax-forfeited properties.

“The check is important, of course, but the victory is in putting these properties back into private hands to create a consistent stream of revenue for our local governments and public schools,” Hosemann said in a prepared statement released a couple of hours after speaking to the Greenwood civic clubs.

Original Source: Greenwood Commonwealth

Greenville, Miss. (Delta Democrat Times) – Mississippi’s Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann came to town Tuesday, bringing with him a hefty check benefiting both the city and the county.

Thanks to the sale of 259 tax-forfeited properties from last July’s online auction, Hosemann on Tuesday was able to bestow $95,000 to the City of Greenville and Washington County.

Greenville Mayor Errick D. Simmons and Washington County Board of Supervisors President Carl McGee graciously accepted the funds on behalf of the city and county, respectively.

Simmons said proceeds from the sale of the properties will help the city and county continue moving forward.

“Our revitalization story, part of that and key to that, is returning dormant property back to their productive use and we have done that through the partnership with our Secretary Delbert Hosemann,” he said during a press conference inside the City Hall Chambers.

Simmons said the benefits from the sale of tax-forfeited properties are two-fold: They help beautify the community but also return properties to the tax rolls.

Money from the Secretary of State’s Office will go to the five incorporated areas in Washington County, including Greenville, Leland, Metcalfe, Hollandale and Arcola, as well as the Greenville Public School District and Washington County government offices, including the Chancery Clerk, Board of Supervisors and Sheriff’s Office.

McGee said he was able to chat with Hosemann earlier this year at a meeting in Jackson. There, Hosemann express his excitement about the funds that would be coming into the county through the auction. But, McGee said Tuesday, Hosemann’s enthusiasm for the Delta goes beyond that check.

“It’s not just excitement about the money. It’s being excited about the passion that you have for the Delta, community and the citizens we represent,” he said. “We appreciate your efforts and doing what you can to raise those funds.”

While Hosemann said he is happy to help, it’s really the community members who are to thank. Through these auctions, they have shown they are willing to invest in these properties and get them back on the tax rolls.

“I think this is a really good indication of where the City of Greenville is going. People are willing to go in, start paying taxes and take care of this property; and we still have hundreds of these available and we are ready and open for business,” he said.

Hosemann said the efforts to begin returning tax-forfeited properties to the tax rolls began with former Greenville Mayor Chuck Jordan and continued with his successors, John Cox and now, Simmons.

“In the past three years, we have brought the city and county $220,000. It’s a good amount of money and it’s a good start. We have sold over 400 of these parcels now in the last three years,” he said.

Even with 400 properties sold, there are more than 800 parcels still available for purchase online at the secretary’s website, sos.ms.gov/Public-Lands/Pages/Tax-Forfeited-Lands.aspx.

Hosemann said they will continue to sell the thousands of state owned properties until there aren’t any more left to sell.

“All of that is available today. I am a willing seller. The legislature has given me the authority to make you a deal and I will make you a deal if you will call me or send me a note,” he said.

Under the authority given to the Secretary of State’s Office by the state Legislature, properties owned by the state may be given to the city if they are for a public purpose, Hosemann said.

Washington County Tax Assessor Mark Seard, who helped assist residents by fielding questions about the buying process and filling out online applications, on Tuesday asked Hosemann when the next auction will be. The answer: soon, Hosemann said.

“We want to come back again in the fall and try to do this every six months or so and see if we can identify another 200 or 300 of these,” he said.

For more information about purchasing available properties, contact the Public Land Division at 601-359-5156.

Original Source: Delta Democratic-Times

Jackson, Miss. (The Clarion Ledger) – The Security and Exchange Commission has filed an emergency motion asking that a temporary receiver be appointed over the assets of Arthur Lamar Adams, the man who pleaded guilty last week in a $100 million Ponzi scheme.

But Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann is opposed to the SEC choice of a Florida-based receiver to handle the case. Hosemann wants a Mississippi receiver appointed to protect the interests of local investors who lost money in the scheme.

The Securities and Exchange Commission states, “Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission respectfully moves the court to appoint a temporary receiver over defendants’ assets to preserve them for the benefit of investors.

SEC Attorney Shawn Murnahan said in court papers, “Due to the continued risk of dissipation of those assets, the Commission asks that the motion be heard as expeditiously as the court’s schedule permits.”

The commission filed the motion late last week in federal court in Jackson to appoint attorney Kenneth D. Murena of Miami as temporary receiver.

The SEC said Adams and his company, Madison Timber Properties LLC, and its agents still have control and possession of investor funds as well as certain assets purchased with investor funds.

Adams’ attorney John Colette, sent the government a letter saying there seems to be provisions whereby his client can petition the court for money seized to pay his pro-rated share of payments due on four real estate development deals:

• A $135,000 payment on Oxford Springs due this month
• A $40,000 payment for Mallard Park LLC also due this month
• A $15,000 payment for Delta Farms LLC due in June
• A $4,000 payment for 707 LLC due in August.

“The intent is to maximize recovery for the government and from what I understand, the Oxford Springs, LLC could be a huge return,” Colette said in the letter.

Oxford Springs is a a 2,600-acre development near Abbeville that, according to an Oxford Eagle report in March 2017, includes an 85-acre equestrian center, golf course, 44-acre town center, town homes, condos, apartments and 200 acres of lakes, as well as approximately 200 acres of undeveloped conservation easement.

The SEC said Adams acquired at least some of these interests while the scheme alleged in the complaint was ongoing. It is, thus, highly likely such interests were acquired, in whole or in part, with investor funds.

The SEC said it also fears a “race to the courthouse” by investors filing lawsuits against Adams and his company. The SEC cited the first lawsuit filed by an investor.

Sherri Hughes, who owns Highway 22 LLC in Madison County, said in her civil lawsuit that she is one of Adams’ defrauded investors. She filed suit in Madison County Circuit Court against Adams; his partner William McHenry; and Adams’ company, Madison Timber Properties.

William B. McHenry is listed as president of Ridgeland-based First South Investment Co. ,which specializes in oil and gas, land, timber and private equity investments. One of his dissolved businesses shared the same Ridgeland address as Adams’ company.

Adams pleaded guilty in federal court last week to wire fraud involving operating a Ponzi scheme that attracted more than $100 million from about 300 investors in at least 14 states.

The lawsuit said McHenry, who was not been named in the criminal complaint against Adams, solicited Sherri Hughes in 2016 to invest in Madison Timber Properties.

Hughes claims McHenry previously induced her son to invest $300,000, and it produced a return of approximately 13 percent. McHenry knew Hughes’ father and uncle and used that knowledge and familiarity with Hughes’ family members, including her son, to gain her trust, according to the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, Hughes initially invested $150,000 in the scheme. Then on Jan. 29, 2018, she says she increased her investment to $169,500. In return, she was provided a promissory note, an original timber deed and cutting agreement.

On May 1, Hughes tried to cash a check from a Madison Timber Properties check for $14,125 drawn on a Riverhills Bank account made payable to her company, H-22. The bank refused to cash the check and directed her to Madison Timber Properties.

Hughes said she then signed the Timber Deed and Cutting Agreement to secure her $169,500 investment and attempted to record the deed in the Monroe County land records, but the chancery clerk’s office in Monroe County said the land for the timber didn’t exist and that the grantor listed in the timber deedunder which Madison Timber Properties allegedly held title didn’t own any land in the county.

“Simply put, the subject timber deed was bogus, fraudulent and a sham used as a vehicle by McHenry and the other defendents (who knew and/or should have known the timber deed wasn’t legitimate) to perpetrate, among other things, a fraud …,” according to the lawsuit.

Efforts to reach McHenry for comment have been unsuccessful.

The SEC said its ability to seek receivership serves as a critical tool in enforcing the federal securities laws. The commission said in light of the estimated $100 million fraud and number of investors, a receiver is necessary to preserve and analyze the defendants’ and third parties’ documents and financial records to determine the full extent of investor losses.

Further, the SEC said the goal of a receiver will be to discover if there are viable claims against third parties, and to establish a claims process to facilitate a fair and orderly distribution of remaining assets to investors,

Hosemann filed a motion Friday to intervene to  oppose the SEC’s efforts to have a Florida-based temporary receiver appointed.

He said he doesn’t oppose a receiver being appointed, but said the receiver should be from Mississippi.

“In the case at hand, the secretary’s interest in maximizing the available funds to restore injured Mississippi investors may not be adequately represented by the receiver the SEC seeks to have appointed because a Miami, FL-based receiver will not be as efficient as a Mississippi-based receiver,” Hosemann said in court papers.

Original Source: The Clarion Ledger

Brookhaven, Miss. (Daily Leader) – A representative from the Secretary of State’s office will be in Brookhaven Friday to answer any election questions for the public.

Kim Turner from secretary Delbert Hosemann’s office will be the guest speaker at a $15-a-plate “Lunch and Learn.” The nonpartisan workshop, “GoTV: Absentee Voters, The Difference Between Victory and Defeat,” will be hosted by the Lincoln County Republican Women at 11:30 a.m. at the Brookhaven Country Club. The lunch buffet opens at 11:30 a.m. and the program begins at noon. To RSVP for the luncheon email lcrwms@gmail.com or call 601-757-4331 by 6 p.m. today.

Turner will also be available from 1:30-2:30 p.m. Friday in Circuit Clerk Dustin Bairfield’s office to answer questions about the upcoming elections in Lincoln County.

Hosemann said Turner’s second stop at the circuit clerk’s office is planned for anyone who may have questions but can’t make it to lunch at the Lincoln County Republican Women’s event.

“We just want to make sure we cast a very wide net here,” he said.

Rep. Becky Currie, R-Brookhaven, will join Turner to speak at the organization’s lunch. They’ll be sharing information about  2018 election cycle and upcoming 2019 county elections.

One topic of conversation for sure will be the primary election June 5. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on that day. If a run-off election is required, it will be June 26.

The general election will be Nov. 6 and includes winners from the primary elections and independents, Lincoln County School Board members for District 1 and District 2 (six-year terms) and a special election for Lincoln County School Board member for District 5 (4-year term).

The general election will also decide races for Lincoln County Chancery Judge, Lincoln County Circuit Judge for Post 1 and Post 2 and the special election for U.S. Senate.

A run-off election, if needed, is set for Nov. 27.

Today is the deadline for chancery and circuit judges to qualify.

Cindy Moore, president of the Lincoln County Republican Women, said this will be the first Lunch and Learn the group has organized.

“The objectives of our Lincoln County Republican Women’s chapter include educating the public about the election process,” she said. “We believe the Lunch and Learn program is a great tool to disseminate that information to our residents. We will be emphasizing the importance of voting in every election, how one vote can make a difference, and the importance of having a high voter turnout in the June 5 primary and Nov. 6 general elections, as well as any potential runoff elections.”

One of the most talked about races is for U.S. Rep. Gregg Harper’s replacement for 3rd District congressman — or congresswoman. Brookhaven’s Sen. Sally Doty, R-Brookhaven, is in the running for that seat.

“Those primaries will determine, most likely, the top two individuals who will be on the November ballot,” Hosemann said.

Hosemann believes a runoff will be needed in the 3rd Congressional District, which contains 460,557 active registered voters.

Only about 21 percent of the people voted in 2014 in the primary. In the 2010 primary about 32 percent (voted), he said.

“Every time you go to cast a ballot you may be casting a ballot for three or four other people,” he said.

He expects slightly more turnout because of Harper’s popularity and his long time in office — nine years.

“Whoever we get elected will end up voting on taxation, education, military, everything. They’ll be one of 400-something people who can cast that ballot, so it’s very important,” he said.

Moore said voting is a duty and a privilege.

“The outcomes of our 2018 elections are critical in determining the future course of our county, state and nation, as well as the legislation which will affect the daily lives of our residents,” she said. “Lincoln County Republican Women want to help ensure qualified Republican candidates are elected to office, candidates who will be our voice and help better our community.”

She encourages absentee voting for anyone who will be away from the polls on Election Day.

“Absentee ballots are important because they have the potential to change the outcome of an election,” she said. “Considering that many voters will be on vacation in June and the statistic that only 30 percent of individuals who vote in a primary will vote in a runoff election, it is critical that everyone cast their vote at the voting precinct or by absentee ballot to ensure the most qualified candidates are elected to represent the people of Lincoln County.”

Original Source: The Daily Leader

Jackson, Miss. (WLBT) – One state agency is monitoring a spike in a crime that typically occurs in the inner city, but now, metal thefts are on the rise out in the county.

Across the state of Mississippi, thieves are after copper.

Whether it’s in an appliance or in the middle of a field in the Delta, they’re taking whatever they can get their hands on, for some quick cash.

Recently, a man was caught on surveillance cameras, stealing an air conditioner from a Hinds County library.

The Secretary of State’s office says it’s a crime that’s on the rise, even in rural areas of the state.

“Sunflower County, they had three farms with three wells they stole,” said the Secretary of State’s office. “10-12 feet of copper, but it costs $5,000 to put it back. Yazoo County also had about 1000 feet of copper stolen.”

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann says the price of copper has reached a recent high at $2.20 a pound.

“They take from churches, from farmers and from people who have worked hard to earn that and they take maybe $200 worth of copper and it costs $10,000 to put it back,” said Hosemann.

Hosemann says his office is working closely with local metal recyclers and other states to stop the quick sale of stolen metals.

Under state law, recyclers must tag all metals and hold them for three days before paying the person who brings it in.

“Our dealers have been cooperating with us prior to this time,” said Hosemann. “So where this rash is coming from recently in the Delta and Jackson and others reporting to us in the last couple weeks or so, where that’s coming from, we want to find out where they’re selling it. Where are they going to get that cash?”

Recyclers are being put on alert to be on the lookout for stolen metals as the thefts continue to spike.

Original Source: MS News Now

Gulfport, Miss. (WXXV) – Today, for the first time ever, the U.S. Army is shipping military vehicles out of the Port of Gulfport.

“The story today is that instead of using another port in Texas or South Carolina or Florida, the Army has decided to use this port to move this unit to their next destination.” Major General Jansen D. Boyles tells News 25 the decision to make the Port of Gulfport a strategic port was in the works for over two years. Currently there are only 17 other ports nationwide serving the same purpose. “It feels great because the proposition was that we didn’t know what the outcome would be when we first approached SDDC about using this port and to their credit they jumped right on board.”

The first mission of the Port of Gulfport will be transporting military vehicles aboard a commercial ship. Lt. Col. Donald Santillo said, “Although it’s our first mission, we started the planning for this probably about six months ago. So, we did have initial coordination and planned what areas we were going to stage the equipment.”

Officials say over 40 local contractors are working on the mission to load up the ship that can hold up to five football fields worth of equipment. Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said, “These are our people that are moving this one the ship here and they’re all hired by the federal government and the National Guard to do that work.”

Although the manpower fulfilling the mission is coming from Mississippi, the strategic port can also be used for military purposes by all the surrounding states. “This port not only serves Mississippi, but it can serve Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama.”

The Port of Gulfport will now have the opportunity to compete for Army business with other nearby ports. “It’s an economic engine for the state and it’s a result of a lot of hard work for a lot of years and I’m real proud of all of them.”

Original Source: WXXV25

It will soon be time to be counted. The 2020 Census is fast approaching, and states are beginning preparations to make sure all residents are represented.

Mississippi has begun comparing local address information to address information housed at the U.S. Census Bureau.

This address update initiative, dubbed the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Program, is the first step in the 2020 Census process.  LUCA is the only opportunity offered to tribal, state, and local governments to review and help revise the U.S. Census Bureau’s residential address list, which has been the most effective way to contact, survey, and count individuals across the country.

Mississippi and other states across the Nation are entering the first major phase of the 2020 Census:  comparing local address information received from states, counties, and municipalities to address information housed at the U.S. Census Bureau.

This address update initiative, dubbed the Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) Program, is the first step in the 2020 Census process.  LUCA is the only opportunity offered to tribal, state, and local governments to review and help revise the U.S. Census Bureau’s residential address list, which has been the most effective way to contact, survey, and count individuals across the country.

All of Mississippi’s counties and municipalities have committed to participate in LUCA.  In 2010, the last time a decennial census was conducted, only 35 Mississippi counties (48 percent) and 97 cities (32 percent) participated in sharing updated address data with the U.S. Census during LUCA.

Addresses are the only information implicated in LUCA.  Names of residents and other personal information is not at issue.

“Census data is used in almost every facet of our lives—research, economic development initiatives, aid and grant distribution, and so on,” Governor Phil Bryant said. “If we are going to get an accurate count, we had to start with a commitment to help from our counties and municipalities.  They quickly answered the call.”

Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann, designated chair of the Census LUCA Committee by Governor Bryant, agreed.

“We are already ahead of where we were in 2010,” Secretary Hosemann said. “Every Mississippian counts, so it is imperative for our State and local governments to band together in this united effort to find every inhabited residence.”

Mandated by Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the U.S. Census counts every resident in the Nation and is conducted every 10 years.  Residents are counted at their “usual residence,” or the place where they live and sleep, generally by an e-mailed or mailed survey, or phone or in-person interview.

Data collected through the Census process determines congressional and many state legislative seats, and is used to distribute billions in federal funds to local communities.  In 2015, Mississippi receive more than $6.14 billion in federal aid for programs like Medicaid, S-CHIP, Head Start, and the National School Lunch Program as a result of Census information.

For more information on LUCA, visit the U.S. Census Bureau’s website at https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/about/luca.html.

Original Source: Y’all Politics

Car-centric Southaven on Tuesday celebrated the groundbreaking of Silo Square, the suburb’s planned community that aspires to blend businesses and housing in a way that is easy, even pleasing, to walk around.

“This is going to be a game-changing development for our city,” Mayor Darren Musselwhite told about 75 people gathered under a tent near the old, concrete farm silo from which the development draws its name and branding for quaintness.

Musselwhite likened the 228-acre district — south of Goodman Road, west of Getwell and east of Tchulahoma — to Midtown Memphis’ Overton Square, where visitors park their car only once and walk to a variety of restaurants and entertainment spots.

More apt comparisons might be the 443-acre Schilling Farms in Collierville or even the still-planned, 160-acre Lake District in Lakeland.

The city and developer Brian Hill of Lifestyle Communities LLC organized an event befitting the expected impact: The DeSoto Central High marching band played; a feast of chicken, fish, pork and vegetables with ice tea was served; and Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann participated.

Yes, the $200 million project will generate millions of dollars in investment for Southaven, Hosemann told the crowd.

But the bigger benefit is the people who will come to live, work and shop at Silo Square and send their children to DeSoto County schools, he said.

“It’s the people that make the community,” he said.

As festive as the groundbreaking was, the event was not merely ceremonial. Backhoes and other heavy machinery were stationed on site ready to start work.

“The response to the development in its entirety, commercial and residential, has been overwhelming,” said Hill, the developer and owner. “We’re having people call us from out of state wanting to move their businesses here. We’re having people from Memphis wanting to move their businesses here. It’s just been crazy the amount of calls that we’ve received.”

Hill described the construction sequence for Silo Square, in order: Develop the infrastructure providing access to the entire commercial district this year; start building commercial buildings by the end of this year or early 2019; start building housing — units connected to the commercial buildings on the east side near Getwell and traditional houses nearer Tchulahoma Road — “hopefully” by Thanksgiving.

The goal for Silo Square is to create a rich atmosphere like the town squares of Oxford and Collierville. But the weathered character of those places matured over a century.

“There is no way, obviously, to emulate Collierville Square or Oxford Square or anything like that,” said Bob Dalhoff, whose Dalhoff Thomas Design Studio created the site plan for Silo Square. “All you can do is come close to it and pull in some of the elements that make up that fabric of those squares.

“So that’s what we’ve tried to do with the two-story architecture: Living above, working below, along with amenities such as hotels and things like that for the other people in there. So it becomes an active place 24 hours a day. That’s what it’s all about in creating ‘place.”’

Loeb Realty Group’s Barry Maynard and Frank Dyer III are handling all the commercial leasing and sales for Silo Square’s buildings and outparcels.

They declined to name any businesses that are lining up to get into Silo Square, but Maynard said, “We’ve got contracts, LOI’s (letters of intent) with banks, retailers, restaurants and hotels in the works … We’ve got some under contract now that we’re not going to announce (now), but a lot of exciting things are coming.”

Interest from businesses has been “fantastic,” Dyer said. “When the website went up, I think he got 1,500 hits the first day. Incredible.”

The plan calls for: 304 gated, residential lots with houses costing from about $225,000 to $400,000-plus; six retail outparcels; one bank outparcel; two hotels; 16 mixed-use lots; three office lots; a 2.6-acre farmers market; 10 acres for 128 loft apartments; and  64 acres of open green space.

The “downtown” area of the plan blends residential, commercial and public uses around a Main Street lined with two- and three-story buildings.

Original Source: Commercial Appeal

Vicksburg native Delbert Hosemann has yet to officially announce if he will run for lieutenant governor of Mississippi, but he sure sounded as if he has plans to seek a higher office while addressing the Vicksburg-Warren Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday.

Hosemann, who has been Mississippi’s Secretary of State since 2008, believes he has done all he can do for his state in his current role, but still feels there is work left undone.

The 70-year-old still has a desire to serve the people of Mississippi and told those gathered in the Vicksburg Convention Center: “When I get in a position to help y’all, I plan to do so.”

Tate Reeves, Mississippi’s current Lieutenant Governor, is expected to run for governor in 2019 since Phil Bryant is not allowed to seek a third term. That opens the door for Hosemann, who would preside over and wield control over the state Senate as lieutenant governor. He would definitely be in a position to help Vicksburg.