Fast Facts:
(Southaven, MS 04/09/09) In Southaven, Mississippi, key elected leaders in federal and local government sat side-by-side to address the city's economic issues head-on.
Congressman Travis Childers says one issue that has to be tackled is the area's unemployment rate, "DeSoto County is not exempt from what has happened all across the district, all across this state, this nation. The unemployment rate is about as high as it has been in a long time."
Congressman Childers, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis and aldermen-at large candidates Greg Guy and Odie Hart were part of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce's first ever economic forum. The forum was broadcast on WREG News Channel 3 Live At 9 and it focused on how the economy also impacts problems such as crime.
"We still have to make sure crime stays low. Businesses like to go where crime stays low and we want to continue to make that investment into our public safety," Davis said.
Another issue is jobs and a rising unemployment rate in DeSoto County. Alderman-at-large-candidate Greg Guys says Southaven must continue to attract new companies, "From a national level, we have had some bigger chains that have left and we have been proactive in getting businesses to come into those locations."
Alderman-at-large candidate Odie Hart is calling for more cooperation from elected leaders to address the economy.
Hart says, "We are going to have to work with our mayor to go out an sell Southaven and show them the kind of people we have."
They also addressed the troubled housing market which includes more foreclosures and a decline in building permits for homes.
"We we went through a period of some might call it false growth where people bought homes they couldn't afford, bought homes too large and just really criminals involved in lending," Childers said.
But a lighter moment came when Childers and Davis, who once opposed each other for Congress, admitted they could agree on schools.
Davis says, "Let me tell you schools are important. He's right. The congressman is correct. " "That's the first time he's agreed with me, " Childers said. "That's right you enjoy it," David said.
- Southaven leaders answer questions about economy
- Economic forum looks at impact on jobs, housing and crime
- Forum was broadcast on WREG News Channel 3 Live At 9
(Southaven, MS 04/09/09) In Southaven, Mississippi, key elected leaders in federal and local government sat side-by-side to address the city's economic issues head-on.
Congressman Travis Childers says one issue that has to be tackled is the area's unemployment rate, "DeSoto County is not exempt from what has happened all across the district, all across this state, this nation. The unemployment rate is about as high as it has been in a long time."
Congressman Childers, Southaven Mayor Greg Davis and aldermen-at large candidates Greg Guy and Odie Hart were part of the Southaven Chamber of Commerce's first ever economic forum. The forum was broadcast on WREG News Channel 3 Live At 9 and it focused on how the economy also impacts problems such as crime.
"We still have to make sure crime stays low. Businesses like to go where crime stays low and we want to continue to make that investment into our public safety," Davis said.
Another issue is jobs and a rising unemployment rate in DeSoto County. Alderman-at-large-candidate Greg Guys says Southaven must continue to attract new companies, "From a national level, we have had some bigger chains that have left and we have been proactive in getting businesses to come into those locations."
Alderman-at-large candidate Odie Hart is calling for more cooperation from elected leaders to address the economy.
Hart says, "We are going to have to work with our mayor to go out an sell Southaven and show them the kind of people we have."
They also addressed the troubled housing market which includes more foreclosures and a decline in building permits for homes.
"We we went through a period of some might call it false growth where people bought homes they couldn't afford, bought homes too large and just really criminals involved in lending," Childers said.
But a lighter moment came when Childers and Davis, who once opposed each other for Congress, admitted they could agree on schools.
Davis says, "Let me tell you schools are important. He's right. The congressman is correct. " "That's the first time he's agreed with me, " Childers said. "That's right you enjoy it," David said.
