kicks off membership drive

The Choctaw Plaindealer

Economic growth in Choctaw County continues to move forward in a successful direction and part of the credit for that growth goes to the Choctaw County Economic Development Foundation (CCEDF).

The Foundation works with individuals and businesses to help improve the county and the communities within Choctaw County. The CCEDF is currently holding its membership drive to promote individual and business investments for the Foundation.

Each year CCEDF holds a membership drive to invite participating members to reinvest or to allow interested individuals or businesses the opportunity to invest for the first time.

Membership in CCEDF benefits individuals, small and large businesses, and the community in a multitude of areas, including technical assistance, referrals, opportunities to voice their concerns or opinions at meetings and many other benefits.

Businesses enjoy a number of benefits from CCEDF. Whether large or small, businesses are able to receive discounted rates for first year investments, receive technical assistance when applying for loans, free advertising in newcomer packets, inclusion of businesses on the CCEDF Web site and referrals from the Foundation to possible members.

According to Alan Bates, Executive Director for CCEDF, the Foundation makes every effort to help the participating businesses, so that they see a positive return on the investment in CCEDF.

"We do our best to help all the businesses in Choctaw County when ever we receive inquires about a specific type of business offered in the community," said Bates. "Having the membership directory provides us with a convenient list of businesses to use for referrals"

Individuals choosing to invest in CCEDF also reap the rewards similar to those gained by business owners. Once a member they are invited to the monthly CCEDF meetings, which are normally held on the first Monday of the month. Individuals are able to gain insight on the economic growth opportunities in Choctaw County and as a member are provided opportunities to voice opinions concerning the economic growth of the county.

"The Foundation encourages individual to become members," said Bates. "The membership of businesses is important to us, but we welcome individuals that are interested in membership. Being a member provides the people of Choctaw County with an opportunity to voice their opinions about economic issues."

Members of CCEDF not only have opportunities to voice opinions about economic issues amongst themselves, but also are periodically able to voice those opinions with local state representatives, such as Rep. Dannie Reed and Sen. Gary Jackson. Members are invited to luncheons and coffees hosted by CCEDF where representatives and foundation members meet and discuss local community issues.

CCEDF also works to provide newcomers to the area with information packets that are filled with valuable community information and discount coupons from local merchants. The newcomer packets have a listing of local businesses and provide newcomers with summaries of the local communities and what types of businesses or recreation activities can be found there.

"The newcomer packet is a resource we offer to visitors or new residents in the community," said Bates. "We try to put coupons from foundation members in the packets and also include informative brochures about Choctaw County."