As of April 30, the pandemic shut-down pushed Mississippi’s unemployment rate up to 15.7% with 187,800 unemployed residents. Two weeks later Gov. Tate Reeves thrust John Rounsaville into the middle of this economic crisis, putting him in charge of the Mississippi Development Authority.
“He hit the ground running try to save jobs and hasn’t let up!” said one of the state’s top economic developers. “He has always been a great policy mind and a hard worker,” continued David Rumbarger, president and CEO of the Community Development Foundation in Tupelo.
The 45-year-old native of the Big Creek community in Calhoun County comes to this position from two successful years as State Director for USDA Rural Development. “John was very innovative and aggressive” at USDA, said one state government insider. “He worked hard to leverage rural development dollars to have the greatest impact on community development.” For nine years previously, Rounsaville, also a JAG Major in the Air National Guard, served as Vice President of Strategic Services for Waggoner Engineering, Inc. Both positions put him in close contact with developers and local officials around the state.
“We are on track to meet or even surpass our $1.2 billion goal for new capital investment for the state,” Rounsaville said when asked about the pandemic's impact on economic development. Indicating the impact on recruiting was limited to reduced travel and online meetings, he noted, “Just this summer, multiple companies have announced new locations and expansions.”
The Clarion-Ledger reported one of those successes may be an Amazon facility. Joseph Deason, Madison County EDA executive director, confirmed a 69 acre land purchase at the county’s mega site. Rounsaville refused to discuss this or any pending projects.
Rumbarger said, “a key to Mississippi’s future economic development success” is a stronger alliance between economic and workforce development initiatives. Specifically, he said Rounsaville needs a revised State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) “to take its place as a partner in economic development.”
That seems to be coming together. A week after appointing Rounsaville, Reeves appointed 43-year-old Patrick Sullivan, president of the Mississippi Energy Institute since 2011, as SWIB chairman. Rounsaville said he and Sullivan have worked together for many years, developing a strong, trusting relationship. Rounsaville also moved quickly to strengthen MDA’s connection to community college workforce programs, hiring Dr. William J. Ashley, a former community college executive, as Director of Business Research and Workforce Development.
Ashley will also take the lead in another Rounsaville priority, developing a stronger business intelligence capacity at MDA. “We need to be very good at research and analytics.”
Beyond this, Rounsaville is overseeing implementation of the state’s $240 million pandemic related Back to Business grant program and reviewing the structure of MDA’s numerous programs (recruiting and retention, tourism, community development, loan and grant programs, energy, etc.) to see how processes can be improved.
Through June, unemployment had fallen to 9.7% as Reeves re-opened the state economy. But many lost jobs may never come back. The talented and persistent Rounsaville and his team face a tough slog just to get employment back where it was.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way” – 2 Thessalonians 3:16.
Crawford is a syndicated columnist from Jackson
Sunday, August 16, 2020
Bill Crawford: Rounsaville Thrust into Crisis
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11 comments:
John Rounsaville is the right man at the right time for the challenge of envisioned new ways to grow Mississippi’s economy. And job training is at the center. Too many youth attending college for dead end degrees when job training will prepare them for good paying jobs that employers are begging to fill!!
Roundsaville is nothing more that a career bureaucrat political appointee- period. Says all the things someone filling a position is supposed to say. “Relentless” was once an MDA catch phrase, I wonder what Roundthestate Roundsaville’s will be?......just another piss any on a log that thinks he is driving.
Great article, Bill. John and Patrick are the right people for the job. Got all the policy chops and did their time on the frontlines. A new generation for change. We need to get past C19 and have a game plan on the other side.
2:21 Go back to mouth breathing and bitching about the flag, you turd.
"just another piss any on a log that thinks he is driving."
Interpretation?
Also 10:54 ... what was The Mississippi Energy Institute's single greatest accomplishment besides a cushy job for Patrick Sullivan? Strike a nerve did we..? I mean what in the hell did it do really? Have a meeting or two? Name a few other white fat cats to a do nothing board? Send out cheese straws at Christmas?
Gotta agree with 12:24pm and 7:19am
As long as I've been in Mississippi, I have not seen any real tangible results from any statewide programs pushed in the last 30 years.
Many suburban areas in Desoto, Madison, Rankin, Forrest, Harrison, and Jackson counties appear to be doing great, but new development only goes so far in the short term.
Until we see some long term tangible results, these programs are only lip service.
7:19am I believe that energy group is funded with private not public dollars Back to the drawing board to find how to continue the self-flagellation of being a Mississippian because it is soooooo much better everywhere else. How about getting off your couch and taking a tour of the world. We have it better here than MSNBC is telling you.
10:20.. "Private dollars" you say? Yes as fleeced by monopolies from unknowing unsuspecting rate payers through their monthly utility bills. Get off your
high horse. Also the organization was created through l e g i s l a t i o n.
Don't pretend to educate me you arrogant POS.
You know the world has gone to hell when Pollard gets zero and Crawford gets NINE comments.
10:48 can you cite that c o d e s e c t i on tough guy? I'll take arrogance over ignorance. Now go shove another dozen Krispy Kreme donuts down your gullet.
John Rounsaville is a great guy whose government experience is complimented by years in the military and the private sector. MDA is a bureaucracy that could use sort of an anti-bureaucrat with a predisposition toward action. As far as the local economic development scene, it seems some local developers are proactive and doing quite well for their communities (Tupelo, Golden Triangle, Southaven, Madison) while others are almost nonexistent (Delta, SW MS, Meridian). Big and fairly transparent disparity.
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