Each year, Marion County receives a great return on investment for its money from the Southern Mississippi Planning and Development District, according to the agency’s director.
Leonard Bentz was in Columbia Monday speaking with members of the Marion County Board of Supervisors.
“The total value of services provided in Marion County is about $1,450,116,” he said. “You received this last year for your contribution of $44,000. This year, we’re asking for $42,772, less than we did last year.”
Bentz, a former state public service commissioner, discussed the SMPDD’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, a five-year plan that guides the region’s economic development.
SMPDD contributed more than $928,000 to senior services in Marion County and nearly $500,000 in economic and workforce development. Among the services were 43,562 home-delivered meals, 10,320 congregate meals, $2,000 in scholarships awarded to Marion County students, 146 workforce training participants and a total investment of $231,050 through two open loans.
Bentz said that $186,928.85 was spent in youth funds that provided a variety of services to low income, at-risk youth. Through an individualized service strategy or career plan, youth are provided a pathway that leads to attainable goals. The program serves ages 16-24.
Bentz also said funds for training to assist skills-deficient adults were also used in Marion County. More than $100,000 was spent to help individuals find meaningful employment. Likewise, more than $53,000 in dislocated worker funds helped to provide employment and training to individuals who had lost their jobs due to layoffs and others who lost jobs due to circumstances beyond their control.
Among other parts of SMPDD programming is a variety of services from the Area Agency on Aging. These services include home-delivered meals, congregate meals at several sites and a foster grandparent program, where 45 children were provided a foster grandparent, who volunteered to help the students with reading as tutors and with other critical guidance.
The programs also provided more than 1,300 hours of home management duties, including light housekeeping, meal preparation, consumer education and other daily living activities. Other activities included legal services, respite care to relieve primary caregivers, transportation and state health insurance assistance, including counseling.
“We’re also very pleased to have Calvin Newsom (County Board president) on our Board,” Bentz said. “He’s been very helpful to our success and SMPDD. We’re appreciative for his services. We appreciate your support and thanks to our Board of Directors, we’ve been able to expand some of the services that we were providing.”
A new entity, the Municipal Advisors of Mississippi, was also set up, according to Bentz.
“We’re now in the financial advisory business,” he said. “We would love for the opportunity to send our financial advisors up here if you ever do any type of bond issues. There were some new rules that have come down and we thought it would be a good time and beneficial to our counties and municipalities to be able to come in and offer our financial services and advice. We think we can do it very price competitive. As you’re all aware, anytime you do a bond issue, the price can be significantly high. We’d like and opportunity to sit at the table with you and show you what we can do.”
Board members thanked Bentz and his team for speaking with them. They were also told that the Mississippi Access to Care Center can be reached at 844-822-4622. SPMDD has offices in Gulfport and Hattiesburg.
For more information, visit www.smpdd.com.
In other action Monday, the Board took no action on bids to take over concessions at the Water Park. No bids were received. The Board will discuss further options at a later date.
The Marion County Board of Supervisors continued meeting this week and will also meet in regular session on Oct. 16 at its offices on Courthouse Square.
Pictured Above: Leonard Bentz, right, discusses SMPDD programs with the Marion County Board of Supervisors. | Photo by Mark Rogers
