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About the Economic Development Foundation

Our mission is to be a leader in creating opportunities for responsible economic investment, thereby raising the per capita income for all citizens of Lafayette County. In support of this effort, the Foundation works to:

• Be responsive to local business and industry

• Be a responsible vehicle to preserve a — positive business environment in — Lafayette County and throughout the region

• Facilitate technology transfer at the University of Mississippi (UM) into the community

• Support other positive community efforts — which improve the quality of life in — Lafayette County and yield economic — benefits.

Existing Business and Industry EDF strives to address the needs of existing business and industry and supports retention and expansion efforts by:

• Formalizing a comprehensive visitation — program focused on major existing business — and industry

• Maintaining advocacy efforts on behalf of — local business and industry to maintain a — positive, profitable business climate

• Supporting efforts to expand and improve — the Lafayette County Industrial Park and — other infrastructure conducive to — economic development.

Workforce Development

EDF works to create a more skilled and productive workforce encouraging education and training responsive to employer needs by:

• Serving as “lead advocates” for workforce — preparedness and job training for existing — and targeted labor forces

• Partnering with Northwest Community College to promote and support workforce training programs for local business and industry

• Working with the Oxford-Lafayette School — of Applied Technology to develop and — strengthen workforce preparedness — programs.

Infrastructure and Technology Assessment and Development

• EDF works with the Mississippi Technology — Alliance (MTA) and UM resources in — developing a comprehensive technology — strategy for Lafayette County

• EDF continues participation and dialog — with the UM Office of Research, academic — departments and University technologies — for opportunities for job development — through research spin-offs into our local — economy

• EDF partners with regional counterparts — and organizations/agencies to improve — communication infrastructures throughout — the region

• EDF serves as a policy advisor and marketer — for the North Mississippi Enterprise Initiative, — Inc. (www.northmiss.org ) and works to — promote the Oxford Enterprise Center as — a business incubator for technology — start-up businesses.Enhance EDF’s Local and Regional Image Utilizing Marketing and Promotional Strategies • Recruit new business and industry to our — area from selected target markets

• Partner with other development — organizations within our region in — recruitment and marketing efforts to — secure new business and industry

• Continue cooperative relationships with the Mississippi Development Authority, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), the North Mississippi Industrial Development Association and other state and regional economic development agencies that complement EDF’s efforts to secure new jobs and investment

• Serve as primary resource for objective — information on economic development — issues

• Continuously refine and update the EDF — website (www.oxfordms.com) and — marketing materials for targeted business — attraction

• Increase regular publicity with local/ — regional/national media to raise awareness — of Oxford-Lafayette County as an opportune — place to live, work or start a new business.

Enhance Business Climate and Quality of Life

• Support the efforts of local government, — the Oxford Convention and Visitors — Bureau and local businesses in working — to improve community infrastructure and — desirability as an ideal place to visit and — reside

• Continue efforts to promote and maintain — the successful Retiree Attraction Program — that garners national recognition for Oxford as a community with an exceptional quality of life

• Maintain a close working relationship with — local school systems and support their — efforts to attain the highest level of education — and workforce preparation necessary for — students to succeed in the workplace.

Accomplishments

• Collaboration with partners in Pontotoc Union Lee (PUL) Alliance to market Oxford-Lafayette County and Ole Miss to Toyota site selectors resulting in $1.3 billion investment in new Toyota Mississippi automotive plant to be constructed in Blue Springs, Mississippi, in 2010

• Increase in jobs in Lafayette County — — average of 1,081 more people working in 2008 than in 2007

• Lafayette County advalorem assessed — values approaching $.5 billion in 2008

• 54 new businesses started in 2007

• Collaborated with writers, networks and — producers to provide positive national — coverage of the Oxford-Lafayette-University — community. Highlights in 2007-2008 — include features in: • Foxbusiness.com; The New York Times, Investor’s Business Daily; Where To Retire and, most recently, CNBC in its special: “Survival Guide: Boomerangst” with reporter Jane Wells• Recruited more than 603 retiree households bringing $192,960,000 in assets; $19,442,529 in annual direct expenditures with a total economic impact of $29,654,937 annually

• Developed a regional business incubator — network for new business start-ups in — conjunction with Batesville and Grenada — (North MS Enterprise Initiative), $4 million — in new construction and a total of 77,000 — square feet in all three locations

• Purchased and developed property at the — Lafayette County Industrial Park

• Recruited North Mississippi Veterans — Home; $8 million investment and 125 jobs

• Recruited Caterpillar, Inc., Olin Winchester Corporation and facilitated a 2005 expansion for Whirlpool generating more than $35 million investment and 500 jobs.

EDF Member Benefits

• Highlighted listing as an investor in the — EDF in the annual Chamber community — guide and membership directory distributed — to 3,000 members, businesses, visitors — and new residents annually

• First-To-Know breakfasts highlighting topics — of interest keeping EDF members among — the “first-to-know” any new developments — impacting community or economic — development in Oxford-Lafayette County

• Inclusion in annual paid advertisement — highlighting EDF members in Oxford — Eagle’s special edition for Business and — Industry Appreciation

• Quarterly newsletter highlighting work of — EDF staff and updates on economic — development activity

• Members provided with EDF membership — on labels for $20 or on CD for $10

• Marketing opportunities for EDF members — to purchase banner ads on — www.retire.oxfordms.com with free — hyperlink to member’s website

• Invitations to and opportunities for — sponsorship in annual Industry Appreciation — Golf Tournament with Panola County

• Resource materials including EDF Annual — Report and CREATE’s State of the Region, — copies of video news features highlighting — Oxford, city/county area maps, demo- — graphic information and business and — industry lists

• PLUS all other benefits included with — Chamber of Commerce membership.

Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation, Inc.

Max Hipp, President/CEO
Christy Knapp, Vice President
Retiree Attraction Program Director

299 Jackson Avenue West
PO Box 108
Oxford, Mississippi 38655
Voice: 662-234-4651
Toll Free: 800-880-6967 • Fax: 662-234-4655
E-Mail: info@oxfordms.com
Web Site: www.oxfordms.com