MBJ_Feb14_2014

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INSIDE — Business tax bills seek limits on DOR in taxing options ABC Merit Awards

www.msbusiness.com

February 14, 2014 • Vol. 36, No. 7 • $1 • 44 pages

Energy efficiency » The USM School of Construction recently completed judging the entries for the Associated Builders and Contractors annual merit awards. Winners page 22

Mississippi already benefiting from U.S. moving toward energy self sufficiency

Construction Focus {P 16}

List » General Contractors {P 24}

Real Estate Focus {P 27}

Lists » Property Management Firms {P 32} » Shopping Centers {P 33}

» PAGE 5

TRANSPORTATION

GENERAL AVIATION HAS BIG IMPACT ACROSS THE STATE By LISA MONTI I CONTRIBUTOR mbj@msbusiness.com Can you name the busiest airport in the state of Mississippi? The surprising answer is Olive Branch, and the reason is simple. “Location, location, location,” said manager David Taylor. “We’re 10 miles from Memphis International and 5 miles due south of FedEx world headquarters.” It is classified as a reliever airport for Memphis but that’s a misnomer, said Taylor. “We’re relieving Memphis every day. There are 160 planes based in Olive Branch and if they weren’t, they’d have to be based in Memphis.” And Olive Branch is not just the busiest general aviation airport in the Magnolia State. “It’s the busiest airport of any type in the state,” Taylor said. Following Olive Branch are Meridian, Jackson and Gulfport, three of the state’s eight commercial airports. Olive Branch averages more than 200 takeoffs and landings a day. Taylor said there are 515 control towers in the U.S. and Olive Branch ranks 235th in daily operations. The air traffic control tower operates from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The airport opened in 1973 and Taylor has been manager for 30 years. “When I came we had a 4,000 foot runway and two buildings, probably 30 planes but no jets based here. Now the runway is 6,000 feet, we have a See AVIATION, Page 4

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