“Harry Bush really gave a lot of his time as well as financial support, and continues to do so today,” Geddie said. “The board is very, very active. Every dime we get goes to support Jones County and make it a better place to live, to work and to offer better jobs.”

When the EDA was established in 1983, Geddie said Jones County’s unemployment rate was at least 15 percent. The current rate is five percent.

Over the years, the EDA has helped to retain the Masonite plant in Laurel; helped with the Hudson warehouse at Tech Park South; and helped to grow the poultry industry in Jones County. The EDA helped secure a location for a Wayne Farms feed mill in Erata, and also helped Laurel Machine and Foundry relocate its foundry to the Erata site.

The EDA also purchased 500 acres of land from the Ellisville State School to develop Howard Technology Park.

“The state says it’s the best technology park in the state,” Geddie said. “We need more resident industries there, and it will happen.”

Geddie said the EDA has had its share of ups and downs in its 25-year history.

“Most of it has been very positive,” he said. “Mitch and his staff do an excellent job.”

Geddie is the retired owner of Western Auto in Ellisville.

“I still work there some, and I still enjoy it. I’m very blessed to be in good health to do it.”

He also works at his farm and he and his travel.

“I’ve been on the EDA board for 25 years, and I’ve certainly enjoyed it.”

Stennett said the basis of the EDA“is that the volunteers set the policies and work with elected officials to carry those policies out. Our major successes are the existing businesses. Our volunteers interact with the businesses and try to determine their needs and what will make them more successful. They maintain continuous contact with them for retention and expansion. My volunteers do that well, and they communicate in a timely to find out what our businesses need.”

Board chairmen have been Charles Pickering, Harry Bush, Vern Geddie, Dr. Doug Tillery, Neil Gunn, Larry J. Sumrall, Dr. Douglas Jefcoat, Billy Hyatt, Billy Browning, Stan Burton and Glenn Caves, the current chairman. The first board members were Neil Gunn, Woody Martin, Tommie Pickering, Larry Sumrall, Richard “Dickey” Welborn, Harry Bush Sr., Lamar A. Conerly, Maury Thames, Dick Anderson, Vern Geddie, Jim Robinson, W.D. Upton, Charles Pickering Sr., Jerry Lyon, Winston T. Shows, James W. “Sonny” Smith and Tommy Wright. According to history of the EDA written by Pickering — to be included in the program for tonight’s banquet — Gov. William Winter addressed the first annual banquet meeting.

“Since the consolidation of economic development in Jones County, other areas of the state have taken similar steps to bring their economic development programs under one umbrella,” Pickering wrote. “One of the mistakes we made early on was not creating a chamber of commerce division within the EDA. Since that time, the Jones County Economic Support Group Inc. was chartered, and it is commonly known at the Jones County Chamber of Commerce.”