Ellington

Symposium to Promote Innovative Design for Jackson
Mississippi State University's Jackson Community Design Center hosts "FORMcities: Urban/Divide Design Competition and Symposium" Nov. 4 through Nov. 6 in downtown Jackson. During the design competition, participants will select a site in Jackson and create a model of what that site could look like in 2100 using drawings, text and a plan for implementation. While the deadline has already passed to participate in the design competition, the public can register for the three-day event online.
The symposium features several national speakers including Susan Piedmont-Pallidino, architect and professor at the Washington/ Alexandria Architecture Consortium; and Sharmeen Ali Ebraheem, chief engineer assistant for the council of ministers of Kurdistan regional government. The symposium features a free think-tank session Saturday, Nov. 6, at 2 p.m. at Wired Espresso Cafe. Piedmont-Pallidino's keynote speech at the War Memorial at 4 p.m. on Saturday is also free and open to the public. For a schedule of events and speakers, visit the Jackson Community Design Center's website.

King Ed Racks Up Awards
The Kind Edward Hotel racked up two more awards recently for its historic renovation. In addition to the National Trust Preservation Honor Award, announced in October, the hotel received a regional award from South Central Construction magazine yesterday. The magazine also honored the development as the best specialty project in the region.

The magazine will present the awards during the McGraw-Hill Construction luncheon in Memphis, Tenn., on Dec. 9. As a double category winner, the magazine will enter the King Edward into its National Best of 2010 competition against winners from other regions.

Merchants Foodservice Expands
Hinds County is giving Merchants Foodservice a tax break to expand its Boling Street facility in Jackson. The county Board of Supervisors yesterday approved a five-year tax credit for the food-distribution company. In return, the company has pledged to invest at least $4.3 million in expanding its warehouse. Blake Wallace, director of the Hinds County Economic Development Authority, estimated that the expansion would create 50 jobs. The tax break reduces Merchants' county property taxes from 37.33 mills to 17.33 mills. A mill is equivalent to one one-thousandth of assessed property value.

Business Workshops
Jackson State University's Small Business Development Center at the Mississippi e-Center hosts a free workshop on business financing Thursday, Nov. 4, at 6 p.m. The event covers securing a bank loan and comparing financing sources. The e-Center is located at 1230 Raymond Road. Call 601-859-7609 or 601-979-2795 for more information.

The U.S. Small Business Administration hosts a business development workshop next Tuesday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m. The monthly workshop, held in the 10th floor conference room at 210 E. Capitol Street, is free and focuses on access to credit and capital and opportunities for federal and non-federal procurement. All workshops are free are for small businesses and entrepreneurs. To register, call SBA at 601-965-4378, ext. 10 or 11.