December 2021 Issue Ms Business Journal

Healthcare MSBUSINESS.COM | DECEMBER 17, 2021 ISSUE

VOLUME 53 • NO. 22 | 40 PAGES

Page 8

Architects and Engineers Pages 13, 15

Economic Development Page 18

Pages 10-11, 16

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December 2021 Issue

Imagine ENGINEERING YOUR FUTURE

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December 2021 Issue

Mississippi Business Journal

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Brightening downtown’s future with things old and new

BY TED CARTER

» Queen City becoming a draw with new buildings, remodels on historic properties

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eridian business recruiter Bill Hannah can get an instant workday lift just by looking out his office window onto 22nd Avenue.

Out the window, he sees a downtown that is becoming a destination for both out-of-towners and local folks. First to come into view is the $50 million Mississippi Arts + Entertainment building, a 4-year-old complex whose exhibits tell the stories of Mississippi’s notable artists and entertainers. Across from the new museum, he sees the final renovation work on an historic three-floor building of 30,000 square feet that soon will house the world headquarters of Castle Inc., an energy construction company that moved to Meridian in 2008.

“Those two buildings are what you see as you come over the bridge (from Interstate- 22) into downtown,” said Hannah, executive director of the East Mississippi Business Development Corp., which serves as Lauderdale County’s economic development entity and the local Chamber of Commerce.

Just blocks from the Mississippi Arts + Entertainment building, known as The MAX, is the newly refurbished and reopened 16-floor art deco Threefoot Hotel. First opened in 1930 as an office tower, the 2nd Avenue hotel is now a 131-room Tribute by Marriott and home to rooftop and ground floor bars, a Starbucks and a restaurant.

Catacorner from there is the Threefoot Brewing Co., a microbrewery and restaurant.

On the central part of 22nd Avenue at 4th Street is Weidmann’s Restaurant, first opened in 1871 and known to generations of East Mississippians.

The Mississippi State University Riley Center, whose historic opera house is a venue for theatre, music and other arts, sits nearby at the corner of 22nd and 5th Street. Restorations of the opera house and adjoining Marks Rothenberg building, a former department store, were “kind of the genesis of this whole downtown renovating,” Hannah said in a recent interview.

Also close by is another performing arts venue, the historic Temple Theatre,

The MSU Riley Center in Meridian. billed at its 1927 opening as “The Showplace of the South.” Situated at 2320 8th St., the theatre has 1,600 seats and the ballroom 600 seats.

At 1901 Front St. is the Union Station Depot. The City of Meridian credits its 20-year-old renovation as a catalyst for the renewal of downtown and helping lead to creation of the Meridian Downtown Historic District running from the railroad tracks north to Sixth Street between 18th and 26nd avenues.

In addition to serving as a centralized center for local transit and tour buses, the Depot has a 3,000 square-feet conference center for community events both public and private.

Next door is the Meridian Railroad Museum, a celebration of the Queen City’s role in American railroading.

Yet another museum, the Mississippi Industrial Museum, is one block off 22nd Avenue at 902 14th St. in the historic former home of Soule Steam Feed Works. The museum describes itself as “an industrial time capsule that allows the visitor to experience how things were made and how people worked in the early 20th century.”

These places are situated within a 300-yard stretch, according to Hannah.

“As you come off the interstate you hit them all,” he said, and added “everything in between” is getting better.

“We have a ribbon cutting just about every week for a small business in downtown,” Hannah said, and added these have included small restaurants, gift shops, a guitar store and fitness center.

Some nightlife has returned as well, aided by Weidman’s Restaurant, the Threefoot Hotel and the Threefoot Brewery. Businesses along 22nd Avenue have noticed the evening foot traffic, Hannah said. “For the first time they are lighting their buildings. It is not only alive but looks alive,” he added off the downtown avenue.

Even more lighting is coming to 22nd Avenue and the portion of I-22 alongside it through new funding from the Mississippi Department of Transportation, according to Hannah.

Meridian added further security to the downtown strip by putting video cameras on light poles along it, he said.

“The City Council is very involved in all of this,” Hannah added. “They are giving us an economic environment for these things to happen.”

Lauderdale County is an active partner. “The two of them are working hand-in-hand with these projects,” Hannah noted, citing help with securing state and federal historic preservation tax credits, setting workable fee-payment arrangements and other

steps to foster redevelopment.

“They are working together to make things happen,” he said.

On the interstate’s south side, the county plans to build an administrative center on land formally occupied by a shopping mall. This will bring yet more foot traffic to downtown, Hannah said.

Though off to a strong start, the effort to bring new life to the central business district has some distance to go, Hannah said, noting downtown takes in 90 blocks, an unusually large number for a small Sothern town. “It is really big and there’s a lot here,” he added.

Those blocks are getting new interest from redevelopment thanks to the revival of 22nd Avenue, Hannah said.

“There are local developers who have purchased buildings. They have just not done anything with them yet.”

The main opportunities are in the two or three blocks off 22nd on the east and west sides, he added.

“We host a lot of groups that come looking for industrial or business locations,” he said.

The revitalization efforts started more than a decade before Hannah’s arrival six years ago. Years of further work are still ahead, but the view out of his window shows what a strong start downtown Meridian is off to, he said.

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BY TED CARTER

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December 2021 Issue

Subprime auto lender pays borrowers restitution but insists acts not predatory

» Mississippi AG says Santander set debt traps

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deceptive lending lawsuit initiated by former state attorney general Jim Hood and settled by successor Lynn Fitch frees about 6,000 Mississippians from paying off car loans to Santander Consumer USA. Restitution checks averaging $300 are headed their way as well.

The consumer-loan provider settled and agreed to forgive thousands of outstanding loans and pay millions of Fitch dollars in restitution but insists it did nothing wrong. “Santander Consumer did not – and does not – agree with the allegations in the complaint,” spokeswoman Laurie Kight said in an email. “We are a responsible lender operating in a highly regulated environment.”

In suing the consumer-loan provider on a claim of violating the Mississippi Consumer Protection Act, Mississippi said Santander Consumer USA bought loans from auto dealers that the lender knew were on a high-risk dealer or dealer performance management list.

The dealerships landed on the list by luring borrowers into high-interest loans they likely could not repay. The Dallas-based Santander Consumer

USA took the loans, anyway, according to the attorney general.

In addition to wiping out the balances on thousands of Mississippi car loans, the settlement requires the lender to pay $1.8 million in restitution to borrowers and pay the state a penalty of $3.7 million. Fitch, in a press statement, said Santander Consumer victimized Mississippi borrowers through “unfair and deceptive business practices” that sought to “scam them out of their hard-earned money.”

The penalties leveled on Santander should also “provide future protection from predatory lending practices,” she said.

Hood acted against Santander Con-

sumer in 2017 after declining to join a multi-state suit led by California and joined by three dozen other stats. The multi-state suit ended in a consent judgment for the states in May 2020.

Santander settled with Mississippi in late summer of this year.

In addition to California and the District of Columbia, the multi-state litigants included Arizona, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Connecticut, District of Columbia. Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island. South Caroli-

na, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wyoming.

The judgment specified about $550 million in relief nationally for auto-loan borrowers, with even more relief expected in the form of additional deficiency waivers.

In both the Mississippi and national legal action, Santander Consumer USA agreed to cease collection efforts against delinquent borrowers deemed wronged by the lender. The banker must also repair credit reports of the victimized borrowers.

“This settlement will deliver meaningful relief to harmed consumers and will provide future protection from predatory lending practices,” Fitch said in the press statement.

The settlement sets a to-do-list for Santander Consumer, a subsidiary of Santander Bank USA and Madrid’s Banco Santander.

Santander consumer must:

» Account for a consumer’s ability to pay a loan; » Set a reasonable debt-to-income threshold to reasonably evaluate the consumer’s ability to pay; » Not require dealers to sell any ancillary product such as vehicle service contracts; » Monitor dealers for possible income inflation, power booking, or expense deflation; TURN TO SUBPRIME, 22

MISSISSIPPI TARGET-RICH ENVIRONMENT FOR EXPLOITING CREDIT-DEFICIENT BORROWERS

BY TED CARTER

A legal settlement has freed thousands of Mississippians from further auto-loan payments to subprime lender Santander Consumer USA of Dallas.

But the settlement won’t change a high-interest loan market that led borrowers in Mississippi and nearly three dozen other states to take on vehicle loans at rates they could not afford. Such subprime borrows accounted for 34.8 percent of U.S. consumers in 2018, according to credit rating agency Experian.

Lenders use the term “subprime” to describe credit seekers who are likelier than most to have difficulty repaying their debts, Experian says.

Experian defines subprime bor-

rowers as those with a FICO Score in the fair range, between 580 and 669, though lenders define subprime and primes as they see fit, depending on their STANDAERT lending strategies and business goals.

Standard advice to subprime borrowers is to get a bank or credit union auto-loan interest rate quote.

Then take the rate quotes to the dealer and ask it to find a lender to beat the rates, loan professionals say. » READ MORE – {span}Subprime auto lender pays state’s borrowers restitution but insists acts not predatory{/span} This approach saves the buyer from a legally allowable dealership

markup of up to 2.5 percent on the interest rate. It could also help to avoid getting stuck in a high-interest below-prime loan.

Experts say pre-approval is sound strategy for avoiding the kind of excessively high rates borne by Santander’s customers. But it won’t go far in Mississippi, where too few people have access to banks or bank credit.

Mississippi’s unbanked rate of 12.5 percent of its households is twice the national average. These are households with no members having either a bank or credit union account.

Further, 52 percent of Mississippi households have never accessed a credit card, bank loan or line of credit, according to a 2019 report from the Board of Governors of the

Federal Reserve.

Car dealers are happy to put out the welcome mat for the unbanked.

Lenders they work with are equally happy they are there. They’ll get to issue a high-interest loan and give the dealer the customary kickback on the interest rate.

It gets even sweeter for the lender if the borrower defaults and the purchased vehicle is repossessed, said Diane Standaert, attorney and senior VP of Policy and Advocacy for Hope Enterprise Corp./HOPE Federal Credit Union.

“Lenders profit off a borrower’s inability to repay the loan,” she said in an interview.

The loans, Standaert said, are TURN TO EXPLOIT, 23

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MBJ

PERSPECTIVE December 2021 Issue • www.msbusiness.com • Page 6

A member of the Mississippi Press Association

www.mspress.org

132 Riverview Dr., Suite E • Flowood, MS 39232 Main: (601) 364-1000 • Fax: (601) 364-1007 E-mails: mbj@msbusiness.com, ads@msbusiness.com, photos@msbusiness.com, research@msbusiness.com, events@msbusiness.com Website: www.msbusiness.com

December 2021 Issue | Volume 53 , Number 22

TAMI JONES Publisher tami.jones@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1011 ROSS REILY Editor ross.reily@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 MARCIA THOMPSON Business Assistant marcia.kelly@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1044 FRANK BROWN List Researcher frank.brown@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1022 LYNN LOFTON Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 TED CARTER Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018 BECKY GILLETTE Contributing Writer mbj@msbusiness.com • (601) 364-1018

Drug monopolies behind high prices Standing in line at the pharmacy. Watched a man pay $900 for a monthly prescription. Must absolutely need that medicine. Wondered what sacrifices he and his family make to pay that much.

That was my wife’s experience last week.

Data shows such situations to be regular occurrences.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa posted that 58 million American adults can’t afford prescription drugs; that 34 million American adults know someone who died because they couldn’t afford treatment; that nine in 10 U.S. adults report that the costs of prescription drugs are “usually much higher” (69%) or “tend to be somewhat higher” (20%) than what consumers should be paying.

As families struggle, pharmaceutical companies rake in billions. That seems far out of balance.

Former President Donald Trump thought so. On Dec. 7, 2016 he said, “I’m going to bring down drug prices.”

He told Time Magazine, “I

BILL CRAWFORD

don’t like what has happened with drug prices.” His 2016 health care plan stated, ““Congress will need the courage to step away from the special interests and do what is right for America…. Though the pharmaceutical industry is in the private sector, drug companies provide a public service.”

He was unable to find enough congressmen, mostly Republicans and some Democrats, with such courage.

Now that ball is in the Democrats’ court. President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better omnibus would address some drug costs. But no Republicans and not all Democrats are on board. The provision may get kicked out in the Senate.

The radical changes needed to improve drug pricing don’t

ever seem to get on the table.

Think free market capitalism. Then look at the monopolistic practices of this government subsidized industry.

The National Institute of Health pumps billions into basic pharmaceutical research. R&D tax credits provide billions. 20-year patents on developed drugs provide monopolistic control with no restraint on pricing.

We’re talking about really big money here. In 2020 worldwide total revenues topped $1.2 trillion with profit margins about double that of large non-pharma companies.

This anti-competitive process has led major drug companies to all but abandon low-margin but still life-saving drug production. Examples: research into vaccines lagged until COVID-19 hit and the government issued a blank check for new vaccines; drug-resistant diseases kill hundreds of thousands annually but research to find new antibiotics has been scant.

Yet there is plenty of money to hire lobbyists. A recent re-

port showed the industry with nearly 1,500. Just during the 2016 congressional elections the industry spent $62 million on lobbying. Such expenditures helped defeat Grassley’s Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction Act of 2019.

And there is plenty of money to pay billions for TV and Internet advertising. A study by the Journal of the American Medical Association found the number of ads increased from 79,000 in 1997 to 4.6 million in 2016.

Without action prices will continue to escalate.

Medicare last month announced an increase Part B costs to pay for the controversial new Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm by Biogen. It costs $56,000 annually. Novartis’ new gene therapy drug Zolgensma will cost $2.125 million.

“And if you make a sale to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor, you shall not wrong one another” – Leviticus 25:14. » BILL CRAWFORD is a syndicated columnist from Jackson.

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PERSPECTIVE FROM THE GROUND UP Real Estate Mailbag

BY PHIL HARDWICK

The real estate market has been in the news quite a bit lately, and with good reason. Prices are skyrocketing in some places, people are moving to places where they can work remotely, and design and ownership trends are changing.

The market is hot in many places. How hot? Just last night I received a call from a real estate agent asking if I wanted to sell our house. She said her buyer would pay more than we paid for the property two years ago and that the buyer was an investor who wanted to buy to rent. Tempting, for sure. But of course, the next house would also have gone up in value.

Let’s look in the mailbag and attempt to answer a few real estate questions receiving during the past few weeks.

Question: What’s the real estate market like in Mississippi right now?

A: Overall, it’s doing fairly well.

According to neighborhoodscout. com, total appreciation during the 12 months from the second quarter of 2020 to second quarter of 2021 was 8.05%. However, real estate is very local. One community might be booming, while another might be suffering.

Here are some average sales prices by county from Realtor.com: DeSoto – $285,000 Harrison – $214,500 Madison – $320,000 Rankin – $245,000 Lee – $209,900 Hinds – $179,900 By the way, your best source for local real estate information is your local Realtor.

earlier this year.

Owing to getting their algorithm wrong, Zillow announced it was selling a bunch of that real estate and PHIL HARDWICK getting out of that business. The stock has plunged.

Q: What caused lumber prices to go up so fast?

A: The building and remodeling boom caught the industry short because it was dealing with the Covid pandemic.

Lumber mills shut down due to infection concerns just as demand for lumber rose, especially in places such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. Do-it-yourselfers were remodeling, working on home projects, etc.

Q: What was the deal with Zillow New home sales were growing. In short, getting in and then out of buying and demand went up while supply went selling residential real estate? Maybe down. Lumber increased from roughly I should have purchased real estate $250 per 1000 board feet to over $850 per instead of Zillow stock.

1000 board feet? And get this: According A. In one sense, Zillow was a bellweth- to the National Association of Home er of how dynamic the real estate market Builders (NAHB), climbing lumber prices can be. Apparently, Zillow thought it are responsible for an approximately could make money flipping houses. They $30,000 gain in the average price of a new found out that it’s not as easy as some of home, further compounding the dramatthose house-flipping shows on televiic increase in home prices this year. sion. Only two years ago, the stock was hovering around $30 a share. The stock Q. What are the latest trends in new market obviously liked Zillow getting homes? into real estate as a buyer/seller, sendA. Below is the list from Deana Vidal, ing the stock price to over $197 a share Manager, Trend Consulting, John Burns

Real Estate Consulting. I chose their list because she is speaking at the National Association of Homebuilders webinar event on this subject in December.

Value – more lifestyle for the money Smarter tech – customers seek a new balance with their tech and their home Personalization – options more thoughtful and targeted Functionality – multifunctional spaces and reconsideration of privacy Health/Wellness – focus on emotional and physical wellness Sustainability – recycling, etc.

Q: What about tiny homes?

A: The market for tiny homes is certainly growing. It remains to be seen if it’s just a niche market or if it will capture over 10% of the total market. Georgia’s first tiny home development in generated a lot of interest and sold out quickly. I’ll call it micro homes in a micro development because there were only eight houses, ranging in size from 250 to 550 square feet. They sold quickly for between $119,000 and $201,000, with amenities including solar panels. The project is known as the Cottages on Vaughan.

Q. What about mortgage rates?

Doesn’t that have a major effect on real estate values?

A: For sure. Looking back at the past three years, we see the following 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage rates.

November 1, 2018 – 4.3% November 1, 2019 – 3.78% November 1, 2020 – 2.78% November 1, 2021 – 3.09% Real estate interest rates have a major effect on mortgage payments. For example, a $250,000 30-year fixed-rate mortgage at 4.3% results in a monthly mortgage payment of $1,237. Change the interest rate to 2.78%, and the monthly payment is $1,025, a difference of $212. For some buyers, that can be a deal breaker.

Q: What do you see in the next three years for residential real estate?

A: One thing I’m watching more closely is this phenomenon of corporate investors buying homeowner residential real estate, and then converting it into rental properties. I’m also noticing new single family subdivisions in some cities that are marketed as rental properties.

This seems to be a growing trend. I’m wondering what the consequence will be for neighborhoods in the long term.

Q: Any other trends?

A: You’re going to hear more about Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU’s), also » PHIL HARDWICK is a regular Mississippi Business known as Granny Flats. They’re detached Journal columnist. His email is phil@philhardwick. units, such as backyard cottages, guest com. houses. That sort of thing.

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December 2021 Issue

Healthcare Respiratory therapists the unsung heroes of the pandemic

BY BECKY GILLETTE

Prior to the pandemic, there were probably a lot of people who didn’t even realize that respiratory therapists are a special category of health professionals who are required to get an Associate Degree in Respiratory Therapy to practice doing work to help patients with lung problems. Some of the biggest fans of RTs are front-line COVID nurses, one of whom calls RTs “the unsung heroes of the pandemic.”

“People think about nurses providing care and forget there are even RTs,” one RN said.

“They don’t even know the importance of RTs. They are the ones who run the vents, the precious ventilators.”

Larry Hopper, system director of respiratory therapy for Baptist Memorial Health Care, said respiratory therapists have been essential during the pandemic because of the way COVID-19 negatively affects HOPPER a patient’s pulmonary system. Many patients needed intervention, which led to RTs being primary responders in administering oxygen therapy in different therapy modalities than they are trained to perform, including positive pressure ventilation techniques and, of course, mechanical ventilation.

“These techniques saved lives,” Hopper said. “Without having the expertise of oxygen therapy management before the use of ventilators, there could have been even higher levels of deaths than were experienced. RTs also assisted in evaluating the need for appropriate continual use of aerosolized oxygen and medications with different therapy modalities than we traditionally offered. This greatly helped ensure lower transmission rates of COVID-19 in the hospital set-

JOE ELLIS/UMMC PHOTOGRAPHY

Brady Holder, manager of respiratory care at the University of Mississippi Medical Center, works with care team members including doctors, nurses and pharmacists to treat patients with COVID-19. ting, which, of course, helped keep our health care peers safe and reduced their exposure to infection. The recommendations from RTs were highly important on both points during this crisis.”

Across the country, RT staffing has been difficult because the need has been so great.

Hopper said the way COVID-19 infections spread in different phases to different areas of the country at different times drove the need for traveling and travel agency opportunities with higher levels of pay, resulting in vacancies in traditional staffing models.

“This was primarily due to health care facilities needing RTs because their staffing ratios had been greatly affected by the increased number of COVID-19 patients and the need for advanced pulmonary care interventions, as well as the number of RT staff exposed to the virus,” Hopper said.

“Both situations drove a higher need for RTs, especially when it came to clinical interventions that were and are still needed in the care of COVID-19 patients today. These needs continue to drive the demand for RTs in

our community and nationally, which has created a more competitive market and compensation practices among health care organizations.”

This has also created gaps in staffing that still affect hospitals today, and RT departments are in a continuous process of rebuilding staffing affected by hiring agencies much in the same way the pandemic has affected nursing staffing. Hopper said they are always looking for motivated and qualified individuals to join our staff at Baptist.

“We offer premium pay and have generous bonuses, and we encourage RTs to look for opportunities with us at baptistonline.org/careers,” Hopper said. “ Health care workers across the board have been put to the test during the pandemic, and the RT field is no exception.

Hopper said staffing shortages, the fear of causing harm to their families due to working so closely with COVID-19 patients, and the overall mortality rate of COVID-19 patients has affected all health care team members.

“The pandemic had a negative effect on health care

workers’ heart-driven passions for positive outcomes,” he said.

“The increased possibility of death made it very difficult for some to stay in the field and caused them to look for other avenues of employment, in my opinion.”

Brady Holder, University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) manager of respiratory care, said oxygen therapy, high flow oxygen therapy, CPAP, BiPAP, and ventilators are just a handful of therapies that respiratory therapists use when providing care to COVID-19 patients.

Holder said it is a team effort to save lines. RTs work side-by-side in the best collaborative way with a dedicated team of clinical specialists who are needed to care for these patients.

“Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and dieticians are just a few members of the care team, and each brings specialties and a unique perspective or skill set to provide the best possible care,” Holder said. “Saving the life of a patient would be difficult without each member of the care team.”

Holder said UMMC has not

seen a significant increase in RT program enrollment. There are only a handful of schools across Mississippi that offer a respiratory care program. “Historically, these schools are graduating only a small number of therapists, which is not enough to keep up with the normal workforce attrition throughout Mississippi,” Holder said.

RT salaries have increased.

The travel market is currently the main driving force behind the increase in therapist pay.

“The travel market for therapists has been around for years, but has mostly been in areas on the West Coast or the Northeastern U.S.” Holder said.

“This meant that to take a travel assignment, you had to move hours away from home, which many people were unwilling to do. Now, therapists can pursue travel assignments on a more local level within hours to minutes from their home, and UMMC has lost some therapists because of this.”

Burnout is occurring in the RT field. Holder said working with fewer staff members while taking care of more and sicker patients has definitely taken a toll.

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Mississippi COVID deaths highest per capita; faces holiday surge

BY LISA MONTI

Mississippi has had the highest per capita death rate from COVID-19 and Dr. Thomas Dobbs, the State Health Director, says the deaths are due mainly to two driving forces.

Mississippi has the highest rate of infection of any state so, Dobbs said, “It shouldn’t be surprising that a lot of us died because a lot of us had Covid.” Through November, the state had more than 514,000 cases and total deaths were 10,285.

Adding to the death rate is the fact that many Mississippians have underlying Dobbs health factors such as obesity and diabetes that make them more vulnerable to serious complications and death from the virus.

To reduce the rate of infection and death, Dobbs said, “The easiest thing is get everybody immune. We still have way too many Mississippians who are not immune and the best way to get them safe is the vaccine.”

The Covid vaccination has been proven to safely reduce the risk of infection and death and is now readily available to everyone in the state 5 years of age and older.

In spite of the vaccine availability, Dobbs said, about 1.4 million Mississippis or half of the state population is fully vaccinated. “If you throw in the number of people who have some degree of underlying natural immunity, you are still looking at some 600,000

people in Mississippi who are vulnerable,” he said. “You are going to have thousands more deaths that are preventable.”

He said the Covid vaccine “has been one of the most effective and safest vaccines to prevent this disease” and he called resistance to getting vaccinated “illogical reticence.”

Overall, the COVID vaccine is greater than 90 effective at preventing COVID related deaths. For individuals under 50 years of age, the vaccine is 100-percent effective at preventing COVID related deaths.

Dobbs said trying to promote the benefits of the vaccination among a skeptical and misinformed population is challenging.“You have folks who refuse to accept reality so it’s hard to have a logical conversation,” he said.

One of the most effective ways to drive the message home is people actually seeing how Covid sickens and kills their neighbors, friends and relatives.

“If 100 people die today, that might not impact you but if your cousin dies today that impacts you,” Dobbs said.

“We’ve had a lot of people who have lost cousins, parents, aunts and children. It can happen to anybody.”

Dobbs said state health officials are reinforcing their message about proven precautions against spreading a virus as they monitor the new Omicron variant. “Masking, social distancing, being in small groups outdoors, those things still work along with vaccines for people who are not immune. We’re still think-

ing about the same things, making sure we have optimal protection while we see what happens with this new variant.”

Dobbs is also concerned about the potential for illness as the winter season approaches. “With the flu and Covid, it’s very concerning. Folks spend more time indoors as we have holiday gatherings, and those are prime times to spread respiratory viruses.”

Dobbs is also monitoring a small uptick in Covid hospitalizations in the state as well as a significant increase in flu cases across the country. “We have seen predominance of a strain of flu that is especially harmful and deadly for older folks and so as we go into winter with a combination of flu and Covid, we’re worried not only about the health consequences of that but the likelihood if not inevitability that our health system will once again be overcome.”

The pandemic has highlighted the need for having a strong public health infrastructure, including technology, Dobbs said. “When Covid hit, we

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were still dependent on fax machines. Who uses fax anymore?”

He said there has been “an historic underinvestment in public health” but now more attention is being paid to it “because everybody expects to have accurate, timely reporting, good analytics, and they’re depending on us to make sure the vaccines get out and testing happens. So it’s identified how important it is for the wellbeing of our state.”

One persistent problem with federal funding on public health is that it is fixed on the single health crisis of the moment. “All the funding we’re getting now is for Covid and there’s not ample flexibility to use this funding for the next public health threat, whatever it might be,” he said.

On the state level, Dobbs said, funding expands and contracts with revenue and the contractions are “just devastating.” Stable, steady public health funding would be useful to be able to plan long term, he said. Maintaining strong science based public health laws is important as well.

Dobbs said the state health

department has found good partners among Black leaders in the faith community as well as medical professionals, educators, nonprofits and others to help promote health education.

“That has been enormously helpful because by setting up these trusted relationships we are able to have strong communications that are knowledge based. If you don’t have trust then you can’t have the opportunity to have honest conversations and there’s not adequate trust across all segments of the population.”

Looking ahead to the new year, Dobbs said his wish would be that “everybody who’s not vaccinated for Covid or the flu get vaccinated and also for people to use the common sense measures that we know work to protect themselves and their families.

When you’re out in public, wear a mask, they work. Try to keep your groups small and outdoors if possible. We have a strong sense we’re likely to see a holiday surge of Covid and we want to get as many people through the pandemic alive and as healthy as we can.”

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Mississippi Business Journal

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December 2021 Issue

Hospice Facilities

Licensed Hospice Facilities Provider

County

Phone

Adoration Home Health & Hospice Care Mississippi, 15359 U.S. 49 S.; Suite 3, Yazoo City, MS 39194 Adoration Home Health Care Mississippi, 803 E. Sunflower Road, Cleveland, MS 38732 Alliance Health Care Hospice, 1430 Hwy 4 E., Holly Springs MS 38635 Asera Care Hospice -Senatobia, 300 Northwest Plaza, Senatobia, MS 38668 Baptist Home Care and Hospice-North Mississippi, 560 Highway 6 East, Batesville, MS 38606 Baptist Hospice - Golden Triangle, 2309 Bluecutt Road, Ste B, Columbus, MS 39705 Baptist Hospice - Yazoo City, 732 E. 15th St., Yazoo City, MS 39194 Canon Hospice, 1520 Broad Ave, Suite 500, Gulfport, MS 39501 Comfortcare Hospice, 2260 Highway 15 N, Laurel, MS 39441 Compassionate Care Hospice of Southern Mississippi, LLC, 208A Hwy 51 S., Brookhaven, MS 39601 Compassus - Jackson, 3010 Lakeland Cove, Suite Z-1, Flowood MS, 39232 Compassus - Hattiesburg, 517 W. Scooba St.; Units 20 & 30, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 Compassus - Memphis, 919 Ferncliff Cove, Suite 1, Southaven, MS 38671 Compassus - Mid-Mississippi, 120 W. Cherokee St., Brookhaven, MS 39601 Deaconess Hospice - Biloxi, 2556 Marcia Court, Suite 101, Biloxi, MS 39530 Deaconess Hospice - Brookhaven, 105 Whitebrook Dr., Brookhaven, MS 39601 Deaconess Hospice - Laurel, 128 S. 11th Ave, Laurel, MS 39440 Delta Regional Medical Center Hospice, 300 S. Washington, Greenville, MS 38701 Dignity Hospice, LLC, 121B W. Monticello St., Brookhaven, MS 39601 Encompass Health - Hospice, 133 Mayfair Road, Hattiesburg, MS 39402 Encompass Health - Hospice of Central Mississippi, 225 Katherine Drive, Flowood, MS 39232 Encompass Health - Hospice of North Mississippi, 2166 S. Lamar Blvd, Oxford MS 38655 Encompass Health - Hospice of Northeast Mississippi, 499 Gloster Creek Village; #I-7, Tupelo, MS 38801 Encompass Health - Hospice of Southwest Mississippi, 1304 Harrison Ave, Ste B, McComb, MS 39648 Encompass Health - Hospice of the Gulf Coast, 11703 Highland Circle, Gulfport, MS 39503 Forrest General Home Care Hospice, 304 S. 40th Ave., Hattiesburg, MS 39402 Grace Community Hospice, 808 E. Sunflower Road, Cleveland, MS 38732 Grace Hospice, 200 E. Market St., Greenwood MS 38930 Grenada N. Delta Hospice & Palliative Services, 123 Stateline Road, Southaven MS 38671 Halcyon Hospice - Batesville, 270 Power Drive, Batesville, MS 38606 Halcyon Hospice - Hattiesburg, 1 Lincoln Pkwy, Ste 303, Hattiesburg MS 39402 Halcyon Hospice - Philadelphia, 1012 E. Main St, Suite B4, Philadelphia, MS 39350 Harper's Hospice Care, Inc., 1703 24th Ave, Meridian, MS 39301 Heart of Hospice, LLC, 9849 Highway 178, Unit B, Olive Branch MS 38654 Heart of Hospice, LLC - Delta, 810 E. Sunflower Rd, Suite 100C Cleveland, MS 38732 Heart of Hospice, LLC - Jackson, 232 S. Main St, Yazoo City, MS 39194 Heart of Hospice, LLC - Southern, 12 Melody Lane, Collins, MS 39428 Homecare Hospice North, LLC, 103 B Highway 30 W., New Albany, MS, 39652 Homecare Hospice South, LLC, 100 Walnut Circle; Suite 110, Hattiesburg, MS 39401 Homecare Hospice, Inc., 13 Northtown Dr, Ste 130, Jackson MS 39211 Hospice Care Group, 114 E. Donald St, Quitman, MS 39355 Hospice Compassus - MS, 119 W. Presley Blvd, Suite D, McComb, MS 39648 Hospice Ministries, 450 Towne Center Blvd., Ridgeland, MS 39157 Hospice of Light, 1121 Ocean Springs Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 Hospice of North Sunflower, 105 E. Floyce St, Ruleville, MS 38771 Infinity Hospice Care, Inc., 110 S. Pearl St, Carthage, MS 39051 Kare-In-Home Hospice, 497-B Keywood Circle, Flowood, MS 39232 Kare-in-Home Hospice of North Mississippi, 909 S. Fulton Dr., Corinth, MS 38834 Kare-in-Home Hospice of Northwest Mississippi, 271 Highway 6, Batesville, MS 38606 Kare-In-Home Hospice, LLC, 936 Hall St; Suite G, Wiggins, MS 39577 Kindred Hospice - Biloxi, 962 Tommy Munro Dr, Suite D & E, Biloxi, MS 38532 Kindred Hospice - Booneville, 301B W. College St, Booneville, MS 38829 Kindred Hospice - Flowood, 106 Riverview Dr, Flowood, MS 39232 Kindred Hospice - Oxford, 2706 W Oxford Loop, Ste 100, Oxford, MS 38655 Kindred Hospice - Starkville, 403 Hospital Road, Starkville, MS 39759 Kindred Hospice - Vicksburg, 1990 S. Frontage Road, Ste 1, Vicksburg, MS 39180 Legacy Hospice of South, 212 E. Jefferson St, Ripley, MS 38663 Legacy Hospice of the South - Batesville, 108 Woodland Road, Suite 7D, Batesville, MS 38606 Legacy Hospice of the South - Grenada, 1410 Wooded Drive, Grenada, MS 38901 Legacy Hospice of the South - Starkville, 1085 Stark Road, Suite F, Starkville, MS 39759 Magnolia Regional Home Health & Hospice, 1001 S. Harper Road, Corinth, MS 38834 Mid-Delta Hospice of Batesville, 112 Highway 51 N., Batesville, MS 38606 Mid-Delta Hospice South, Inc, 1650 U.S. 61 North, Suite B, Vicksburg, MS 39183

Yazoo Bolivar Marshall Tate Panola Lowndes Yazoo Harrison Jones Lincoln Rankin Forrest DeSoto Lincoln Harrison Lincoln Lamar Washington Lincoln Lamar Rankin Lafayette Lee Pike Harrison Forrest Bolivar Leflore DeSoto Panola Forrest Neshoba Lauderdale DeSoto Bolivar Yazoo Covington Union Forrest Hinds Clarke Pike Madison Jackson Sunflower Leake Rankin Alcorn Panola Stone Harrison Prentiss Rankin Lafayette Oktibbeha Warren Tippah Panola Grenada Oktibbeha Alcorn Panola Warren

662-746-5815 662-846-6211 662-252-1212 662-504-4628 662-578-8402 662-243-1173 352-742-6809 228-575-6251 601-422-0054 601-282-9660 601-956-9755 601-705-0360 662-393-4033 601-835-3363 228-435-2265 601-823-5990 601-261-4010 662-725-1200 601-748-7020 601-264-8691 601-932-9066 662-238-7771 662-844-2870 601-684-5033 228-374-4434 601-288-2500 662-846-7600 662-563-2919 662-745-0587 662-561-0902 601-336-5832 601-656-7411 601-483-4134 662-253-5824 662-350-0557 662-350-0830 601-714-1221 662-539-7339 601-909-6105 601-625-7840 601-776-8880 601-250-0884 601-898-1053 228-818-2160 662-756-1700 601-654-2328 601-605-3881 662-286-9833 662-890-4646 601-336-7855 228-385-7845 662-728-7404 601-983-6193 662-234-0140 662-615-1519 601-629-9673 662-837-9990 662-578-8177 662-226-4246 662-338-0078 662-293-1405 662-563-1021 601-638-8285

Mid-Delta Hospice, Inc., 405 Hayden St, Belzoni, MS 39038

Humphreys

662-247-1254

North MS Medical Center Hospice, 422-B E. President St, Tupelo, MS 38801 North Yalobusha Hospice & Palliative Care, Inc., 30656 Highway 32, Oakland, MS 38948 Notre Dame Hospice of Mississippi, 5407 Indian Hill Blvd, Diamondhead, MS 39525 Palladium Hospice and Palliative Care - Ridgeland, 680 Highway 51, Suite L, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Palladium Hospice and Palliative Care, LLC, 243 Beauvoir Road, Ste B, Biloxi, MS 39531 Pax Hospice, 359 Towne Center Blvd, Suite 500, Ridgeland, MS 39157 Quality Hospice Care, Inc., 340 Byrd Ave., Philadelphia, MS 39350

Lee Yalobusha Hancock Madison Harrison Madison Neshoba

662-377-3612 662-623-0946 228-687-1385 601-317-4947 228-207-0390 601-991-3840 601-656-5252

Additional Locations

Jackson

Columbia, Picayune Vicksburg Southaven Columbus

Hattiesburg, Picayune

Belden

Jackson

Meridian, Natchez Brookhaven, Ridgeland Lucedale

Tupelo

Amory, Corinth

Clarksdale, Charleston Brookhaven, Canton, Lexington Cleveland, Greenville, Greenwood, Yazoo City

Hattiesburg

Accreditation status Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed CHAP Accredited / Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed CHAP Accredited / Deemed Non-Accredited / Deemed Non-Accredited / Deemed CHAP Accredited / Deemed CHAP Accredited / Deemed Not Accredited / Not Deemed Not Accredited / Not Deemed ACHA Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed TJC Accredited / Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed CHAP Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed CHAP Accredited / Deemed CHAP Accredited / Deemed CHAP Accredited / Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed TJC Accredited / Not Deemed

December 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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11

Hospice Facilities

Licensed Hospice Facilities Provider

County

Phone

Additional Locations

Saad Home Health and Hospice of MS, 10598 D'Iberville Blvd, Suite B, D'Iberville, MS 39450

Harrison

228-432-8855

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Saint Anthony's Hospice & Palliative Care, 108 N. Ruby Ave., Ruleville, MS 38771

Sunflower

662-756-2072

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Saint John Hospice & Palliative Care, 106 N. Ruby Ave., Ruleville, MS 38771

Sunflower

662-756-0928

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Sanctuary Home Hospice, 5159 W. Main St, Tupelo, MS 38801

Lee

662-407-2400

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Serenity Hospice, LLC, 103 S. Court St. Ste 107, Cleveland, MS 38732

Bolivar

662-545-4756

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Shepherd Hospice, 106 W. Bankhead St., New Albany, MS 39652

Union

662-539-7123

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Solace Hospice, Inc., 215 Highway 26 E., Poplarville, MS 39470

Pearl River

601-403-9822

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Southerncare Biloxi, 8195A Woolmarket Road, Biloxi, MS 39532

Harrison

228-396-4756

Southerncare Hattiesburg, 4700 Hardy St., Suite Y, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

Lamar

601-579-9493

Southerncare Meridian, 4803 29th Ave, Suite B, Meridian MS 39301

Lauderdale

601-693-0412

Southerncare Newton, 191 Northside Drive, Newton, MS 39345

Newton

601-683-7500

Meridian

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Southerncare Oxford, 512 Azalea Drive, Oxford, MS 38655

Lafayette

662-578-4072

Southaven, Tupelo

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Specialty Hospice - Central MS, 1221 Grove St, Vicksburg, MS 39183

Warren

601-661-9752

TJC Accredited / Deemed

Specialty Hospice, LLC, 5924 Pleasant Hill Road, Olive Branch, MS 38654

DeSoto

662-420-7157

ACHC Accredited / Deemed

Spring Valley Hospice, 7139 Commerce Drive, Bldg B3, Olive Branch, MS 38654

DeSoto

662-890-5554

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Spring Valley Hospice of Tupelo, 1018 N Gloster, Suite J, Tupelo, MS 38804

Lee

662-890-5554

St. Joseph Hospice of Southern Mississippi, LLC, 101 Aldersgate Cir., Hattiesburg, MS 39402

Forrest

601-261-2515

Gulfport

ACHC Accredited / Deemed

St. Joseph Hospice of West, MS, LLC, 322 Highway 80 East, Clinton, MS 39056

Hinds

601-894-3014

Vicksburg

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

St. Luke Home Health and Hospice, 1170 E. Broad St., Monticello, MS 39654

Lawrence

601-587-7686

Hattiesburg

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Sta-Home Hospice of MS, Inc., 3500 Lakeland Dr. Ste 515, Flowood MS 39232

Rankin

601-991-1933

Grenada, Meridian, Philadelphia

CHAP Accredited / Deemed

Unity Hospice Care, LLC, 1413 W. Main St, Suite B, Tupelo, MS 38801

Lee

662-539-7010

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Unity Hospice Care, LLC - Olive Branch, 9035 E. Sandridge Road, Suite 102, Olive Branch, MS 38654

DeSoto

662-893-5662

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Wayne General Hospital Hospice Agency, 951 Matthew Dr., Suite C, Waynesboro, MS 39367

Wayne

601-735-5500

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Lucedale, Picayune

Accreditation status

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

Non-Accredited / Not Deemed

We Care Hospice, 3725 Main St, Moss Point, MS 39563 Jackson 228-474-2030 Non-Accredited / Not Deemed Source: Mississippi State Department of Health, November 2021. Hospices are certified and licensed by the state as well as accredited by either the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP), The Joint Commission (TJC) or Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC). Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

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Mississippi Business Journal

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December 2021 Issue

December 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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13

Architects and Engineers Interesting mix of historic places make Ten Most Endagered List of 2021

BY LYNN LOFTON

The Mississippi Heritage Trust has released the 2021 list of the Ten Most Endangered Historic Places. They are spread across the state and include a zoo, a drug store, a theater and a whole town. Some of them are still in use while others languish in disrepair. The mission of the Heritage Trust is to save and renew places meaningful to Mississippians and their history. This year’s list is the thirteenth in the series.

“We should all care about these places because they tie stories to the communities in a wonderful way,” says the Trust’s Executive Director Lolly Rash, “and we want to keep these places in our lives.

Sometimes putting a place on the list is a wake up call.”

The Barq’s Root Beer birthplace in Biloxi is already benefitting from being on the list.

Bill Raymond, Biloxi’s historical administrator, said, “Since the list came out, the Barq’s building on Keller Avenue has changed ownership. The new owner has embarked on an adaptive reuse project to save the building and turn it into a residence.”

He says the stabilization phase is currently underway, and once it’s secure, the restoration work can begin.

“I would expect the project to take six to eight months to complete.”

Of the Top Ten Places, Rash says the Dumas Drug Store in Natchez may be the most vulnerable. “It has multiple owners and the heirs have not stepped forward to secure it,” she said. “Also, the 900 Block of Lynch Street in Jackson because again there are multiple owners and it’s not just one building. The entire block needs a redevelopment plan

Mississippi Heritage Trust 2021 Ten Most Endangered Historic Places

Oakland Chapel and Oakland College Cemetery, Alcorn Barq’s Root Beer Birthplace, Biloxi

900 block, John R. Lynch Street, Jackson because the buildings share walls.”

Some of the places are privately owned. The Oakland Chapel and Cemetery at Alcorn State University is owned by the state. The Triangle Cultural Center in Yazoo City is owned by the city. Owners have limited resources and various priorities, Rash points out. “The citizens have stepped forward in Yazoo City,” she said. “The mayor and council see the importance of this facility too and are thinking proactively.”

The Alcorn Chapel is a national landmark and tells the story of early days of that area.

“There are issues related to

deferred maintenance,” Rash said. “A representative from Alcorn contacted us and we hope to give them additional tools.”

A major tool for all owners are the tax credits available for renovation. Owners can qualify for a 25 percent credit from the state and 10 percent from the federal government.

Once completed, the place has to be revenue generating, but Rash says it’s not that hard to qualify. “Some developers are creative, such as Roger Smith with the Temple Theater in Meridian. I value the way he’s going about it.”

Eupora architect Belinda Stewart has worked, and con-

» 900 block, John R. Lynch Street, Jackson » Oakland Chapel and Oakland College Cemetery, Alcorn » Barq’s Root Beer Birthplace, Biloxi » Dumas Drug Store, Natchez » Jackson Zoo, Jackson » Temple Theater, Meridian » Broadmoor Store, Gulfport » Unita Blackwell House, Mayersville » Triangle Cultural Center, Yazoo City » Town of Fort Adams

cation, degree of deterioration, financial challenges and more.

Publicly owned historic properties often have to compete with basic infrastructure and other challenges for funding,” she said. “Fortunately, there are financial incentives and funding assistance programs available to help. Federal and State historic tax credits, sometimes paired with other tinues to work, with several of fundraising efforts and incenthe Trust’s Most Endangered tives, have helped provide the projects. “They do a wonderful financial viability for many job recognizing these struchistoric preservation projects tures and garnering attention in Mississippi.” Stewart adds to help bring support and that identifying a sustainable funding to the restoration use for the structure is importprocess,” she said. “Because ant. “There are many wonof them, Mississippi has been derful examples of structures able to continue preserving that have been rehabilitated some of our most valuable to provide functions that are historic structures. These different from their original instructures represent the stories tent, while keeping the original of our history and restoring historic character.” the structures helps keep these Belinda Stewart Archistories alive.” tects was instrumental in However, Stewart acrestoring the Amzie Moore knowledges that endangered House Museum in Cleveland, properties often have multiwhich was on the 2011 Most ple challenges. “These could include ownership issues, loTURN TO PLACES, 15

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December 2021 Issue

A layered HVAC approach combining several methods recommended to stop spread of COVID-19

BY BECKY GILLETTE

Early in the pandemic, it wasn’t known for certain how the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads. Now, although sanitation of hands and surfaces continues to be one of the practices being

used to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, it has been determined that the virus is primarily spread in the air. That has led to increased focus on how heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems can be used to help prevent the spread

of the virus that has now caused more than 48 million cases of COVID-19 and 7,777 deaths in the U.S. as of early December.

Mississippi State University mechanical engineering professor Heejin Cho, Ph.D., and his graduate student, Gentry

Berry, were two of five authors of a recent publication, “A review of methods to reduce the probability of the airborne spread of COVID-19 in ventilation systems and enclosed spaces,”

published in the scientific journal Environmental Research.

“COVID-19 forced the human population to CHO rethink its way of living,” the article states. “The threat

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posed by the potential spread of the virus via an airborne transmission mode through ventilation systems in buildings and enclosed spaces has been recognized as a major concern. To mitigate this threat, researchers have explored different technologies and methods that can remove or decrease the concentration of the virus in ventilation systems and enclosed spaces. Although many technologies and methods have already been researched, some are currently available on the market, but their effectiveness and safety concerns have not been fully investigated.”

To acquire a broader view and collective perspective of the current research and development status, the paper discusses a comprehensive review of various workable technologies and methods to combat airborne viruses, e.g., COVID-19, in ventilation systems and enclosed spaces. These technologies and methods include an increase in ventilation, high-efficiency air filtration, ionization of the air, environmental condition control, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation, nonthermal plasma and reactive oxygen species, filter coatings, chemical disinfectants, and heat inactivation. Research gaps have been identified and discussed, and recommendations for applying such technologies and methods have also been provided in this article.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has stated that it is possible for people to be infected through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects (fomites), the risk is generally considered to be low.

TURN TO HVAC, 15

December 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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15

Places

Mississippi River, the fort was established in 1698 when missionaries came to convert FROM 13 the native tribes. The fort was tied to the Endangered List. “It’s an excellent example development of the U.S “It’s not widely of an endangered property that has been known but the buildings tell a fascinating restored, providing a public museum space tale,” Rash said. which has brought attention and life to a Through the years, the small town was once vibrant neighborhood on the edge of affected by the shifting river and frequent Cleveland’s downtown,” Stewart said. “The flooding and the encroaching forest. property was restored by Bolivar County, Among the incredible success stories with the help of Delta State University, to Rash likes to tell is the saving of the old provide a museum honoring and telling the Hattiesburg High School that was just a transformative story of Amzie Moore and shell for many years. “The town would civil rights history in the area.” not let it go and now it’s apartments for Rash says the Jackson Zoo needs a neigh- seniors.” borhood revitalization. “There are people Anyone wanting to help save an endanwho want the zoo moved to a different gered place should reach out to decision location, but we don’t think the one good makers and elected officials, Rash says. thing in a neighborhood should be taken “Raise your voice and love these places out. There was a lot of debate among the in your town. People won’t tell you about jurors on this one.” the Wal-Mart on the edge of their town, The town of Fort Adams is another inbut they will point with pride to historic teresting place on the list. Located on the places.”

HVAC

Town of Ft. Adams

inactivation,” the paper states.

“Finally, super-heated sterilFROM 14 ization may present another “Respiratory droplets carryviable solution for inactivating the virus tend to either be ing viral particles, although it large and will remain in the air has traditionally been used to for very short periods of time, sterilize surgical equipment on or very small, and will remain a smaller scale.” airborne for extended periods A layered approach that comof time,” said Berry, who was bines several of the proposed lead author of the paper. methods is recommended.

Cho said air filtration is vital “This is because none of the to help improve the removal of individual methods are likely the airborne particles from an to completely remove the viral enclosed space. Therefore, havairborne particles from an ing proper air filtration systems enclosed space, and a layered in HVAC systems would be likeapproach may potentially ly to decrease the probability of avoid the pitfall of diminishing spreading COVID-19. returns from a single method “Bringing in more outdoor of viral removal,” Cho said. air to the building spaces “The ideal approach may be would be effective to reduce unique for each situation to the concentration of airborne ensure the maximum removal particles,” Cho said. “However, of airborne particles conHVAC systems would have size taining COVID-19 and would limits to bring in outdoor fresh the room or building. Cho said other alternatives for viral inacChemical disinfectants depend on factors such as the air. Therefore, it is encouraged it is difficult to balance between tivation that have been proven are widely used and can be ability to introduce fresh air to to bring in more outdoor air energy conservation and air effective against bacteria and extremely effective at viral inac- a space, or the configuration while operating HVAC systems purification. He recommends other microbes. tivation, such as hand sanitizer of a previously installed HVAC with proper air filters.” following ventilation guid“Non-thermal plasma is or household bleach. However, system.”

Even something as simple ance from CDC to lower the made using electricity inBerry said many of these effecCho said the technologies as room air purifiers with risk of COVID-19 exposure. stead of extreme heat,” Berry tive chemicals are not safe to that appear to be most promishigh efficiency particulate air See the guidance from CDC: said. “With the right inputs, ingest or breathe, and therefore ing at this moment are ultravi(HEPA) filters can help reduce https://www.cdc.gov/coronanon-thermal plasma can genwould be harmful in the air olet germicidal irradiation and the concentration of viral airvirus/2019-ncov/community/ erate elements, such as ozone, around people. other ultraviolet light related borne particles. And Cho said, ventilation.html. which have been shown to be Another possible method dis- technologies, as well as more yes, opening a window can also Cho said an important strate- effective at disinfecting objects cussed in the paper is utilizing conventional air purifying techbe helpful. “It will help reduce gy can be to increase the depo- and surfaces. However, ozone filter coatings that facilitate vinologies in HVAC system such the concentration of airborne sition rate of the viral particles is toxic to people, so its use may ral inactivation by mechanisms as fibrous filters. particles by introducing fresh to surfaces. “Air ionization pro- be limited. Certain materials such as the natural antiviral “There are several other outdoor air to an enclosed vides a promising method to that have antiviral properproperties of materials or by seemingly viable technologies space,” Cho said. reduce the number of airborne ties can be added to filters as directly damaging the virus. that show potential to be effecOf course, when it is very particles by increasing their coatings to ensure that any viral “Chemical disinfectants have tive, but it would require more hot or cold outside, bringing deposition rate to walls and particles trapped by a filter are also been proven to effectively research and development for in fresh air can reduce the other surfaces,” Cho said. inactivated and won’t be harm- eliminate viruses from surconfident and practical applicomfort level and/or require Non-thermal plasma and ful if they become airborne faces, and they may provide cations,” he said. more energy use to heat or cool reactive oxygen species present again.” other solutions to increase viral

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Mississippi Business Journal

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December 2021 Issue

Oldest Architectural Firms

Oldest Architectural Firms Rank

Firm

Address

Phone Website

Top Officer/Principals

1

Landry Lewis Germany Architects, P.A.

5211 Old Hwy. 11, Hattiesburg, MS 39402

601-271-7711 llgarch.com

Kevin P Lewis

1910

2

Canizaro Cawthon Davis Architecture Planning Interior Design

129 S. President St., Jackson, MS 39201

601-948-7337 ccdarchitects.com

Danny Cawthon, Steve Davis, Jared Pierce

1938

3

Dean & Dean/Associates Architects, P.A.

4400 Old Canton Rd., Suite 200, Jackson, MS 39211

601-939-7717 deandean.com

J Alan Grant, Timothy G Geddie, Kenneth A Oubre

1949

4

Eley Guild Hardy Architects, P.A.

1091 Tommy Munro Dr., Biloxi, MS 39532

228-594-2323 egh.ms

W. Taylor Guild III, David J. Hardy, James H. Eley

1953

5

Brumfield Ward & Associates Architects, PA

1050 Northpark Dr., Suite C, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-982-0341 brumfieldward.com

Hal C. Brumfield

1957

6

Allred Stolarski Architects, PA

711 Church St, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

228-762-1975 allredstolarski.com

Hoppy Allred, John Stolarski

1961

Cooke Douglass Farr Lemons Architects & Engineers, P.A.

3221 Old Canton Road, Suite 200, Jackson, MS 39216

601-366-3110 cdfl.com

Gene Crager, David Burnet, Newell Kent Watkins

1961

8

jH&H Architects/Planners/Interiors, PA

1047 N. Flowood Dr., Flowood, MS 39232

601-948-4601 jhharchitects.com

Joseph Carl Franco AIA, A. Bruce Wood, Paul Bagley, Randall Lewis

1964

9

JBHM Architecture

308 E. Pearl St, Ste. 300, Jackson, MS 39201

601-352-2699 jbhm.com

Richard H. McNeel, Joseph Henderson

1970

Robert Parker Adams, Architect, P.A.

219 N. Lamar St., Jackson, MS 39201

601-948-7722 robertparkeradams.com

Robert Parker Adams

1970

11

RJZ Architecture, PA

91 Sunset Drive, Suite C, Grenada, MS 38901

662-226-7115 N/A

Robert J. Zander

1972

12

tryon comstock rosser - architect

P.O. Box 12724, Jackson, MS 39236

601-927-7777 N/A

Try Rosser

1975

13

Foil-Wyatt Architects & Planners PLLC

1510 N. State St., Suite 400, Jackson, MS 39202

601-352-3071 foilwyatt.com

Edward Bowden Wyatt, Michael R Foil

1977

14

ArchitectureSouth, P.A.

330 W. Jefferson St., Tupelo, MS 38804

662-844-5843 architecturesouth.com

Linda E. Smith

1978

15

McCarty Architects

533 W. Main St., Tupelo, MS 38804

662-844-4400 mccartycompany.com

Kurt Shettles

1983

16

Paul Ingram, Architect

1280 Warrenton Road, Vicksburg, MS 39180

601-415-7347 N/A

Paul Ingram

1985

PryorMorrow PC

5227 S. Frontage Rd., Columbus, MS 39701

662-327-8990 pryormorrow.com

William Dexter, Rud Robison, Corey Ravenhorst, Jose Guadalupe Arellano, Michael Taylor

1985

18

Albert & Robinson Architects, PLLC

514 Main St., Hattiesburg, MS 39401

601-544-1970 ar-architects.com

Larry A. Albert, Chris L. Robinson

1986

19

LPK Architects, P.A.

821 22nd Ave., Meridian, MS 39301

601-693-9990 lpkarchitects.com

Robert E. Luke

1987

20

Belinda Stewart Architects, PA

61 N. Dunn St. / PO Box 867, Eupora, MS 39744

662-258-6405 belindastewartarchitects.com

Belinda J. Stewart

1990

Howorth & Associates Architects

P.O. Box 1569, Oxford, MS 38655

662-234-7444 howortharch.com

Thomas S. Howorth FAIA

1990

22

Grantier Architecture & Interiors, P.A.

5570 Wayneland Dr., Jackson, MS 39211

601-957-3530 grantierarchitecture.com

Buddy Grantier

1992

23

Dale Partners Architects, P.A.

188 E. Capitol St., Ste. 250, Jackson, MS 39201

601-352-5411 dalepartners.com

Leigh G. Jaunsen, Doug Dale, Jeffrey Barnes, Russ Blount, Jason Agostinelli, Neil Polen

1995

24

Burris/Wagnon Architects, P.A.

500L E. Woodrow Wilson Ave., Jackson, MS 39216

601-969-7543 burriswagnon.com

Stan Wagnon, Bill Burris

1997

Duvall Decker Architects, P.A.

2915 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39216

601-713-1128 duvalldecker.com

Roy T. Decker, Anne Marie Decker

1997

26

Ferguson & Associates Architecture, P.A.

100 Calumet Gardens, Suite 200, Madison, MS 39110

601-607-7933 fergusonarchitecture.net

G.G. Ferguson

2000

27

AERC, PLLC

342 W. Valley St, Hernando, MS 38632

662-298-0057 aercpllc.com

Douglas W Thornton AIA, LEED AP

2002

28

Gary Haygood, Landscape Architects & Contractors

571 Highway 51, Suite C, Ridgeland, MS 39157

601-966-3581 garyhaygood.design

Gary Haygood

2004

29

M3A Architecture, PLLC

4880 McWillie Cir., Jackson, MS 39206

601-981-1227 m3aarch.com

William L. McElroy

2005

30

Beard + Riser Architects PLLC

1739 University Ave. #305, Oxford, MS 38655

662-455-2581 beardriser.com

John Beard, Dale Riser

2007

31

Dale | Bailey, An Association

188 E. Capitol St, Ste 250, Jackson, MS 39201

601-352-5411 dalepartners.com/about-dba

Doug Dale, Gary Bailey, Jeff Barnes, Leigh Jaunsen, Russ Blount, Jason Agostinelli, Neil Polen

2008

32

Seabold Architectural Studio

111 N. State St., Jackson, MS 39201

769-216-3101 seabold-studio.com

Jeff Seabold

2009

Wier Boerner Allin Architecture, PLLC

2727 Old Canton Road, Suite 200, Jackson, MS 39216

601-321-9107 wbaarchitecture.com

Michael Boerner, Jamie Wier, Jack Allin

2009

Davis Purdy Architects, PLLC

2303 6th St, Meridian, MS 39301

601-282-1655 davispurdyarchitects.com

John Purdy, Mark Davis

2018

Eley Barkley Dale, An Association

1200 Jefferson Ave, Ste 200 D, Oxford, MS 38655

N/A N/A

Ross Barkley, Doug Dale, Jeff Barnes, Leigh Jaunsen, Russ Blount, Jason Agostinelli, Neil Polen

2018

34

List is ranked by year Mississippi office founded. Information provided by company representatives and MBJ research. Direct questions to frank.brown@msbusiness.com.

Founded in Miss.

December 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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17

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Hancock Whitneyy Bank Ba Ingalls Shipbuild uilding Irby Construction Insurance and Risk Managers Jones Walker LLP Magnolia Health Mississippi Board of Nursing sing Mississippi Business Journall Mississippi p Hospital Association Mississippi Power Company Mississipp Nissann North America, Inc. Pretty Presentations Catering & Event Rentals Regions Renasant Bank Sanderson Farms, ms, Inc. State Farm Insurance nce Companies Structural Steel Services, Inc. SuperTalk Mississippi Media The First, A National Banking Association The Taylor Group of Companies p Toyota Motor Manufacturing ing Mississippi Trustmark W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company Woodward Hines Education Foundation

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December 2021 Issue

Economic development

D’Iberville population, economy continue to boom

BY LISA MONTI

City manager Clay Jones says “there’s a lot in play” in the fast growing coastal city of D’Iberville. Residential growth has been significant as has commercial growth, Jones said, and the overall local economy is strong.

The latest population estimates shows the city with 14,012 residents, well up from 9,486 in 2010. The 21 percent increase is across all age groups.

Named for the French explorer Pierre LeMoyne, Sieur d’Iberville who landed on the Gulf Coast in 1699, D’Iberville was incorporated in 1988. At the time, it was the 11th coast city with a size of 4.8 square miles and a population of 6,500. In 2004 the city annexed approximately 2.5 square miles, north of its boundary.

Annexation in 2013 played a big part in the recent population growth, said Jones. “We annexed 7.6 miles basically due north and the majority of that was residential,” he said. The addition brought the city to 12.3 square miles.

Location also adds to the numbers, with Keesler Air Force Base nearby. “Keesler is right across the bridge and plays a huge part,” he said, with military personnel and their dependents chasing to live, shop and play in D’Iberville. “We’ve

The Scarlet Pearl is a major employer in the City of D’Iberville. gained a lot of land and houses since the last census.”

Geography also works to the city’s benefit especially in the retail segment. The four corners of Interstate 10 and I-110 are home to major stores including Lowes, Walmart, Academy Sports and a movie theater on or around Sangani Boulevard.

Smaller outlets such as Subway add diversity to the retail market, Jones said.

West of the northeast quadrant is the Promenade shopping center with Target, Marshalls, Dicks Sporting Goods and a new Bath & Body Works. Jones said Hobby Lobby has announced plans to open.

State needs to transition to people-based economic development

“That area is still growing out,” he said. A Walk-Ons Sports Bistreaux has announced a new casual restaurant in the city.

On the southwest quadrant in the Galleria is the new Mandal Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership and the award-winning Mandal Buick GMC. Mandal’s award-winning Galleria BMW, a state of the art luxury dealership with an 11-car showroom, also is situated on an 16-acre site at the I-10/I-110 corridor.

Car dealer Bob Mandal calls the I-10/I-110 site the keyhole and he believes the busy area will continue to grow. “There’s something about D’Iberville that draws people from the

BY BECKY GILLETTE

In Mississippi and many other states, particularly in the South, economic developers have focused on what is known in the industry as “whale hunting.” Economic developers compete against each other offering major financial incentives including tax deductions, infrastructure development and workforce training in order to attract new industries and jobs.

But has that strategy really helped

and the city’s only casino, the Scarlet Pearl, has some 800 employees.

New privilege licenses issued to do business in the city also increased over the same three year period. There were 41 licenses issued in 2019, 35 issued in 2020 and 33 through November.

Jones said the city has benefitted from state and federal funding over the last 10 years, including $42.5 million for new I-10 interchanges and $3.2 million from the state to widen Mallet Road.

Such improvements in roads and other infrastructure are welcomed by D’Iberville leaders who recently built a $5 million police department and whole region: Atlanta to Mema riverside kayak launch. The phis to Dallas,” he said. “The city invested $9 million in a state and city have been so sports complex named for longgood to us. We’re trying to raise time mayor Rusty Quave that the bar on the coast and make opened in 2018 to host baseball it the place to come.” tournaments and other events.

The southeast quadrant is The venture into sports gives mostly vacant land but Jones said D’Iberville’s economy another he expects some activity in that aspect along with its casino area within the next year or two. and strong retail segment. The The city issued 483 total city just received $6 million in building permits in 2019 and Restore funds for a working 487 in 2020. This year there waterfront were 522 main permits through “We’re continuing to grow November, including 161 for and we want to make sure we residential projects and 56 for have smart growth,” Jones said. commercial projects.

“We’re trying to make sure we Jones said the commercial are good stewards with the activity in the city is growing money we are getting from the along with the population government.”

Mississippi grow its economy? No, says Jon C. Maynard, president and CEO, Oxford-Lafayette County Chamber of Commerce and EcoMAYNARD nomic Development Foundation. Instead, he advocates people-based economic development.

Maynard, who did a TED Talk on the subject earlier this year, said that economic developers get so involved

in whale hunting that they forget to look at the long-term health of the economy.

“New jobs and investments aren’t the best way to measure economic development success,” Maynard said. “Whale hunting is difficult and expensive. To see if whale hunting has developed the economy in Mississippi, it is important to look at population growth, total employment and manufacturing TURN TO ECONOMY, 19F

December 2021 Issue

Economy FROM 18F

employment. You want to see a positive change in all of those.”

Instead, things have been going in the wrong direction for most of Mississippi’s counties.

He said things were pretty good in decade of the 1990 showing a ten percent increase in population, a 20 percent increase in total employment and a six percent loss in manufacturing.

But from 2000 to 2019, the state lost 84,000 manufacturing jobs, saw a net loss of 7,000 jobs and population growth was cut in half.

“Mississippi is losing population and jobs, and getting relatively poorer and poorer,” Maynard said. “While the average growth in per capita income was the same as the U.S. average, the downside is that Mississippians make only 75 percent of the national average. It has been this way for 30 years. We haven’t changed the trend.”

Worse, there is a frightening report from the Southern Regional Education Board warning that due to effects of the pandemic combined with automation, 589,000 workers in Mississippi--51 percent of the complete workforce--is at risk to be unemployed or have hours and pay reduced. The most vulnerable are those with the lowest skills and education levels. This had been predicted to happen by 2030, but has been accelerated by the pandemic.

“In four years, we could have 51 percent of the workforce out of work,” Maynard said.

“What are we going to do about this? Particularly in the South, we are still doing economic development like in the 1900s by converting farms to factories. We are not analyzing what is happening to the rest of the economy. We are

doing all we can to solve new problems with very old ideas.”

He said a new mindset focusing on people-based economic development is needed in these days where many people can work remotely from anywhere there is high speed internet. The strategy is to make your community as attractive and vibrant as possible to promote local business development.

The analogy he uses to describe people-based economic development as opposed to whale hunting is “tropical fish.”

“It is creating the right reef structure to attract the kind of tropical fish you want in your community,” he said. “Economic developers must be data driven using not just jobs and investment, but a lot more indicators of what is going on in our economy. The other factors that need to be considered are total employment, average annual income, per capita income, civilian labor force, assessed value and retail sales. Those seven matrices tell us a lot more than two. Look at trends to create strategic change.”

To have people-based economic development, a priority is the livability of the community.

Communities need to be more attractive and livable.

It is also vital to support the local economy.

“People create jobs,” Maynard said. “People are the economy. There

is no better economic incentive than doing business with someone you know. The mission of economic developers should be to foster an environment so individuals can create companies and grow jobs. Then economic development must support those jobs in the community.”

He knows this isn’t easy and says the hardest part of the issue to admit you have a problem and have the courage to deal with it directly.

“Festering issues in your community can eliminate economic opportunity,” Maynard said. “If a community doesn’t care about itself, then your business can’t be successful there. This version of economic development is not glamorous and rarely makes headlines. The time for making headlines is absolutely over. We can’t afford to keep solving new problems with old ideas.”

The Mississippi economy was weak before the pandemic, which has accelerated the problem. Maynard said the pandemic proved that those who innovate will succeed.

“If we can admit that economic development is not doing what it is supposed to do, we have to be prepared to innovate,” he said. “We must prepare to make changes and then move without hesitation.”

There is evidence that the people-based economic development

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Mississippi Business Journal

economic development: 1. People ARE the economy….get the people and your economy will grow.

2. You must have objective metrics that can identify your weaknesses and help you understand how to create strategic programming to correct problems in your economy and community.

3. The metrics for traditional economic development are misleading and often neglect the actual impact on pursued in Oxford now the economy in the long for ten years is working. term.

A recent report from 4. Mississippi is strugMSI, a global leader in gling with growing its workforce and economic economy, yet we condata, ranks Lafayette tinue to double down County ninth out of on the way that we have 2,220 small counties in done things since the the U.S. American for a 1920’s. county’s ability to attract 5. People-based and retain talent. economic development creates solutions that What Maynard thinks ... make a community more The following bullet livable for people. Compoints provided by Jon C. pany based economic Maynard discuss what it development creates takes to promote people solutions that make a versus company-based community more livable

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for companies.

6. Focusing economic development efforts on people creates opportunities for individuals in your community.

7. Focusing economic development efforts on companies creates a competitive environment that may encourage “bottom-line” focused companies to leave your community for a better deal.

8. People-based economic development is less expensive than traditional economic development.

9. People-based economic development and company-based economic development are not mutually exclusive. In fact, they must be done together in a holistic approach to economic growth.

10. In general, stakeholders in the economic development process tend to neglect fundamental efforts of community building in favor of making headlines.

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Mississippi Business Journal

Subprime

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December 2021 Issue

Such dealers have a designation of “DPM,” short for Dealer Performance ManFROM 4 agement; » Not misrepresent a con» Santander purchased sumer’s prospect of getting the loan from the DPM back a vehicle that has been dealer while the dealer was repossessed; on the high-risk dealer or » Not require consumers dealer performance manto make payments through agement list; methods that require them » Santander did not obto pay additional third-par- tain proof of income; ty fees, such as a money » The borrowers defaultorder. ed.

Fitch’s office is contacting Mississippi, said Fitch’s eligible borrowers about office, is also insisting restitution. “We expect each that Santander “engage in eligible consumer to be improved review processes eligible for $300, which is to ensure that consumers more than the multi-state are not getting loans they settlement secured per cannot repay and to ensure consumer,” said Michelle that the dealers with which Williams, the AG’s chief of it works are engaged in staff, in an email. appropriate selling behaviors.”

Eligibility requires: Nothing in the settlement » Borrowers had a debt prevents borrowers from forecasting score of less pursuing their own legal than or equal to 501; actions against Santander, » Borrowers bought a according to Fitch’s office. vehicle from a dealer that was on Santander’s highSubprime targets risk dealer or dealer-perCar dealers of the buyformance management list. here-pay-here variety in

Mississippi and the other targeted states relied on several factors and customer traits to trap buyers into unmanageable loans.

First, they know that few subprime borrowers come to a car lot equipped with a pre-approved bank or credit union loan. So, dealers find them a loan, typically with a legal markup of up to 2.5 percent of the interest rate. Say the dealer finds a lender to do the loan for 15 percent. The dealer tells the customer it got him a loan for 17.5 percent and keeps the difference.

Dealers aren’t required to show consumers the offers they received.

Consumer Reports magazine in October published a detailed examination of the U.S. subprime auto-loan practices. A key conclusion of the CR report: “Dealers and lenders may be setting interest rates based not only on risk – standard loan underwriting practice – but also on what they think they can get away with.”

The first factor dealers look for is a subprime credit score. For major credit reporting agency Experian, subprime begins at 600 down to 501. Below that is “deep subprime.”

Dealers can typically rely on their subprime customers to be more concerned about the monthly payment amount than the cost of the car and the length of the loan. This can be costly for the borrower.

“If you’re only focusing on the monthly payment, then you have less of a sense if you’re paying too much for the car,” said one loan expert in the October Consumer Reports article.

Research by the U.S Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, shows that “some types of subprime lenders charge their borrowers significantly higher interest rates than others, and that differences in default risk are unlikely to fully explain these differences.”

As an example, the CFPB

cited research in its study sample that showed interest rates from banks on subprime auto loans averaged approximately 10 percent, compared to 15 percent to 20 percent at finance companies and buy-herepay-here dealerships. “As expected, we find higher default rates at lender types that charge higher interest rates,” the CFPB said.

The Bureau said that the likelihood of a subprime auto loan becoming at least 60 days delinquent within three years is approximately 15 percent for bank borrowers and between 25 percent and 40 percent for finance company and buy-herepay-here borrowers.

The dealer stacks the odds in its favor, the CFPB said.

“They control the price of the vehicle, the add-ons.

They pick the lender. They have a lot of different things they can do,” said Ryan Kelly, acting auto finance program manager at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

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December 2021 Issue

Exploit

designations for evictions and unpaid medical bills. “Every protection helps keep money in peoples’ pockets. And that keeps them from falling into a debt trap,” Standaert said.

percent while someone with a low credit score paid more FROM 4 than 17 percent, the ALICE designed to be unsustainable.

Report said.

Calling the loans predatory, The report noted that subshe said they are “targeted to prime car loans like “Buy Here, people with less than prime Pay Here” loans are proliferatcredit” who must have a car to Household Budget Struggles ing among Mississippi’s used survive financially, especialThe United Ways of Missiscar dealerships, accounting for ly in a state like Mississippi sippi took a close look at the 29 percent of used car loans in where public transportation is struggles of the state’s low-in- the first quarter of 2019. “Yet not often available. come working families in the three in 10 customers default “I think we know the realiyear before and during the on their payments, largely due ty,” the HOPE executive said.

Covid-19 pandemic, putting to high interest rates and pred“If you don’t have a car, you its findings in a recently reatory practices,” the ALICE might as well be unemployed.” leased report titled “ALICE Re- study said. “Because defaults Credit-deficient buyers arport for Mississippi: A Finanhave traditionally grown as rive at the dealership thinking cial Hardship Study.” ALICE is unemployment increases, the they have no options. That sets Asset Limited, Income Conindustry is bracing for a rise in them up for the dealer giving strained, Employed. People in delinquency and default rates them “the worst option,” she this category account for 31 in response to the pandemic.” said. percent of Mississippi houseSantander Consumer USA, “This speaks to the need holds. They earn too much the subprime lender paying in Mississippi for consumer to be eligible for most pubmillions in restitution to borprotections to prevent these lic assistance programs but rowers in Mississippi and elsepractices from ever happentoo little to save or to access where, said its success hinges ing,” added Standaert, forlow-interest credit cards and on seeking solutions across “a merly director of state policy financial services. broad range of incomes and and executive VP at the Center Maintaining automobile credit scores.” for Responsible Lending in ownership is especially hard But those solutions, accordDurham, N.C. with household budget short- ing to Mississippi Attorney She said for starters Misfalls too often looming.

General Lynn Fitch, were debt sissippians should have In 2019, the average auto traps that favored the lender better protection from debt loan rate for a borrower with a over the loan customer. Not collectors and bad-credit high credit score was under 7.2 so, insisted Santander, claim-

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ing the solutions it pursued for borrowers were “affordable and sustainable.”

Meanwhile, HOPE’s Standaert said she thinks Mississippi can ease the burdens of low-income borrowers by helping them dispel the notion they don’t have options. “One of the implements of predatory lending is exploiting a sense of having limited options,” she said.

“It’s really important for people to know they do have options.”

A good place to find some options, Standaert said, is among the 52 Mississippi financial-services entities that help under-served people and minority-owned businesses as Community Development Financial Institutions. They use low-interest money from the Treasury Department that does not have to be repaid until several years later. Mississippi’s Community Development Financial Institutions include Jackson’s HOPE Federal Credit Union, Ridgeland’s BankPlus, Mendenhall’s Peoples Bank, Magee’s PriorityOne Bank, Cleveland’s

Mississippi Business Journal

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Cleveland State Bank, Natchez’ United Mississippi Bank, Indianola’s Planter Bank & Trust, Meridian’s Great Southern Bank, Corinth’s Commerce Bank and Hazlehurst’ Copiah Bank.

Each of the 52 Community Development Financial Institutions received $1.8 million in grants in June from the CDFI Rapid Response Program. The money is expected to help generate investment and offer financial services in communities affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

A main overall goal of CDFIs is to add the unbanked and under-banked to the rolls of Mississippians enjoying the benefits of financial services. It starts with a banking account, perhaps a savings account, and a progression to credit designed to help them succeed rather than sign on for loans designed for them to fail, Standaert said, and added: “It is more about meeting people where they live, looking at the whole person and not just putting people in boxes and making a decision.”

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December 2021 Issue

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December 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

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December 2021 Issue

December 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

SCOTT BARNES – Priority One Bank

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cott Barnes serves as Senior Vice President, Director of Operations for PriorityOne Bank.

Barnes holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and MIS from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a graduate of the University of Mississippi School of Banking, LBA Supervisory Training – Baton Rouge; TBA Commercial Lending School and Advanced Commercial Lending School – Nashville, and a recent graduate of the Louisiana State University Graduate School of Banking. Barnes has been with PriorityOne Bank since 2010. He has served in many areas of the bank, including Teller, Operations, Loan Officer, Assistant Vice President/ Loan Officer, Vice President/Branch Manager/Loan Officer, and most recently Vice President/Commercial Lender.

He served as Mississippi Young Bankers Delegate of the Year in 2017 and serves his community in multiple leadership roles. He and his wife, Lauren, currently reside in Hattiesburg.

HOPE BLANKENSHIP – To The Rescue Bookkeeping & HB Coaching & Consulting

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ope Blankenship was born in South Carolina. Her family moved to Anchorage, Alaska when she was 5 years old. After high school, she went on to manage several small businesses in the Anchorage area. Hopes parents are both successful small business owners, so it was only natural that in 2007, Blankenship opened her own bookkeeping and accounting firm. Since then, the company has grown to over 8 employees in 4 different states. Hope won the SBA Young Entrepreneur of Mississippi award in 2010.

Blankenship also graduated from Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program in Dec 2014. In May of 2017 she also was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Excellence Award at Keesler AFB. Blankenship has recently been appointed to the National Small Business Association Leadership Council where she looks forward to being a voice to Congress for all small businesses!

In November 2019, Hope completed the testing requirements to become a certified fraud examiner, CFE, through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.

Blankenship opened her second business, HB Coaching and Consulting in 2018. HB Coaching and Consulting specializes in business operational process implementation, accounting risk management and fraud investigation.

Blankenship has 3 children, Austin, 19, Grace, 13, and Addison, 4. Her husband retired from the United State Air Force after serving 20 years.

Hope is currently very active in her church in Biloxi. She serves on several of the volunteer teams within her church. She currently serves as one of the worship leaders each weekend. She leads several small groups mentoring woman on how to better their lives and themselves, God’s way. She also serves on the board of the United MSD Foundation and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce. Hope has a heart for her community and for the people that service acts can impact.

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December 2021 Issue

DANNY BOLANOS – The First Bank

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anny Bolanos is a Vice President for The First Bank in the Jackson area.

Bolanos has helped countless entrepreneurs and business owners grow financially, personally and professionally. Through his job he helps the local communities thrive and through his community involvement he gives back to those in need.

Some of the accolades he has earned over the years include: Mississippi Business Journal “Top 50 Under 40”, Leadership Madison County and Leadership Greater Jackson. Bolanos has also been a member of the board of directors of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce since 2018 and was recently named Vice President of the board of directors for the Latin American Business Association.

He is a member of the Phoenix Club of Jackson and is a diplomat for the Mississippi Council on Economic Education.

ADAM CARLSON – Priority One Bank

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dam Carlson serves as Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer for PriorityOne Bank.

Carlson, a Certified Public Accountant, holds multiple degrees including a Master of Business Administration from Mississippi State University. He has also successfully graduated from The Mississippi School of Banking. He has been with PriorityOne Bank since 2017. He has served in many areas of the bank, most recently, VP Controller.

Carlson has also served his community in multiple leadership roles, including Simpson County Leaders. He serves on the Banking and Finance Committee of the MSCPA, as well as the MS Young Bankers and Mississippi Bankers Association. Carlson coaches multiple local recreational sports teams in both soccer and baseball and is an active member of the M-Club at Mississippi State. Carlson and his wife, Carrie Ann, currently reside in Hattiesburg with their three children, Barrett, Langley, and Brandt.

December 2021 Issue

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Mississippi Business Journal

JOSH EDWARDS – HORNE Capital

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osh Edwards is the managing partner of HORNE Capital, a licensed investment banking practice focused on providing merger, acquisition and capital advisory services.

He began HORNE Capital in 2018 as a division of HORNE LLP, a leading regional professional services firm.

Since its founding, HORNE Capital has assisted its clients in executing on more than $500 million of merger/acquisition transactions and capital raising efforts, specializing in creating additional value for business owners looking to sell or grow their businesses.

Edwards has represented sellers in transactions over $100M in value.

Edwards graduated from Mississippi College with a Bachelor of Accountancy. He has his Series 79 and 63 securities licenses and is a Certified Public Accountant.

SCOTT FERGUSON – Financial Concepts

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cott Ferguson grew up helping in the family financial planning business and joined Financial Concepts in 2006. Active in the community, he has found his calling helping clients plan for the future in order to reach their financial goals and objectives. He attended the University of Alabama and holds FINRA Series 6, 63, & 65 licenses.

As a planner, Scott is in charge of assisting clients in achieving their life and financial goals through conservative investment strategies.

Outside of the office, Ferguson enjoys spending time with his wife, Whitney, and their two children Bentley and Myers. Actively involved in the community, he has previously served as as Executive Committee President for United Way of Lowndes County and has coached recreational soccer since 2011. He currently serves of on the board of 200 million flowers, a Mississippi based non-profit focused on improving the lives of the Foster Care Children throughout the state. Along with his son, Bentley, he is the founder of Little Hands, Big Trucks, an annual kid friendly event that benefits the United Way of Lowndes County.

KELLY HAYES 662-364-2768

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December 2021 Issue

BLAKE FULTON – Jones Walker

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lake Fulton is a partner at Jones Walker LLP in the Corporate Practice Group. He concentrates in the areas of incentivized public and private project finance, state and local government law, and economic development incentives.

Fulton develops and negotiates incentivized project finance transactions throughout the Gulf South and nationally. His experience includes a variety of tax credit finance matters, having handled numerous deals in connection with new markets and historic tax credits, as well as certified capital company (CAPCO) transactions. Blake also negotiates and documents an array of economic development incentives, including property, sales, use, income, and franchise tax incentives, along with other incentives related to tax exempt and taxable bond financing.

Fulton assists clients in the public and the private sectors with entity organization and formation, contract drafting and review, negotiation, and documentation of commercial financing transactions, and bond financing transactions.

Going Above and Beyond in Mississippi.

Jones Walker LLP congratulates our partner Blake M. Fulton on being named a 2021 Mississippi Business Journal “Top Leader in Finance” award recipient. We congratulate Blake and all of the honorees for their achievements and contributions across the state.

Jeffrey R. Barber Office Head 601.949.4765

190 E Capitol St Suite 800 Jackson, MS 39201

Attorney Advertising. No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other attorneys.

joneswalker.com

December 2021 Issue

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JEFF HORTON – Northwest Mississippi Community College

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eff Horton is the Vice President for Administration and Finance at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Horton’s leadership, along with his passion for higher education, has been the foundation of success for several Community Colleges throughout the South.

Most recently, Horton has managed to strengthen Northwest Mississippi Community College’s financial standing by investing in the success of its students, even during a very tumultuous time.

Outside of the office, Horton enjoys rooting on the Mississippi State Bulldogs and spending time with his wife Dee (married 21 years) and four children – Evie, Jake, Walter, and Jack.

Horton is from Jackson where he attended Forest Hill High School and then Hinds Community College. He then received his Bachelors and Master degree in accounting from Mississippi State University. Horton has been a CPA for 22 years and was recently awarded the Bob Hasmiller award for Humanitarian Service from the Community College Business Officer Association.

NANETTE UPTON

Accounting Specialist Nanette Upton joined the Accounting Department at People Lease in July 2021. Nanette brings with her over 20 years of accounting experience and 5 years of experience in payroll.

Nanette is a native of South Louisiana, currently residing in Braxton, MS. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family and church friends, reading and cooking.

Congratulations

Jeff Horton on being selected as a 2021 Leaders in Finance 2321 Commerce Dr. Columbus, MS 39705 662-329-4044

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December 2021 Issue

TONY HUFFMAN – Huffman and Company CPA

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ony L. Huffman, is the owner of Huffman & Company, CPA, P.A., a professional services company specializing in individual and business tax, accounting and advisory services. Upon graduation, he attended Mississippi College on a track scholarship, where he majored in accounting, receiving a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and graduating with distinction. In addition to being the recipient of the Wall Street Journal Award, Huffman was a member of several national honor and business fraternities, a student body senator, co-founder of the Mississippi College Accounting Society.

A former All-America runner at Mississippi College, Huffman is also the co-founder of the Mississippi Blues Marathon.

Huffman left Ernst & Young in 1991 to start Huffman & Company, CPA, P.A. Huffman is involved at Jackson Preparatory School having served on the Board of the Patriot Committee and as President of the Booster Club for Jackson Prep. Huffman is married to the former Laurie Planch, CPA and they have three children.

Emmerich Newspapers congratulates

Tony Huffman for being a

Top Mississippi Leader in finance

Tony’s leadership and expertise has been a valuable asset to Emmerich Newspapers. Our 30-year partnership has not only been productive, but a joy as well. This is an honor well deserved.

EMMERICH NEWS “Continually striving to achieve the traditional goal of journalistic objectivity and fairness.”

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December 2021 Issue

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SHARI JONES – River Hills Bank

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hari Jones has shown a knack of leadership throughout her career. Not only leading her staff but by also being an active participant in various social, civic and professional organizations. She has completed the Leadership Greater Jackson program, where she was a member of the 30th class. Jones is also an active participant in the Madison, Ridgeland and Jackson Chamber of Commerce as an ambassador for local business. Jones currently serves as the City of Madison Chamber President.

She is also member of the Capital Sunset Rotary Club, while service as a committee member of the Madison County Young Professionals and the Mississippi Young Bankers Association. She personally volunteers for the Stewpot Community Center, MS Highway Patrol and is a youth leader in her church.

Jones has also been selected as a Madison the City Chamber of Commerce Top 10 under 40 Awards as well as being City of Ridgeland’s Chamber of Commerce Ambassador of the month and year.

CHARLES GUALANO – Trustmark Bank

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harles (Chas) Gualano has worked in the finance industry for the past 24 years. He has been with Trustmark Financial Services for the entirety of his career.

He is overly generous with his knowledge of finance whether it be a client or stranger and always giving financially to help others. He is a pillar in the community and well respected throughout Rankin county.

Gualano has been Top 3 Advisor at LPL Financial Institutional and Chairman’s Council with LPL Financial for past 5 years. He manages assets of more than $ 330 million.

As a volunteer, Gualano is the Finance Committee Chariman at Meadowgrove Baptist Church and us the former president of Rankin County Rotary Club, where is a Paul Harris Fellow Award recipient.

UNKNOWN

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December 2021 Issue

DREW KENNA – Bank of Forest

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rew Kenna is the president and COO of the Bank of Forest with three branches and two subsidiaries. His duties are overseeing the loan/credit department and its employees in the Forest office.

In addition, Kenna works with all departments and supervisors coordinating the hiring of employees and staffing all positions in the bank. He serves on numerous committees int he bank as well as the board of directors.

He began working at the Bank of Forest after graduating from Mississippi State University. However, he worked with Community Bank during summer breaks while in college where he served in several roles, from teller to operations.

Kenna believes an effective leader is dependable, a problem-solver and communicates well with their staff. When hiring or promoting someone, these are the traits be believes make the most impact.

In his spare time, he enjoys time with his family and Mississippi State athletics.

CONGRATULATIONS

DREW KENNA on being selected as a

2021 Leader in Finance

Forest-Flowood-Walnut Grove

bkforest.com

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CONGRATULATIONS J. SCOTT BARNES, ADAM CARLSON, AND JOSEPH KERN on being selected as

2021 Leaders in Finance

120 2nd St. NE Magee, Ms 39211 www.priorityonebank.com

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December 2021 Issue

JOSEPH KERN – Priority One Bank

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oseph “Joey” Kern serves as Chief Risk Officer for PriorityOne Bank.

Kern has 14 years of experience in banking and 13 of those directly involved in Bank Risk Management. Prior to joining PriorityOne, Kern was Manager of Enterprise Risk Management at BankPlus and worked in Bank Risk Management at Trustmark. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi. In addition, he is a graduate of the Mississippi School of Banking – University of Mississippi.

Kern, originally from Hattiesburg, has resided in Madison for the past 10 years. He is a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Madison and is a volunteer coach for several youth baseball, basketball, and football programs in the Madison/Ridgeland area. Joey and his wife, Mindi, have two children, nine-year-old son Everett, and six-year-old daughter Mirren

ADDISON LAWRENCE – Citizens National Bank

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ddison Lawrence considers it a privilege to have played college football for Mississippi State University and professional football for the Baltimore Ravens. “The hard work, discipline, and attention to detail that I learned through athletics are work habits that I still use daily,” he said.

Lawrence began his banking career with Guaranty Bank and Trust Company in Senatobia as an Assistant Vice President and Relationship Banker and was later promoted to serve as City President for the financial institution.

A 2011 graduate of MSU with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration degree in Risk Management, Insurance, and Financial Planning, Lawrence also received his Master’s degree in Education from MSU in 2013, with an emphasis in Workforce Education Leadership.

In his free time, Lawrence enjoys hunting, woodworking, watching football and spending time with his family.

Addison and his wife, Courtney enjoy attending Compel Church in Southaven, and they have two young sons that keep them busy. Ace is seven years old, while Mox is eight.

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J. RANDALL MASCAGNI – Mascagni Wealth Management

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andy Mascagni discovered his keen interest in financial planning and investing when his parents had a sudden life-changing event over forty years ago. This sparked a career change, and after more education and experience Randy established his independent, financial planning firm in 1988. Today, Randy and Mascagni Wealth Management provide financial planning advice to families, retirees, businesses, professionals, divorcees, and widows. They have grown to manage over $275 million in assets for their clients.

Mascagni earned his undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the University of Southern Mississippi and his M.B.A. from Mississippi College. He has provided financial planning and investment articles for publications like USA Today, Mississippi Christian Living magazine and the Mississippi Business Journal. In 2004, he was recognized by Bloomberg as one of the nation’s Top Wealth Managers.

Mascagni and his wife Vickie live in Flora and have been active members of Morrison Heights Baptist Church since 1977.

They have two sons, Collin and Carter, and enjoy spending time with friends, family, and their two grandchildren Lila and Myers.

STEVE MASSEY – Wealth Partners

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teve Massey joined WealthPartners in 2005 as an investment advisor and later became Chief Investment Officer. In 2019, he was asked to head up the Corporate Retirement Plans Division, responsible for practice management, product and vendor selection, due diligence, and new retirement plan acquisitions.

He enjoys helping participants achieve successful retirement outcomes. He is a partner of WealthPartners in Ridgeland with more than 30 years

in the financial industry.

Previously, Massey was Bureau Manager in the Financial Resources Division of the Mississippi Development Authority.

He began his career with the public accounting firm DeMiller, Denny, Word & Co. CPAs.

Massey earned his Bachelor of Professional Accountancy degree from Mississippi State University.

Massey is a Certified Public Account and holds both the Certified Financial Planner and the Accredited Financial Fidu-

ciary designations.

He is a member of the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of Jackson and currently serves as a member of the investment committee. Steve and his wife, Missy, have two daughters and live in Ridgeland.

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December 2021 Issue

MISTI MUNROE – Jackson State University

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isti Munroe is the Associate Vice President for Business and Finance at Jackson State University. She assists the Chief Financial Officer/Vice President for the Division of Business and Finance in the administration of all financial operations of the University. Munroe provides strategic leadership and guidance for coordinating and implementing operational improvements, financial planning, and long range forecasting. She participates on various university committees, serving as a member of the Administrative Council and holds the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Jackson State University Educational Building Corporation.

Before joining JSU, Munroe was Chief Revenue Officer for the Legislative Budget Office (LBO). However, her career in public service began as a portfolio manager for the Public Employees’ Retirement System. Munroe earned her Master’s of Business Administration in finance from Mississippi College and holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in marketing from Mississippi State University.

In 2016, she received the inaugural State Treasurer’s Achievement Recognition Award and was also named one of Trusted In-

ZACH RING – Irby Construction

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ach Ring is the Director of Accounting at Irby Construction in Richland. Along with his responsibilities in preparing financial reports and conducting financial analysis of the company’s operations, Ring also strives daily to uphold Irby Construction’s promise to its clients to always go above and beyond. Before joining Irby Construction in October 2017, Ring worked in public accounting as an Audit Manager with Haddox Reid in Jackson. There he gained invaluable experience working closely with audit clients from a variety of industries.

Ring grew up in Memphis and moved to Ridgeland after graduating from Mississippi State University. While at MSU, he earned his Bachelor in Accountancy in 2011 and Master of Professional Accountancy in 2012. He is a licensed Certified Public Accountant and a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Mississippi Society of Certified Public Accountants.

Ring is married to Jackson native, Elizabeth Cole Ring, and they have 2 little boys that keep them busy. In addition to spending time with his family, he is an avid golfer, club tennis player, and member of First Baptist Church of Ridgeland.

December 2021 Issue

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ROSS WEEMS – BankPlus

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oss Weems serves as First Vice President of the BankPlus Private Client Group. Weems is responsible for cultivating and managing banking services for individuals, medical practices, professional firms, corporate executives, and small to mid-sized commercial clients.

A native of West Point, Weems holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree from Mississippi State University. He is a graduate of the Southeastern School of Commercial Lending and currently enrolled at the Graduate School of Banking at LSU. In 2019, Weems was selected as a Top Ten Finalist by the Mississippi Business Journal’s Top 50 Under 40. Weems serves on the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Mississippi, serving as Treasurer; the Mississippi Children’s Museum Partners, serving as Vice President of Fundraising; the Mississippi Early Learning Alliance, serving as Treasurer; and the Phoenix Club of Jackson, previously serving as president. He was a 2016 graduate of Leadership Greater Jackson and a 2018 honoree of American Cancer Society’s Best Dressed Jackson.

Weems and his wife, Kelly, reside in Jackson and are active members of Fondren Church.

DON A. ZANT – Mississippi State University

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on Zant is the vice president for finance & administration for Mississippi State University. In this role Mr. Zant serves as the University’s chief financial officer and provides strategic leadership for the university’s business and finance functions, as well as for the management of its physical assets and resources.

Zant oversees the Offices of the Controller & Treasurer, Procurement and Contracts, Receiving & Property Control, Campus Services, and Parking & Transit Services.

A native Texan, Zant holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Lubbock Christian University, from which he graduated magna cum laude. Zant is also a certified public accountant, certified fraud examiner (inactive), and certified internal auditor (inactive).

In November 2019, Zant’s title was changed to Vice President for Finance & Administration upon assuming responsibility for the university’s operational areas including construction planning & design, facility maintenance, faculty housing, landscape, custodial, parking, and transit services.

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