Three business organizations joining forces to become the Mississippi Business Alliance

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The state’s top lawmakers and business leaders mingled at the Mississippi Coliseum on Thursday morning – tradition for the annual Hobnob event.

The Mississippi Economic Council played host for the 24th and final time.

If you’re involved with politics or business, you’ve heard of these three organizations and the work they’ve been doing.

The Mississippi Economic Council, the Mississippi Manufacturers Association, and the Business and Industry Political Education Committee.

“Mississippi needed a single authoritative and common voice for business,” explained MEC Chair John Hairston. “Policy makers were asking for clarity when it comes to legislative priorities. Business owners were asking for alignment of our policies, and our members were asking to become more impactful.”

So, these three groups will become one.

“Will represent every sector of Mississippi’s economy under one banner: the Mississippi Business Alliance,” said Scott Waller, MEC President and CEO.

The new rebranding was unveiled in front of the Hobnob crowd.

However, things officially began with the merged efforts on Jan. 1.

“Previously, you had legislators and policymakers trying to look for advice or input and they had three different organizations that were similar and overlapped,” described John McKay, current head of the Mississippi Manufacturers Association.

McKay will lead the Mississippi Business Alliance.

The joint organization will build on the already existing work of the three groups – everything from policy to workforce development and vetting of business-friendly candidates.

According to policymakers, there will be a value in having a singular group for business interests.

“These three organizations are merging not just to consolidate, but to elevate,” Gov. Tate Reeves emphasized.

“To have a unified voice is very helpful to those of us who are supposed to implement public policy,” Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann said.

And they’re looking at this as more than a simple merger.

“It’s really a transformation of how we operate and sponsor the business community moving forward,” Hairston continued. “It’s the uniting of our collective strengths into one clear and very decisive force for progress into the future, for the benefit of our grandchildren and those that come after them.”

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