Miss. Code Ann. § 57-99-23 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 79 / Section 99-23
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-99-23
Status: in_force

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, a qualified business or industry that meets the qualifications specified in Sections 57-99-21 through 57-99-29 may receive quarterly incentive payments for a period not to exceed ten (10) years from the State Tax Commission pursuant to the provisions of Sections 57-99-21 through 57-99-29 in an amount which shall be equal to the lesser of one percent (1%) of the wages and taxable benefits for qualified jobs or the actual amount of Mississippi income tax withheld by the employer for the qualified jobs.

(2) In order to receive incentive payments, an establishment shall apply to the MDA by not later than July 1, 2010. The application shall be on a form prescribed by the MDA and shall contain such information as may be required by the MDA to determine if the applicant is qualified.

(3) In order to qualify to receive such payments, the establishment applying shall be required to:

(a) Be engaged in a qualified business or industry; and

(b) The business or industry must maintain a minimum of one thousand two hundred (1,200) qualified jobs.

(4) Upon approval of such an application, the MDA shall notify the State Tax Commission and shall provide it with a copy of the approved application. The State Tax Commission may require the qualified business or industry to submit such additional information as may be necessary to administer the provisions of Sections 57-99-21 through 57-99-29 . The qualified business or industry shall report to the State Tax Commission periodically to show its continued eligibility for incentive payments. The qualified business or industry may be audited by the State Tax Commission to verify such eligibility.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-21 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 46 / Section 61-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-21
Status: in_force

(1) There is hereby created a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Mississippi Business Investment Fund dedicated to the purpose of providing grants and/or loans to municipalities for the purpose of providing for improvements authorized by this chapter. All monies received by the board to carry out the purposes of this chapter, by legislative appropriation, issuance of bonds or otherwise, shall be deposited into the Mississippi Business Investment Fund. Expenditures authorized herein shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants drawn from the Mississippi Business Investment Fund, and the State Auditor, or his successor to such duties, shall issue warrants upon requisitions signed by the Chairman or Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority.

(2) Any monies repaid to the state from loans funded through the Mississippi Business Investment Fund shall be deposited into the Mississippi Business Investment Sinking Fund, which is hereby created in the State Treasury. Funds required in excess of the amounts available in the Mississippi Business Investment Sinking Fund to retire bonds issued pursuant to this chapter shall be appropriated from the State General Fund.

(3) Monies in the fund which are derived from the proceeds of general obligation bonds or provided by the Legislature may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the MDA for the administration of the various grant, loan and financial incentive programs administered by the MDA. An accounting of actual costs incurred for which reimbursement is sought shall be maintained by the MDA. Reimbursement of reasonable actual and necessary costs shall not exceed three percent (3%) of the proceeds of bonds issued or the monies provided by the Legislature.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-34-5 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 1 / Section 34-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-34-5
Status: in_force

As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, unless the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(a) “ Act ” means the provisions of this chapter.

(b) “ Authority ” means the Alabama-Mississippi Joint Economic Development Authority created pursuant to this chapter.

(c) “ Board of directors ” means the board of directors of the authority.

(d) “ Designated geographic area ” means:

(i) Those counties in the State of Alabama that share a common border with any county in the State of Mississippi; and

(ii) Those counties in the State of Mississippi that share a common border with any county in the State of Alabama.

(e) “ Herein ,” “ hereby ,” “ hereunder ,” “ hereof ” and other equivalent words refer to this chapter as an entirety and not solely to the particular section or portion thereof in which any such word is used.

(f) “ Project ” means:

(i) Any industrial, commercial, research and development, warehousing, distribution, transportation, processing, mining, United States government or tourism enterprise together with all real property required for construction, maintenance and operation of the enterprise:

1. With an initial capital investment of not less than Three Hundred Million Dollars ($ 300,000,000.00) from private or United States government sources together with all buildings, and other supporting land and facilities, structures or improvements of whatever kind required or useful for construction, maintenance and operation of the enterprise; or

2. With an initial capital investment of not less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($ 150,000,000.00) from private or United States government sources together with all buildings and other supporting land and facilities, structures or improvements of whatever kind required or useful for construction, maintenance and operation of the enterprise and which creates at least one thousand (1,000) net new full-time jobs; or

3. Which creates at least one thousand (1,000) net new full-time jobs which provide an average hourly wage of not less than two hundred percent (200%) of the federal minimum wage in effect on the date the project is placed in service.

(ii) Any addition to, or expansion of, any existing enterprise as described in this paragraph if the addition or expansion:

1. Has an initial capital investment of not less than Three Hundred Million Dollars ($ 300,000,000.00) from private or United States government sources;

2. Has an initial capital investment of not less than One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($ 150,000,000.00) from private or United States government sources together with all buildings and other supporting land and facilities, structures or improvements of whatever kind required or useful for construction, maintenance and operation of the enterprise and which creates at least one thousand (1,000) net new full-time jobs; or

3. Creates at least one thousand (1,000) net new full-time jobs which provide an average hourly wage of not less than two hundred percent (200%) of the federal minimum wage in effect on the date the project is placed in service.

(iii) Any development with an initial capital investment from private sources of not less than Seven Hundred Fifty Million Dollars ($ 750,000,000.00) which will create at least three thousand (3,000) net new full-time jobs satisfying criteria to be established by the authority.

In addition to meeting the other requirements of this paragraph, in order to fall within the definition of the term “ project ”:

(i) The enterprise or development must be located within the designated geographic area; and

(ii) Each state must provide funds or in kind contributions equal to at least one-third ( 1 / 3 ) of the total costs of the project to the states.

(g) “ Project agreement ” means an agreement, approved by the legislature of the states, setting forth certain obligations, responsibilities, benefits, administrative matters and any other matters with respect to a specific project that are not inconsistent with the terms of this chapter as the legislatures of the states deem appropriate with respect to a specific project.

(h) “ Project tax revenues ” means:

(i) All of the following state and local taxes paid directly to a state or a local government by the project: income taxes, ad valorem taxes on real and personal property, sales and use taxes, franchise taxes, license taxes, excise taxes and severance taxes; and

(ii) All state and local personal income tax and occupational tax withholdings from employees of the project attributable to employment at the project.

(i) “ States ” means the State of Alabama and the State of Mississippi collectively.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-121-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 71 / Section 121-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-121-9
Status: in_force

There is created a special fund in the State Treasury, to be known as the “Back to Business Mississippi Grant Fund,” from which the grants authorized by this chapter shall be disbursed by the MDA. All monies shall be disbursed from the fund in compliance with the guidelines, guidance, rules, regulations and/or other criteria, as may be amended from time to time, of the United States Department of the Treasury regarding the use of monies from the Coronavirus Relief Fund established by the CARES Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-21 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 26 / Section 55-21
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-55-21
Status: in_force

The said board of trustees may employ such full and part-time employees as is necessary to perform the duties of the institutions set forth above consistent with the availability of funds. Reasonable compensation and reimbursement of expenses may be made to such employees and others who provide professional services to the research institutions established by this chapter, including other employees of the state of Mississippi whose duties are increased by rendition of professional services to such institutions.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-103-3 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 67 / Section 103-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-103-3
Status: in_force

(1) There is established under the direction of the Innovate Mississippi (“IMS”) a program to be known as the “Proof of Concept Loan Program” for the purpose of making assistance available to provide working capital to support the initial capitalization of technology-based businesses in Mississippi.

(2)(a) In order to be eligible for assistance under the program, a business must: (i) have its principal place of business based in Mississippi, and be a startup business, (ii) have rights to the intellectual property supporting the venture opportunity for which assistance is requested, (iii) demonstrate compelling evidence for rapid growth and high performance potential, (iv) be invited by IMS to apply for assistance based upon an agreeable scope of work.

(b) Any business desiring to participate in the program must submit an application to IMS. The application must contain a description of the purposes for which the assistance is requested, the amount of assistance requested and any other information requested by IMS. If IMS staff reviewing the application determines that an application should be reviewed by the Seed Fund Investment Board appointed by IMS Board of Directors, the application shall be forwarded to the Seed Fund Investment Board. If the Seed Fund Investment Board approves the application, IMS shall negotiate a contract with the business regarding any assistance provided to the business under the program, the expenditure of the assistance provided to the business, and any other matters to which the parties may agree. Any such contract must provide for at least the following: (i) that any assistance provided to the business will be on a reimbursement basis in which the business will expend funds according to the terms of the contract and submit invoices, receipts and other applicable documentation and information to IMS for reimbursement; (ii) that no funds may be expended or used for patent prosecution, reorganization of the business, or payment of any existing debt of the business outstanding or otherwise incurred at the time the contract is entered into; (iii) that no funds may be expended to reimburse expenses for work conducted or services provided by the business, a university or a third-party consultant if those expenses were incurred before the term of the contract; (iv) that the business receiving assistance will retain ownership of any technology developed by the business regardless of whether the technology is developed before or after the receipt of assistance; and (v) that the business will provide matching funding of One Dollar ($1.00) for every One Dollar ($1.00) of assistance, with at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the match being in cash and the remaining amount being from in-kind services, all of which must be documented by time sheets, payroll receipts, invoices and other documentation or information required by IMS. Assistance received by a business may be expended for hiring third-party consultants to assist the business and for equipment. The amount of assistance that a business may receive under the program shall not exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) and any award of assistance shall be made on a onetime basis.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a business receiving assistance under the program shall be required to repay the assistance in the manner provided in this paragraph. Repayment shall be made through the use of a nonrecourse loan in which the business will repay the loan upon the successful commercialization of the product or service. The business will repay one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of assistance received if such repayment is made within thirty-six (36) months from the date the assistance is received, with the amount to be repaid by the business increasing at a rate determined by the parties in the contract up to an amount not to exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the amount of assistance if such repayment is made later than thirty-six (36) months from the date the assistance is received but not later than sixty (60) months from the date the assistance is received. Amounts received as repayments shall be deposited into the special fund created in subsection (3) of this section. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph, if the business receiving assistance fails to meet certain financial performance levels established in the contract between the business and IMS and the contract does not activate any repayment provisions, then IMS will deem the assistance provided to be a loss and the business receiving assistance shall not be required to repay the assistance received.

(3) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund, to be designated as the “Mississippi Proof of Concept Loan Program Fund,” which shall consist of funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the Legislature. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund. Monies in the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Mississippi Development Authority, to provide funds to IMS for the purposes described in this section, or for the purposes described in Sections 57-103-1 , 57-103-5 and/or 57-103-7 if IMS determines that the funds are not needed for the purposes described in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-103-3 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 69 / Section 103-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-103-3
Status: in_force

(1) There is established under the direction of the Innovate Mississippi (“IMS”) a program to be known as the “Proof of Concept Loan Program” for the purpose of making assistance available to provide working capital to support the initial capitalization of technology-based businesses in Mississippi.

(2)(a) In order to be eligible for assistance under the program, a business must: (i) have its principal place of business based in Mississippi, and be a startup business, (ii) have rights to the intellectual property supporting the venture opportunity for which assistance is requested, (iii) demonstrate compelling evidence for rapid growth and high performance potential, (iv) be invited by IMS to apply for assistance based upon an agreeable scope of work.

(b) Any business desiring to participate in the program must submit an application to IMS. The application must contain a description of the purposes for which the assistance is requested, the amount of assistance requested and any other information requested by IMS. If IMS staff reviewing the application determines that an application should be reviewed by the Seed Fund Investment Board appointed by IMS Board of Directors, the application shall be forwarded to the Seed Fund Investment Board. If the Seed Fund Investment Board approves the application, IMS shall negotiate a contract with the business regarding any assistance provided to the business under the program, the expenditure of the assistance provided to the business, and any other matters to which the parties may agree. Any such contract must provide for at least the following: (i) that any assistance provided to the business will be on a reimbursement basis in which the business will expend funds according to the terms of the contract and submit invoices, receipts and other applicable documentation and information to IMS for reimbursement; (ii) that no funds may be expended or used for patent prosecution, reorganization of the business, or payment of any existing debt of the business outstanding or otherwise incurred at the time the contract is entered into; (iii) that no funds may be expended to reimburse expenses for work conducted or services provided by the business, a university or a third-party consultant if those expenses were incurred before the term of the contract; (iv) that the business receiving assistance will retain ownership of any technology developed by the business regardless of whether the technology is developed before or after the receipt of assistance; and (v) that the business will provide matching funding of One Dollar ($1.00) for every One Dollar ($1.00) of assistance, with at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the match being in cash and the remaining amount being from in-kind services, all of which must be documented by time sheets, payroll receipts, invoices and other documentation or information required by IMS. Assistance received by a business may be expended for hiring third-party consultants to assist the business and for equipment. The amount of assistance that a business may receive under the program shall not exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) and any award of assistance shall be made on a onetime basis.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, a business receiving assistance under the program shall be required to repay the assistance in the manner provided in this paragraph. Repayment shall be made through the use of a nonrecourse loan in which the business will repay the loan upon the successful commercialization of the product or service. The business will repay one hundred percent (100%) of the amount of assistance received if such repayment is made within thirty-six (36) months from the date the assistance is received, with the amount to be repaid by the business increasing at a rate determined by the parties in the contract up to an amount not to exceed two hundred percent (200%) of the amount of assistance if such repayment is made later than thirty-six (36) months from the date the assistance is received but not later than sixty (60) months from the date the assistance is received. Amounts received as repayments shall be deposited into the special fund created in subsection (3) of this section. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph, if the business receiving assistance fails to meet certain financial performance levels established in the contract between the business and IMS and the contract does not activate any repayment provisions, then IMS will deem the assistance provided to be a loss and the business receiving assistance shall not be required to repay the assistance received.

(3) There is created in the State Treasury a special fund, to be designated as the “Mississippi Proof of Concept Loan Program Fund,” which shall consist of funds appropriated or otherwise made available by the Legislature. The fund shall be maintained by the State Treasurer as a separate and special fund, separate and apart from the General Fund of the state. Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund, and any interest earned or investment earnings on amounts in the fund shall be deposited into such fund. Monies in the fund shall be disbursed, in the discretion of the Mississippi Development Authority, to provide funds to IMS for the purposes described in this section, or for the purposes described in Sections 57-103-1 , 57-103-5 and/or 57-103-7 if IMS determines that the funds are not needed for the purposes described in this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-15 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 71 / Section 75-15
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-15
Status: in_force

(1) Upon notification to the authority by the enterprise that the state has been finally selected as the site for the project, the State Bond Commission shall have the power and is hereby authorized and directed, upon receipt of a declaration from the authority as hereinafter provided, to borrow money and issue general obligation bonds of the state in one or more series for the purposes herein set out. Upon such notification, the authority may thereafter, from time to time, declare the necessity for the issuance of general obligation bonds as authorized by this section and forward such declaration to the State Bond Commission, provided that before such notification, the authority may enter into agreements with the United States government, private companies and others that will commit the authority to direct the State Bond Commission to issue bonds for eligible undertakings set out in subsection (4) of this section, conditioned on the siting of the project in the state.

(2) Upon receipt of any such declaration from the authority, the State Bond Commission shall verify that the state has been selected as the site of the project and shall act as the issuing agent for the series of bonds directed to be issued in such declaration pursuant to authority granted in this section.

(3)(a) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(i) shall not exceed an aggregate principal amount in the sum of Sixty-seven Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($67,350,000.00).

(b) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(ii) shall not exceed Eighty-two Million Dollars ($82,000,000.00). The authority, with the express direction of the State Bond Commission, is authorized to expend any remaining proceeds of bonds issued under the authority of this act prior to January 1, 1998, for the purpose of financing projects as then defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(ii) or for any other projects as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(ii) , as it may be amended from time to time. No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph (b) until the State Bond Commission by resolution adopts a finding that the issuance of such bonds will improve, expand or otherwise enhance the military installation, its support areas or military operations, or will provide employment opportunities to replace those lost by closure or reductions in operations at the military installation or will support critical studies or investigations authorized by Section 57-75-5(f)(ii) .

(c) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iii) shall not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after December 31, 1996.

(d) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) shall not exceed Three Hundred Fifty-one Million Dollars ($351,000,000.00). An additional amount of bonds in an amount not to exceed Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,500,000.00) may be issued under the authority of this section for the purpose of defraying costs associated with the construction of surface water transmission lines for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) or for any facility related to the project. No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2005.

(e) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(v) and for facilities related to such projects shall not exceed Thirty-eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($38,500,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after April 1, 2005.

(f) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(vii) shall not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2006.

(g) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(viii) shall not exceed Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2008.

(h) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(ix) shall not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2007.

(i) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(x) shall not exceed Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after April 1, 2005.

(j) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xii) shall not exceed Thirty-three Million Dollars ($33,000,000.00). The amount of bonds that may be issued under this paragraph for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xii) may be reduced by the amount of any federal or local funds made available for such projects. No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph until local governments in or near the county in which the project is located have irrevocably committed funds to the project in an amount of not less than Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00) in the aggregate; however, this irrevocable commitment requirement may be waived by the authority upon a finding that due to the unforeseen circumstances created by Hurricane Katrina, the local governments are unable to comply with such commitment. No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2008.

(k) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xiii) shall not exceed Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2009.

(l) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xiv) shall not exceed Twenty-four Million Dollars ($24,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph until local governments in the county in which the project is located have irrevocably committed funds to the project in an amount of not less than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2009.

(m) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xv) shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2009.

(n) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xvi) shall not exceed Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2011.

(o) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xvii) shall not exceed Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2010.

(p) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) shall not exceed Ninety-six Million Dollars ($96,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2016.

(q) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xix) shall not exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after June 30, 2012.

(r) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xx) shall not exceed Twenty-three Million Dollars ($23,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after April 25, 2013.

(s) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) shall not exceed Two Hundred Ninety-three Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($293,900,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2020.

(t) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for Tier One suppliers shall not exceed Thirty Million Dollars ($30,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2020.

(u) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) shall not exceed Forty-eight Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($48,400,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2020.

(v) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiii) shall not exceed Eighty-eight Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($88,250,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2009.

(w) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiv) shall not exceed Thirteen Million Dollars ($13,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2020.

(x) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxv) shall not exceed Twenty-five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2017.

(y) [Deleted]

(z) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvii) shall not exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after April 25, 2013.

(aa) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f) (xxviii) shall not exceed Seventy Million Dollars ($70,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2026.

(bb) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix) shall not exceed Two Hundred Sixty-three Million Dollars ($263,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2034.

(cc) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx) shall not exceed Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00). No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2025.

(dd) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) shall not exceed Two Hundred Forty-six Million Seven Hundred Ninety-eight Thousand Five Hundred Fifty Dollars ($246,798,550.00); however, the total amount of bonds that may be issued under the authority of this section for projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) shall be reduced by the amount of any other funds authorized by the Legislature during the 2022 First Extraordinary Session specifically for such projects. No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2040.

(ee) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) shall not exceed Four Hundred Eighty-two Million Dollars ($482,000,000.00); however, the total amount of bonds that may be issued under the authority of this section for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) shall be reduced by the amount of any other funds authorized by the Legislature specifically for such project. No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2040.

(ff) Bonds issued under the authority of this section for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f) (xxxiii) shall not exceed Two Hundred Sixty Million Dollars ($260,000,000.00); however, the total amount of bonds that may be issued under the authority of this section for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f) (xxxiii) shall be reduced by the amount of any other funds authorized by the Legislature specifically for such project. No bonds shall be issued under this paragraph after July 1, 2040.

(4)(a) The proceeds from the sale of the bonds issued under this section may be applied for the following purposes:

(i) Defraying all or any designated portion of the costs incurred with respect to acquisition, planning, design, construction, installation, rehabilitation, improvement, relocation and with respect to state-owned property, operation and maintenance of the project and any facility related to the project located within the project area, including costs of design and engineering, all costs incurred to provide land, easements and rights-of-way, relocation costs with respect to the project and with respect to any facility related to the project located within the project area, and costs associated with mitigation of environmental impacts and environmental impact studies;

(ii) Defraying the cost of providing for the recruitment, screening, selection, training or retraining of employees, candidates for employment or replacement employees of the project and any related activity;

(iii) Reimbursing the Mississippi Development Authority for expenses it incurred in regard to projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) prior to November 6, 2000. The Mississippi Development Authority shall submit an itemized list of expenses it incurred in regard to such projects to the Chairmen of the Finance and Appropriations Committees of the Senate and the Chairmen of the Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives;

(iv) Providing grants to enterprises operating projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 ;

(v) Paying any warranty made by the authority regarding site work for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 ;

(vi) Defraying the cost of marketing and promotion of a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) . The authority shall submit an itemized list of costs incurred for marketing and promotion of such project to the Chairmen of the Finance and Appropriations Committees of the Senate and the Chairmen of the Ways and Means and Appropriations Committees of the House of Representatives;

(vii) Providing for the payment of interest on the bonds;

(viii) Providing debt service reserves;

(ix) Paying underwriters' discount, original issue discount, accountants' fees, engineers' fees, attorneys' fees, rating agency fees and other fees and expenses in connection with the issuance of the bonds;

(x) For purposes authorized in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection (4);

(xi) Providing grants to enterprises operating projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(v) , or, in connection with a facility related to such a project, for any purposes deemed by the authority in its sole discretion to be necessary and appropriate;

(xii) Providing grant funds or loans to a public agency or an enterprise owning, leasing or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(ii) ;

(xiii) Providing grant funds or loans to an enterprise owning, leasing or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xiv) ;

(xiv) Providing grants, loans and payments to or for the benefit of an enterprise owning or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) ;

(xv) Purchasing equipment for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(viii) subject to such terms and conditions as the authority considers necessary and appropriate;

(xvi) Providing grant funds to an enterprise developing or owning a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xx) ;

(xvii) Providing grants and loans for projects as authorized in Section 57-75-11(kk) , (ll) , (mm) , (uu) , (vv) or, in connection with a facility related to such a project, for any purposes deemed by the authority in its sole discretion to be necessary and appropriate;

(xviii) Providing grants for projects as authorized in Section 57-75-11(pp) for any purposes deemed by the authority in its sole discretion to be necessary and appropriate;

(xix) Providing grants and loans for projects as authorized in Section 57-75-11(qq) ;

(xx) Providing grants for projects as authorized in Section 57-75-11(rr) ;

(xxi) Providing grants, loans and payments as authorized in Section 57-75-11(ss) ;

(xxii) Providing loans as authorized in Section 57-75-11(tt) ;

(xxiii) Providing grants as authorized in Section 57-75-11(ww) for any purposes deemed by the authority in its sole discretion to be necessary and appropriate; and

(xxiv) Providing loans, grants and other funds as authorized in Section 57-75-11(xx) , (yy) , (zz) and (aaa) for any purposes deemed by the authority in its sole discretion to be necessary and appropriate.

Such bonds shall be issued, from time to time, and in such principal amounts as shall be designated by the authority, not to exceed in aggregate principal amounts the amount authorized in subsection (3) of this section. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds issued under this section may be invested, subject to federal limitations, pending their use, in such securities as may be specified in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or the trust indenture securing them, and the earning on such investment applied as provided in such resolution or trust indenture.

(b)(i) The proceeds of bonds issued after June 21, 2002, under this section for projects described in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the Mississippi Development Authority in providing assistance related to a project for which funding is provided from the use of proceeds of such bonds. The Mississippi Development Authority shall maintain an accounting of actual costs incurred for each project for which reimbursements are sought. Reimbursements under this paragraph (b)(i) shall not exceed Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00) in the aggregate. Reimbursements under this paragraph (b)(i) shall satisfy any applicable federal tax law requirements.

(ii) The proceeds of bonds issued after June 21, 2002, under this section for projects described in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the Department of Audit in providing services related to a project for which funding is provided from the use of proceeds of such bonds. The Department of Audit shall maintain an accounting of actual costs incurred for each project for which reimbursements are sought. The Department of Audit may escalate its budget and expend such funds in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds. Reimbursements under this paragraph (b)(ii) shall not exceed One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) in the aggregate. Reimbursements under this paragraph (b)(ii) shall satisfy any applicable federal tax law requirements.

(c)(i) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the proceeds of bonds issued under this section for a project described in Section 57-75-5(f) may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the Mississippi Development Authority in providing assistance related to the project for which funding is provided for the use of proceeds of such bonds. The Mississippi Development Authority shall maintain an accounting of actual costs incurred for each project for which reimbursements are sought. Reimbursements under this paragraph shall not exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each project.

(ii) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the proceeds of bonds issued under this section for a project described in Section 57-75-5(f) may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the Department of Audit in providing services related to the project for which funding is provided from the use of proceeds of such bonds. The Department of Audit shall maintain an accounting of actual costs incurred for each project for which reimbursements are sought. The Department of Audit may escalate its budget and expend such funds in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds. Reimbursements under this paragraph shall not exceed Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) for each project. Reimbursements under this paragraph shall satisfy any applicable federal tax law requirements.

(5) The principal of and the interest on the bonds shall be payable in the manner hereinafter set forth. The bonds shall bear date or dates; be in such denomination or denominations; bear interest at such rate or rates; be payable at such place or places within or without the state; mature absolutely at such time or times; be redeemable before maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium; bear such registration privileges; and be substantially in such form; all as shall be determined by resolution of the State Bond Commission except that such bonds shall mature or otherwise be retired in annual installments beginning not more than five (5) years from the date thereof and extending not more than twenty-five (25) years from the date thereof. The bonds shall be signed by the Chairman of the State Bond Commission, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the State Bond Commission shall be imprinted on or affixed thereto, attested by the manual or facsimile signature of the Secretary of the State Bond Commission. Whenever any such bonds have been signed by the officials herein designated to sign the bonds, who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers before the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to the purchaser, or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear.

(6) All bonds issued under the provisions of this section shall be and are hereby declared to have all the qualities and incidents of negotiable instruments under the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code and in exercising the powers granted by this chapter, the State Bond Commission shall not be required to and need not comply with the provisions of the Uniform Commercial Code.

(7) The State Bond Commission shall act as issuing agent for the bonds, prescribe the form of the bonds, advertise for and accept bids, issue and sell the bonds on sealed bids at public sale, pay all fees and costs incurred in such issuance and sale, and do any and all other things necessary and advisable in connection with the issuance and sale of the bonds. The State Bond Commission may sell such bonds on sealed bids at public sale for such price as it may determine to be for the best interest of the State of Mississippi, but no such sale shall be made at a price less than par plus accrued interest to date of delivery of the bonds to the purchaser. The bonds shall bear interest at such rate or rates not exceeding the limits set forth in Section 75-17-101 as shall be fixed by the State Bond Commission. All interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually; provided that the first interest payment may be for any period of not more than one (1) year.

Notice of the sale of any bonds shall be published at least one time, the first of which shall be made not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of sale, and shall be so published in one or more newspapers having a general circulation in the City of Jackson, Mississippi, selected by the State Bond Commission.

The State Bond Commission, when issuing any bonds under the authority of this section, may provide that the bonds, at the option of the state, may be called in for payment and redemption at the call price named therein and accrued interest on such date or dates named therein.

(8) State bonds issued under the provisions of this section shall be the general obligations of the state and backed by the full faith and credit of the state. The Legislature shall appropriate annually an amount sufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on such bonds as they become due. All bonds shall contain recitals on their faces substantially covering the foregoing provisions of this section.

(9) The State Treasurer is authorized to certify to the Department of Finance and Administration the necessity for warrants, and the Department of Finance and Administration is authorized and directed to issue such warrants payable out of any funds appropriated by the Legislature under this section for such purpose, in such amounts as may be necessary to pay when due the principal of and interest on all bonds issued under the provisions of this section. The State Treasurer shall forward the necessary amount to the designated place or places of payment of such bonds in ample time to discharge such bonds, or the interest thereon, on the due dates thereof.

(10) The bonds may be issued without any other proceedings or the happening of any other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions and things which are specified or required by this chapter. Any resolution providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds under the provisions of this section shall become effective immediately upon its adoption by the State Bond Commission, and any such resolution may be adopted at any regular or special meeting of the State Bond Commission by a majority of its members.

(11) In anticipation of the issuance of bonds hereunder, the State Bond Commission is authorized to negotiate and enter into any purchase, loan, credit or other agreement with any bank, trust company or other lending institution or to issue and sell interim notes for the purpose of making any payments authorized under this section. All borrowings made under this provision shall be evidenced by notes of the state which shall be issued from time to time, for such amounts not exceeding the amount of bonds authorized herein, in such form and in such denomination and subject to such terms and conditions of sale and issuance, prepayment or redemption and maturity, rate or rates of interest not to exceed the maximum rate authorized herein for bonds, and time of payment of interest as the State Bond Commission shall agree to in such agreement. Such notes shall constitute general obligations of the state and shall be backed by the full faith and credit of the state. Such notes may also be issued for the purpose of refunding previously issued notes. No note shall mature more than three (3) years following the date of its issuance. The State Bond Commission is authorized to provide for the compensation of any purchaser of the notes by payment of a fixed fee or commission and for all other costs and expenses of issuance and service, including paying agent costs. Such costs and expenses may be paid from the proceeds of the notes.

(12) The bonds and interim notes authorized under the authority of this section may be validated in the Chancery Court of the First Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, in the manner and with the force and effect provided now or hereafter by Chapter 13, Title 31, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for the validation of county, municipal, school district and other bonds. The necessary papers for such validation proceedings shall be transmitted to the State Bond Attorney, and the required notice shall be published in a newspaper published in the City of Jackson, Mississippi.

(13) Any bonds or interim notes issued under the provisions of this chapter, a transaction relating to the sale or securing of such bonds or interim notes, their transfer and the income therefrom shall at all times be free from taxation by the state or any local unit or political subdivision or other instrumentality of the state, excepting inheritance and gift taxes.

(14) All bonds issued under this chapter shall be legal investments for trustees, other fiduciaries, savings banks, trust companies and insurance companies organized under the laws of the State of Mississippi; and such bonds shall be legal securities which may be deposited with and shall be received by all public officers and bodies of the state and all municipalities and other political subdivisions thereof for the purpose of securing the deposit of public funds.

(15) The Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall represent the State Bond Commission in issuing, selling and validating bonds herein provided for, and the Bond Commission is hereby authorized and empowered to expend from the proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds authorized hereunder all necessary administrative, legal and other expenses incidental and related to the issuance of bonds authorized under this chapter.

(16) There is hereby created a special fund in the State Treasury to be known as the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority Fund wherein shall be deposited the proceeds of the bonds issued under this chapter and all monies received by the authority to carry out the purposes of this chapter. Expenditures authorized herein shall be paid by the State Treasurer upon warrants drawn from the fund, and the Department of Finance and Administration shall issue warrants upon requisitions signed by the director of the authority.

(17)(a) There is hereby created the Mississippi Economic Impact Authority Sinking Fund from which the principal of and interest on such bonds shall be paid by appropriation. All monies paid into the sinking fund not appropriated to pay accruing bonds and interest shall be invested by the State Treasurer in such securities as are provided by law for the investment of the sinking funds of the state.

(b) In the event that all or any part of the bonds and notes are purchased, they shall be cancelled and returned to the loan and transfer agent as cancelled and paid bonds and notes and thereafter all payments of interest thereon shall cease and the cancelled bonds, notes and coupons, together with any other cancelled bonds, notes and coupons, shall be destroyed as promptly as possible after cancellation but not later than two (2) years after cancellation. A certificate evidencing the destruction of the cancelled bonds, notes and coupons shall be provided by the loan and transfer agent to the seller.

(c) The State Treasurer shall determine and report to the Department of Finance and Administration and Legislative Budget Office by September 1 of each year the amount of money necessary for the payment of the principal of and interest on outstanding obligations for the following fiscal year and the times and amounts of the payments. It shall be the duty of the Governor to include in every executive budget submitted to the Legislature full information relating to the issuance of bonds and notes under the provisions of this chapter and the status of the sinking fund for the payment of the principal of and interest on the bonds and notes.

(d) Any monies repaid to the state from loans authorized in Section 57-75-11(hh) shall be deposited into the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority Sinking Fund unless the State Bond Commission, at the request of the authority, shall determine that such loan repayments are needed to provide additional loans as authorized under Section 57-75-11(hh) . For purposes of providing additional loans, there is hereby created the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority Revolving Loan Fund and loan repayments shall be deposited into the fund. The fund shall be maintained for such period as determined by the State Bond Commission for the sole purpose of making additional loans as authorized by Section 57-75-11(hh) . Unexpended amounts remaining in the fund at the end of a fiscal year shall not lapse into the State General Fund and any interest earned on amounts in such fund shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.

(e) Any monies repaid to the state from loans authorized in Section 57-75-11(ii) shall be deposited into the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority Sinking Fund.

(f) Any monies repaid to the state from loans, grants and other funds authorized in Section 57-75-11(jj) , (vv) , (xx) , (zz) and (aaa) shall be deposited into the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority Sinking Fund. However:

(i) Monies paid to the state from a county in which a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) is located and which is paid pursuant to any agreement under Section 57-75-37(6)(c)(iii) shall, after being received from the county and properly accounted for, be deposited into the State General Fund; and

(ii) Monies paid to the state from a county and/or municipality in which a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f) (xxxiii) is located and which is paid pursuant to any agreement under Section 57-75-37(7)(c)(iii) shall, after being received from the county and/or municipality and properly accounted for, be deposited into the State General Fund.

(18)(a) Upon receipt of a declaration by the authority that it has determined that the state is a potential site for a project, the State Bond Commission is authorized and directed to authorize the State Treasurer to borrow money from any special fund in the State Treasury not otherwise appropriated to be utilized by the authority for the purposes provided for in this subsection.

(b) The proceeds of the money borrowed under this subsection may be utilized by the authority for the purpose of defraying all or a portion of the costs incurred by the authority with respect to acquisition options and planning, design and environmental impact studies with respect to a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix) . The authority may escalate its budget and expend the proceeds of the money borrowed under this subsection in accordance with rules and regulations of the Department of Finance and Administration in a manner consistent with the escalation of federal funds.

(c) The authority shall request an appropriation or additional authority to issue general obligation bonds to repay the borrowed funds and establish a date for the repayment of the funds so borrowed.

(d) Borrowings made under the provisions of this subsection shall not exceed Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) at any one time.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-33-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 7 / Section 33-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-33-1
Status: in_force

The State of Mississippi shall adhere to the Southern Growth Policies Agreement by becoming a party state therein in the form substantially as follows:

SOUTHERN GROWTH POLICIES AGREEMENT

Article I. Findings and Purposes

(a) The party states find that the South has a sense of community based on common social, cultural and economic needs, and fostered by a regional tradition. There are vast potentialities for mutual improvement of each state in the region by cooperative planning for the development, conservation and efficient utilization of human and natural resources in a geographic area large enough to afford a high degree of flexibility in identifying and taking maximum advantage of opportunities for healthy and beneficial growth. The independence of each state and the special needs of subregions are recognized and are to be safeguarded. Accordingly, the cooperation resulting from this agreement is intended to assist the states in meeting their own problems by enhancing their abilities to recognize and analyze regional opportunities and take account of regional influences in planning and implementing their public policies.

(b) The purposes of this agreement are to provide:

(1) Improve facilities and procedures for study, analysis and planning of governmental policies, programs and activities of regional significance.

(2) Assistance in the prevention of interstate conflicts and the promotion of regional cooperation.

(3) Mechanisms for the coordination of state and local interests on a regional basis.

(4) An agency to assist the states in accomplishing the foregoing.

Article II. The Board

(a) There is hereby created the Southern Growth Policies Board, hereinafter called “the board.”

(b) The board shall consist of five (5) members from each party state, as follows:

(1) The governor.

(2) Two (2) members of the state legislature, one (1) appointed by the presiding officer of each house of the legislature or in such other manner as the legislature may provide.

(3) Two (2) residents of the state who shall be appointed by the governor to serve at his pleasure.

(c) In making appointments pursuant to paragraph (b)(3), a governor shall, to the greatest extent practicable, select persons who, along with the other members serving pursuant to paragraph (b), will make the state's representation on the board broadly representative of the several socio-economic elements within his state.

(d)(1) A governor may be represented by an alternate with power to act in his place and stead if notice of the designation of such alternate is given to the board in such manner as its bylaws may provide.

(2) A legislative member of the board may be represented by an alternate with power to act in his place and stead unless the laws of his state prohibit such representation and if notice of the designation of such alternate is given to the board in such manner as its bylaws may provide. An alternate for a legislative member of the board shall be selected by the member from among the members of the legislative house in which he serves.

(3) A member of the board serving pursuant to paragraph (b)(3) of this article may be represented by another resident of his state who may participate in his place and stead, except that he shall not vote, provided that notice of the identity and designation of the representative selected by the member is given to the board in such manner as its bylaws may provide.

Article III. Powers

(a) The board shall prepare and keep current a statement of regional objectives, including recommended approaches to regional problems. The statement may also identify projects deemed by the board to be of regional significance. The statement shall be available in its initial form two (2) years from the effective date of this agreement, and shall be amended or revised no less frequently than once every six (6) years. The statement shall be in such detail as the board may prescribe. Amendments, revisions, supplements or evaluations may be transmitted at any time. An annual commentary on the statement shall be submitted at a regular time to be determined by the board.

(b) In addition to powers conferred on the board elsewhere in this agreement, the board shall have the power to make or commission studies, investigations and recommendations with respect to:

(1) The planning and programming of projects of interstate or regional significance.

(2) Planning and scheduling of governmental services and programs which would be of assistance to the orderly growth and prosperity of the region, and to the well-being of its population.

(3) Effective utilization of such federal assistance as may be available on a regional basis or as may have an interstate or regional impact.

(4) Measures for influencing population distribution, land use, development of new communities, and redevelopment of existing ones.

(5) Transportation patterns and systems of interstate and regional significance.

(6) Improved utilization of human and natural resources for the advancement of the region as a whole.

(7) Any other matters of a planning, data collection or informational character that the board may determine to be of value to the party states.

Article IV. Avoidance of Duplication

(a) To avoid duplication of effort and in the interest of economy, the board shall make use of existing studies, surveys, plans and data, and other materials in the possession of the governmental agencies of the party states and their respective subdivisions or in the possession of other interstate agencies. Each such agency, within available appropriations and if not expressly prevented or limited by law, is hereby authorized to make such materials available to the board and to otherwise assist it in the performance of its functions. At the request of the board, each such agency is further authorized to provide information regarding plans and programs affecting the region, or any subarea thereof, so that the board may have available to it current information with respect thereto.

(b) The board shall use qualified public and private agencies to make investigations and conduct research, but if it is unable to secure the undertaking of such investigations or original research by a qualified public or private agency, it shall have the power to make its own investigations and conduct its own research. The board may make contracts with any public or private agencies or private persons or entities for the undertaking of such investigations or original research within its purview.

(c) In general, the policy of paragraph (b) of this article shall apply to the activities of the board relating to its statement of regional objectives, but nothing herein shall be construed to require the board to rely on the services of other persons or agencies in developing the statement of regional objectives or any amendment, supplement or revision thereof.

Article V. Advisory Committees

The board shall establish a local governments advisory committee. In addition, the board may establish advisory committees representative of subregions of the South, civic and community interests, industry, agriculture, labor, or other categories or any combinations thereof. Unless the laws of a party state contain a contrary requirement, any public official of the party state or a subdivision thereof may serve on an advisory committee established pursuant hereto, and such service may be considered as a duty of his regular office or employment.

Article VI. Internal Management of the Board

(a) The members of the board shall be entitled to one (1) vote each. No action of the board shall be binding unless taken at a meeting at which a majority of the total number of votes on the board are cast in favor thereof. Action of the board shall be only at a meeting at which a majority of the members or their alternates are present. The board shall meet at least once a year. In its bylaws, and subject to such directions and limitations as may be contained therein, the board may delegate the exercise of any of its powers relating to internal administration and management to an executive committee or the executive director. In no event shall any such delegation include final approval of:

(1) A budget or appropriation request.

(2) The statement of regional objectives or any amendment, supplement or revision thereof.

(3) Official comments on or recommendations with respect to projects of interstate or regional significance.

(4) The annual report.

(b) To assist in the expeditious conduct of its business when the full board is not meeting, the board shall elect an executive committee of not to exceed twenty-three (23) members, including at least one (1) member from each party state. The executive committee, subject to the provisions of this agreement and consistent with the policies of the board, shall be constituted and function as provided in the bylaws of the board. One-half ( 1 / 2 ) of the membership of the executive committee shall consist of governors, and the remainder shall consist of other members of the board, except that at any time when there is an odd number of members on the executive committee, the number of governors shall be one (1) less than half of the total membership. The members of the executive committee shall serve for terms of two (2) years, except that members elected to the first executive committee shall be elected as follows: one (1) less than half of the membership for two (2) years and the remainder for one (1) year. The chairman, chairman-elect, vice-chairman and treasurer of the board shall be members of the executive committee and, anything in this paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, shall serve during their continuance in these offices. Vacancies in the executive committee shall not affect its authority to act, but the board at its next regularly ensuing meeting following the occurrence of any vacancy shall fill it for the unexpired term.

(c) The board shall have a seal.

(d) The board shall elect, from among its members, a chairman, a chairman-elect, a vice-chairman and a treasurer. Elections shall be annual. The chairman-elect shall succeed to the office of chairman for the year following his service as chairman-elect. For purposes of the election and service of officers of the board, the year shall be deemed to commence at the conclusion of the annual meeting of the board and terminate at the conclusion of the next annual meeting thereof. The board shall provide for the appointment of an executive director. Such executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the board, and together with the treasurer and such other personnel as the board may deem appropriate shall be bonded in such amounts as the board shall determine. The executive director shall be secretary.

(e) The executive director, subject to the policy set forth in this agreement and any applicable directions given by the board, may make contracts on behalf of the board.

(f) Irrespective of the civil service, personnel or other merit system laws of any of the party states, the executive director, subject to the approval of the board, shall appoint, remove or discharge such personnel as may be necessary for the performance of the functions of the board, and shall fix the duties and compensation of such personnel. The board in its bylaws shall provide for the personnel policies and programs of the board.

(g) The board may borrow, accept or contract for the services of personnel from any party jurisdiction, the United States, or any subdivision or agency of the aforementioned governments, or from any agency of two (2) or more of the party jurisdictions or their subdivisions.

(h) The board may accept for any of its purposes and functions under this agreement any and all donations and grants of money, equipment, supplies, materials and services, conditional or otherwise, from any state, the United States, or any other governmental agency, or from any person, firm, association, foundation or corporation, and may receive, utilize and dispose of the same. Any donation or grant accepted by the board pursuant to this paragraph or services borrowed pursuant to paragraph (g) of this article shall be reported in the annual report of the board. Such report shall include the nature, amount and conditions, if any, of the donation, grant, or services borrowed, and the identity of the donor or lender.

(i) The board may establish and maintain such facilities as may be necessary for the transacting of its business. The board may acquire, hold and convey real and personal property and any interest therein.

(j) The board shall adopt bylaws for the conduct of its business and shall have the power to amend and rescind these bylaws. The board shall publish its bylaws in convenient form and shall file a copy thereof and a copy of any amendment thereto with the appropriate agency or officer in each of the party states.

(k) The board annually shall make to the governor and legislature of each party state a report covering the activities of the board for the preceding year. The board at any time may make such additional reports and transmit such studies as it may deem desirable.

(l) The board may do any other or additional things appropriate to implement powers conferred upon it by this agreement.

Article VII. Finance

(a) The board shall advise the governor or designated officer or officers of each party state of its budget of estimated expenditures for such period as may be required by the laws of that party state. Each of the board's budgets of estimated expenditures shall contain specific recommendations of the amount or amounts to be appropriated by each of the party states.

(b) The total amount of appropriation requests under any budget shall be apportioned among the party states. Such apportionment shall be in accordance with the following formula:

(1) One-third ( 1 / 3 ) in equal shares,

(2) One-third ( 1 / 3 ) in the proportion that the population of a party state bears to the population of all party states, and

(3) One-third ( 1 / 3 ) in the proportion that the per capita income in a party state bears to the per capita income in all party states.

In implementing this formula, the board shall employ the most recent authoritative sources of information and shall specify the sources used.

(c) The board shall not pledge the credit of any party state. The board may meet any of its obligations in whole or in part with funds available to it pursuant to Article VI(h) of this agreement, provided that the board takes specific action setting aside such funds prior to incurring an obligation to be met in whole or in part in such manner. Except where the board makes use of funds available to it pursuant to Article VI(h), or borrows pursuant to this paragraph, the board shall not incur any obligation prior to the allotment of funds by the party states adequate to meet the same. The board may borrow against anticipated revenues for terms not to exceed two (2) years, but in any such event the credit pledged shall be that of the board and not of a party state.

(d) The board shall keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements. The receipts and disbursements of the board shall be subject to the audit and accounting procedures established by its bylaws. However, all receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the board shall be audited yearly by a certified or licensed public accountant, and the report of the audit shall be included in and become part of the annual report of the board.

(e) The accounts of the board shall be open at any reasonable time for inspection by duly constituted officers of the party states and by any persons authorized by the board.

(f) Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prevent board compliance with laws relating to audit or inspection of accounts by or on behalf of any government contributing to the support of the board.

Article VIII. Cooperation With the Federal Government and Other Governmental Entities

Each party state is hereby authorized to participate in cooperative or joint planning undertakings with the federal government, and any appropriate agency or agencies thereof, or with any interstate agency or agencies. Such participation shall be at the instance of the governor or in such manner as state law may provide or authorize. The board may facilitate the work of state representatives in any joint interstate or cooperative federal-state undertaking authorized by this article, and each such state shall keep the board advised of its activities in respect of such undertakings, to the extent that they have interstate or regional significance.

Article IX. Subregional Activities

The board may undertake studies or investigations centering on the problems of one or more selected subareas within the region: provided that in its judgment, such studies or investigations will have value as demonstrations for similar or other areas within the region. If a study or investigation that would be of primary benefit to a given state, unit of local government, or intrastate or interstate area is proposed, and if the board finds that it is not justified in undertaking the work for its regional value as a demonstration, the board may undertake the study or investigation as a special project. In any such event, it shall be a condition precedent that satisfactory financing and personnel arrangements be concluded to assure that the party or parties benefited bear all costs which the board determines that it would be inequitable for it to assume. Prior to undertaking any study or investigation pursuant to this article as a special project, the board shall make reasonable efforts to secure the undertaking of the work by another responsible public or private entity in accordance with the policy set forth in Article IV(b).

Article X. Comprehensive Land Use Planning

If any two (2) or more contiguous party states desire to prepare a single or consolidated comprehensive land use plan, or a land use plan for any interstate area lying partly within each such state, the governors of the states involved may designate the board as their joint agency for the purpose. The board shall accept such designation and carry out such responsibility: provided that the states involved make arrangements satisfactory to the board to reimburse it or otherwise provide the resources with which the land use plan is to be prepared. Nothing contained in this article shall be construed to deny the availability for use in the preparation of any such plan of data and information already in the possession of the board or to require payment on account of the use thereof in addition to payments otherwise required to be made pursuant to other provisions of this agreement.

Article XI. Compacts and Agencies Unaffected

Nothing in this agreement shall be construed to:

(1) Affect the powers or jurisdiction of any agency of a party state or any subdivision thereof.

(2) Affect the rights or obligations of any governmental units, agencies or officials, or of any private persons or entities conferred or imposed by any interstate or interstate-federal compacts to which any one or more states participating herein are parties.

(3) Impinge on the jurisdiction of any existing interstate-federal mechanism for regional planning or development.

Article XII. Eligible Parties; Entry Into and Withdrawal

(a) This agreement shall have as eligible parties the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and West Virginia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the territory of the Virgin Islands, hereinafter referred to as “party states.”

(b) Any eligible state may enter into this agreement and it shall become binding thereon when it has adopted the same: provided that in order to enter into initial effect, adoption by at least five (5) states shall be required.

(c) Adoption of the agreement may be either by enactment thereof or by adherence thereto by the governor; provided that in the absence of enactment, adherence by the governor shall be sufficient to make his state a party only until December 31, 1973. During any period when a state is participating in this agreement through gubernatorial action, the governor may provide to the board an equitable share of the financial support of the board from any source available to him. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to require a governor to take action contrary to the Constitution or laws of his state.

(d) Except for a withdrawal effective on December 31, 1973, in accordance with paragraph (c) of this article, any party state may withdraw from this agreement by enacting a statute repealing the same, but no such withdrawal shall take effect until one (1) year after the governor of the withdrawing state has given notice in writing of the withdrawal to the governors of all other party states. No withdrawal shall affect any liability already incurred by or chargeable to a party state prior to the time of such withdrawal.

Article XIII. Construction and Severability

This agreement shall be liberally construed so as to effectuate the purposes thereof. The provisions of this agreement shall be severable, and if any phrase, clause, sentence or provision of this agreement is declared to be contrary to the Constitution of any state or of the United States, or the application thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance is held invalid, the validity of the remainder of this agreement and the applicability thereof to any government, agency, person or circumstance shall not be affected thereby. If this agreement shall be held contrary to the Constitution of any state participating therein, the agreement shall remain in full force and effect as to the state affected as to all severable matters.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-10-207 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 5 / Section 10-207
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-10-207
Status: in_force

In addition to those powers granted elsewhere by law, the board of directors of the company is hereby granted all powers necessary or appropriate to carry out and effectuate the purposes of this article, including, but not limited to, the following powers to:

(a) Borrow money and issue bonds as provided by this article;

(b) Procure insurance or guarantees from any public or private entities, including any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, or, subject to the provisions of and to the extent moneys are available in the fund created by Section 57-10-215 , insure or guarantee the payment of any bonds issued by the company, including the power to pay premiums on any such insurance or guarantees or other instruments of indebtedness;

(c) Receive and accept from any source aid or contributions of money, property, labor or other things of value to be held, used and applied to carry out the purposes of this article (subject, however, to any conditions upon which grants or contributions are made) including, but not limited to gifts or grants from any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America;

(d) Enter into agreements with any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or of the state and with lenders and enter into loans with contracting parties for the purpose of planning, regulating and providing for the financing or assisting in the financing of any eligible business or any project thereof;

(e) Enter into contracts or agreements with lenders for the servicing and/or processing of loans;

(f) Provide technical assistance to local industrial development authorities and to profit and nonprofit entities in the development or operation by, or assistance to, persons engaged in business enterprises and distribute data and information concerning the encouragement and improvement of business enterprises in the state;

(g) To the extent permitted in the proceedings pursuant to which the bonds of the company are issued, consent to any modification with respect to the rate of interest, time for, and payment of, any installment of principal or interest, or any other term of any contract, loan, sales contract, lease, indenture or agreement of any kind to which the company is a party;

(h) To the extent permitted in the proceedings pursuant to which the bonds of the company are issued, enter into contracts with any lender containing provisions authorizing the lender to reduce the charges or fees, exclusive of loan payments, to persons unable to pay the regular schedule thereof when, by reason of other income or payment by any department, agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or the state, the reduction can be made without jeopardizing the economic stability of the eligible business being financed;

(i) Allocate any of its property to the insurance or guaranty fund established by Section 57-10-215 or to any other fund of the company, such property consisting of:

(i) Moneys appropriated by the state;

(ii) Premiums, fees and any other amounts received by the company with respect to financial assistance provided by the company;

(iii) Proceeds as designated by the company from the loan or other disposition of property held or acquired by the company;

(iv) Income from investments that were made by the company or on the behalf of the company from moneys in one or more of its funds; or

(v) Any other moneys made available to the company consistent with this article;

(j) Use any fund or funds of the company for any and all expenses to be paid by the company including, by way of example, but not by limitation: (i) any and all expenses for employment of administrative and clerical staff, legal, actuarial and other services; (ii) all costs, charges, fees and expenses of the company relating to the authorizing, preparing, printing, selling, issuing and insuring of bonds and the funding of reserves; and (iii) all expenses and costs relating to the guaranteeing, insuring or procurement of guarantees, insurance or other instruments providing credit or the enhancement of credit for the bonds;

(k) Collect fees and charges, as the company determines to be reasonable, in connection with its loans, insurance, guarantees, commitments and servicing thereof;

( l ) Sell, at public or private sale, with or without public bidding, any obligation held by the company under this article;

(m) Invest any funds not needed for immediate disbursement, including any funds held in reserve, in any obligations or securities which may be legally purchased by political subdivisions in the state or as may be otherwise permitted by Section 57-10-251 ; and

(n) Take any action necessary or convenient for the exercise of the powers granted by this article or reasonably implied from them.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-113-7 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 78 / Section 113-7
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-113-7
Status: in_force

The MDA shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, for the implementation and administration of this article.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-36 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 56 / Section 61-36
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-36
Status: repealed

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,500,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of making grants to municipalities through a Development Infrastructure Grant Fund to complete infrastructure related to new or expanded industry.

(2) [Repealed]

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize the monies transferred from the Housing Development Revolving Loan Fund and not more than One Hundred Nine Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($109,100,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of making grants or loans to municipalities through an equipment and public facilities grant and loan fund to aid in infrastructure-related improvements as determined by the Mississippi Development Authority, the purchase of equipment and in the purchase, construction or repair and renovation of public facilities. Any bonds previously issued for the Development Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program which have not been loaned or applied for are eligible to be administered as grants or loans. In making grants and loans under this section, the Mississippi Development Authority shall attempt to provide for an equitable distribution of such grants and loans among each of the congressional districts of this state in order to promote economic development across the entire state.

The requirements of Section 57-61-9 shall not apply to any grant made under this subsection. The Mississippi Development Authority may establish criteria and guidelines to govern grants made pursuant to this subsection.

(4) [Repealed]

(5)(a) The Mississippi Development Authority may establish a Capital Access Program and may contract with any financial institution to participate in the program upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall consider necessary and proper. The Mississippi Development Authority may establish loss reserve accounts at financial institutions that participate in the program and require payments by the financial institution and the borrower to such loss reserve accounts. All monies in such loss reserve accounts is the property of the Mississippi Development Authority.

(b) Under the Capital Access Program a participating financial institution may make a loan to any borrower the Mississippi Development Authority determines to be qualified under rules and regulations adopted by the authority and be protected against losses from such loans as provided in the program. Under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Mississippi Development Authority, a participating financial institution may submit claims for the reimbursement for losses incurred as a result of default on loans by qualified borrowers.

(c) Under the Capital Access Program a participating financial institution may make a loan that is secured by the assignment of the proceeds of a contract between the borrower and a public entity if the Mississippi Development Authority determines the loan to be qualified under the rules and regulations adopted by the authority. Under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Mississippi Development Authority, a participating financial institution may submit an application to the authority requesting that a loan secured pursuant to this paragraph be funded under the Capital Access Program.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority may utilize not more than One Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,550,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of making payments to loan loss reserve accounts established at financial institutions that participate in the Capital Access Program established by the Mississippi Development Authority; however, any portion of the bond proceeds authorized to be utilized by this paragraph that are not utilized for making payments to loss reserve accounts may be utilized by the Mississippi Development Authority to advance funds to financial institutions that participate in the Capital Access Program pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection.

(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of assisting Warren County, Mississippi, in the continuation and completion of the study for the proposed Kings Point Levee.

(7) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of developing a long-range plan for coordinating the resources of the state institutions of higher learning, the community and junior colleges, the Mississippi Development Authority and other state agencies in order to promote economic development in the state.

(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall use not more than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of providing assistance to municipalities that have received Community Development Block Grant funds for repair, renovation and other improvements to buildings for use as community centers. Assistance provided to a municipality under this subsection shall be used by the municipality to match such Community Development Block Grant funds. The maximum amount of assistance that may be provided to a municipality under this subsection shall not exceed Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) in the aggregate.

(9) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of assisting in paying the costs of constructing a new spillway and related bridge and dam structures at Lake Mary in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, including construction of a temporary dam and diversion canal, removing existing structures, removing and stockpiling riprap, spillway construction, dam embankment construction, road access, constructing bridges and related structures, design and construction engineering and field testing.

(10) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of assisting the City of Holly Springs, Mississippi, in providing water and sewer and other infrastructure services in the Marshall, Benton and Tippah Counties area.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 21 / Section 31-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-9
Status: in_force

The authority shall have power and is hereby authorized with the approval and consent of the board of supervisors of such county, at one time or from time to time, to provide by resolution for the issuance of negotiable promissory notes or revenue bonds of the authority to provide funds for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of any project authorized by this chapter, but in no event shall the amount of such bonds issued for any project exceed the estimated cost of any such project nor shall the amount of such bonds exceed the amount which can be repaid, together with interest accruing thereon, from funds pledged to said authority under Section 27-39-329 . The principal of and the interest on such revenue bonds shall be payable solely from a special fund to be provided for that purpose in the manner hereinafter set forth. Such bonds shall bear date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates, be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times, be redeemable prior to maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the authority; however, such bonds shall mature in annual installments extending not more than thirty (30) years from date thereof. Such bonds shall be signed by the president of the authority, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the authority shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the authority. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of said officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials herein designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers prior to the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to purchaser or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. Prior to approval being granted by the board for bonds to be issued by the authority, the board shall comply with the provisions of Section 19-9-11 . The bonds of any issue shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-103 . No bond shall bear more than one (1) rate of interest; each bond shall bear interest from its date to its stated maturity date at the interest rate specified in the bid; all bonds of the same maturity shall bear the same rate of interest from date to maturity; all interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually, except that the first interest coupon attached to any such bond may be for any period not exceeding one (1) year.

No interest payment shall be evidenced by more than one (1) coupon and neither cancelled nor supplemental coupons shall be permitted; the lowest interest rate specified for any bonds issued shall not be less than seventy percent (70%) of the highest interest rate specified for the same bond issue.

Each interest rate specified in any bid must be in multiples of one-eighth of one percent ( 1 / 8 of 1%) or in multiples of one-tenth of one percent ( 1 / 10 of 1%). The denomination, form, and place, or places, of payment of such bonds shall be fixed in the resolution or order of the authority issuing such bonds.

In addition to the other powers and authority granted by this section, the authority is granted the authority, with the approval and consent of the board of supervisors of the county, to provide by resolution for the issuance of a negotiable promissory note in an amount not to exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($ 15,000,000.00) to provide funds for a project described in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) provided the authority makes a finding that the promissory note will be paid by bonds issued by the board of supervisors of the county. Compliance with the notice provisions of Section 19-9-11 shall not be required for the approval of such promissory note.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-62-3 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 27 / Section 62-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-62-3
Status: in_force

It is the intent of the Legislature that:

(a) The State of Mississippi provide appropriate incentives to support the establishment of quality business and industry that hold the promise of significant development of the economy of the State of Mississippi through the creation of quality jobs;

(b) The amount of incentives provided under this chapter in connection with a particular establishment shall be directly related to the jobs created as a result of the establishment locating in the State of Mississippi;

(c) The Mississippi Development Authority and the Department of Revenue shall implement the provisions of this chapter and exercise all powers as authorized in this chapter; however, the application of this chapter or the offering of any of its incentives as to any particular qualified business or industry shall be in the sole discretion of the Mississippi Development Authority. The exercise of powers conferred by this chapter shall be deemed and held to be the performance of essential public purposes; and

(d) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to constitute a guarantee or assumption by the State of Mississippi of any debt of any individual, company, corporation or association nor to authorize the credit of the State of Mississippi to be given, pledged or loaned to any individual, company, corporation or association. Also, nothing in this chapter gives any right to any qualified business or industry to the incentives contained herein unless said incentive is given by the Mississippi Development Authority pursuant to this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-11 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 71 / Section 75-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-11
Status: repealed

The authority, in addition to any and all powers now or hereafter granted to it, is empowered and shall exercise discretion and the use of these powers depending on the circumstances of the project or projects:

(a) To maintain an office at a place or places within the state.

(b) To employ or contract with architects, engineers, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial experts and such other advisors, consultants and agents as may be necessary in its judgment and to fix and pay their compensation.

(c) To make such applications and enter into such contracts for financial assistance as may be appropriate under applicable federal or state law.

(d) To apply for, accept and utilize grants, gifts and other funds or aid from any source for any purpose contemplated by the act, and to comply, subject to the provisions of this act, with the terms and conditions thereof.

(e)(i) To acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or in other manner, including quick-take eminent domain, or obtain options to acquire, and to own, maintain, use, operate and convey any and all property of any kind, real, personal, or mixed, or any interest or estate therein, within the project area, necessary for the project or any facility related to the project. The provisions of this paragraph that allow the acquisition of property by quick-take eminent domain shall be repealed by operation of law on July 1, 1994; and

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (e), from and after November 6, 2000, to exercise the right of immediate possession pursuant to the provisions of Sections 11-27-81 through 11-27-89 for the purpose of acquiring land, property and/or rights-of-way in the county in which a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 is located, that are necessary for such project or any facility related to the project.

(f) To acquire by purchase or lease any public lands and public property, including sixteenth section lands and lieu lands, within the project area, which are necessary for the project. Sixteenth section lands or lieu lands acquired under this act shall be deemed to be acquired for the purposes of industrial development thereon and such acquisition will serve a higher public interest in accordance with the purposes of this act.

(g) If the authority identifies any land owned by the state as being necessary, for the location or use of the project, or any facility related to the project, to recommend to the Legislature the conveyance of such land or any interest therein, as the Legislature deems appropriate.

(h) To make or cause to be made such examinations and surveys as may be necessary to the planning, design, construction and operation of the project.

(i) From and after the date of notification to the authority by the enterprise that the state has been finally selected as the site of the project, to acquire by condemnation and to own, maintain, use, operate and convey or otherwise dispose of any and all property of any kind, real, personal or mixed, or any interest or estate therein, within the project area, necessary for the project or any facility related to the project, with the concurrence of the affected public agency, and the exercise of the powers granted by this act, according to the procedures provided by Chapter 27, Title 11, Mississippi Code of 1972 , except as modified by this act.

(i) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (i), in acquiring lands by condemnation, the authority shall not acquire minerals or royalties in minerals unless a competent registered professional engineer shall have certified that the acquisition of such minerals and royalties in minerals is necessary for purposes of the project; provided that limestone, clay, chalk, sand and gravel shall not be considered as minerals for the purposes of subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this paragraph (i);

(ii) Unless minerals or royalties in minerals have been acquired by condemnation or otherwise, no person or persons owning the drilling rights or the right to share in production of minerals shall be prevented from exploring, developing, or producing oil or gas with necessary rights-of-way for ingress and egress, pipelines and other means of transporting interests on any land or interest therein of the authority held or used for the purposes of this act; but any such activities shall be under such reasonable regulation by the authority as will adequately protect the project contemplated by this act as provided in paragraph (r) of this section; and

(iii) In acquiring lands by condemnation, including the exercise of immediate possession, for a project, as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 , the authority may acquire minerals or royalties in minerals.

(j) To negotiate the necessary relocation or rerouting of roads and highways, railroad, telephone and telegraph lines and properties, electric power lines, pipelines and related facilities, or to require the anchoring or other protection of any of these, provided due compensation is paid to the owners thereof or agreement is had with such owners regarding the payment of the cost of such relocation, and to acquire by condemnation or otherwise easements or rights-of-way for such relocation or rerouting and to convey the same to the owners of the facilities being relocated or rerouted in connection with the purposes of this act.

(k) To negotiate the necessary relocation of graves and cemeteries and to pay all reasonable costs thereof.

(l) To perform or have performed any and all acts and make all payments necessary to comply with all applicable federal laws, rules or regulations including, but not limited to, the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970 ( 42 USCS 4601 , 4602 , 4621 to 4638 , and 4651 to 4655 ) and relocation rules and regulations promulgated by any agency or department of the federal government.

(m) To construct, extend, improve, maintain, and reconstruct, to cause to be constructed, extended, improved, maintained, and reconstructed, and to use and operate any and all components of the project or any facility related to the project, with the concurrence of the affected public agency, within the project area, necessary to the project and to the exercise of such powers, rights, and privileges granted the authority.

(n) To incur or defray any designated portion of the cost of any component of the project or any facility related to the project acquired or constructed by any public agency.

(o)(i) To lease, sell or convey any or all property acquired by the authority under the provisions of this act to the enterprise, its successors or assigns, and/or any entity for purposes in furtherance of economic development as determined by the authority, and in connection therewith to pay the costs of title search, perfection of title, title insurance and recording fees as may be required. The authority may provide in the instrument conveying such property a provision that such property shall revert to the authority if, as and when the property is declared by the transferee to be no longer needed.

(ii) To lease, sell, transfer or convey on any terms agreed upon by the authority any or all real and personal property, improvements, leases, funds and contractual obligations of a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(vi) and conveyed to the State of Mississippi by a Quitclaim Deed from the United States of America dated February 23, 1996, filed of record at pages 511 to 524, Deed Book Number B179, Chancery Clerk's Office, Tishomingo County, Mississippi, to any governmental authority located within the geographic boundaries of the county wherein such project exists upon agreement of such governmental authority to undertake and assume from the State of Mississippi all obligations and responsibilities in connection with ownership and operation of the project. Property leased, sold, transferred or otherwise conveyed by the authority under this paragraph (o) shall be used only for economic development purposes.

(p) To enter into contracts with any person or public agency, including, but not limited to, contracts authorized by Section 57-75-17 , in furtherance of any of the purposes authorized by this act upon such consideration as the authority and such person or public agency may agree. Any such contract may extend over any period of time, notwithstanding any rule of law to the contrary, may be upon such terms as the parties thereto shall agree, and may provide that it shall continue in effect until bonds specified therein, refunding bonds issued in lieu of such bonds, and all other obligations specified therein are paid or terminated. Any such contract shall be binding upon the parties thereto according to its terms. Such contracts may include an agreement to reimburse the enterprise, its successors and assigns for any assistance provided by the enterprise in the acquisition of real property for the project or any facility related to the project.

(q) To establish and maintain reasonable rates and charges for the use of any facility within the project area owned or operated by the authority, and from time to time, to adjust such rates and to impose penalties for failure to pay such rates and charges when due.

(r) To adopt and enforce with the concurrence of the affected public agency all necessary and reasonable rules and regulations to carry out and effectuate the implementation of the project and any land use plan or zoning classification adopted for the project area, including, but not limited to, rules, regulations, and restrictions concerning mining, construction, excavation or any other activity the occurrence of which may endanger the structure or operation of the project. Such rules may be enforced within the project area and without the project area as necessary to protect the structure and operation of the project. The authority is authorized to plan or replan, zone or rezone, and make exceptions to any regulations, whether local or state, with the concurrence of the affected public agency which are inconsistent with the design, planning, construction or operation of the project and facilities related to the project.

(s) To plan, design, coordinate and implement measures and programs to mitigate impacts on the natural environment caused by the project or any facility related to the project.

(t) To develop plans for technology transfer activities to ensure private sector conduits for exchange of information, technology and expertise related to the project to generate opportunities for commercial development within the state.

(u) To consult with the State Department of Education and other public agencies for the purpose of improving public schools and curricula within the project area.

(v) To consult with the State Board of Health and other public agencies for the purpose of improving medical centers, hospitals and public health centers in order to provide appropriate health care facilities within the project area.

(w) To consult with the Office of Minority Business Enterprise Development and other public agencies for the purpose of developing plans for technical assistance and loan programs to maximize the economic impact related to the project for minority business enterprises within the State of Mississippi.

(x) To deposit into the “Yellow Creek Project Area Fund” created pursuant to Section 57-75-31 :

(i) Any funds or aid received as authorized in this section for the project described in Section 57-75-5(f)(vi) , and

(ii) Any funds received from the sale or lease of property from the project described in Section 57-75-5(f)(vi) pursuant to the powers exercised under this section.

(y) To manage and develop the project described in Section 57-75-5(f)(vi) .

(z) To promulgate rules and regulations necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

(aa) To negotiate a fee-in-lieu with the owners of the project.

(bb) To enter into contractual agreements to warrant any site work for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 ; provided, however, that the aggregate amount of such warranties shall not exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00).

(cc) To provide grant funds to an enterprise operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 in an amount not to exceed Thirty-nine Million Dollars ($39,000,000.00).

(dd)(i) To own surface water transmission lines constructed with the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to this act and in connection therewith to purchase and provide water to any project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) and to certificated water providers; and

(ii) To lease such surface water transmission lines to a public agency or public utility to provide water to such project and to certificated water providers.

(ee) To provide grant funds to an enterprise operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(v) or, in connection with a facility related to such a project, for job training, recruiting and infrastructure.

(ff) To enter into negotiations with persons proposing projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xi) and execute acquisition options and conduct planning, design and environmental impact studies with regard to such project.

(gg) To establish such guidelines, rules and regulations as the authority may deem necessary and appropriate from time to time in its sole discretion, to promote the purposes of this act.

(hh) In connection with projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(ii) :

(i) To provide grant funds or loans to a public agency or an enterprise owning, leasing or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(ii) in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(b) ;

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds or loans; and

(iii) To requisition money in the Mississippi Major Economic Impact Authority Revolving Loan Fund in connection with such loans.

(ii) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xiv) :

(i) To provide grant funds or loans to an enterprise owning, leasing or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xiv) ; however, the aggregate amount of any such loans under this paragraph (ii) shall not exceed Eighteen Million Dollars ($18,000,000.00) and the aggregate amount of any such grants under this paragraph (ii) shall not exceed Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00);

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds or loans; and

(iii) Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, such loans shall be for a term not to exceed twenty (20) years as may be determined by the authority, shall bear interest at such rates as may be determined by the authority, shall, in the sole discretion of the authority, be secured in an amount and a manner as may be determined by the authority.

(jj) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) :

(i) To provide grant funds of Twenty-five Million Dollars ($25,000,000.00) to an enterprise owning or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) to be used for real estate improvements and which may be disbursed as determined by the authority;

(ii) To provide loans to an enterprise owning or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) or make payments to a lender providing financing to the enterprise; subject to the following provisions:

1. Not more than Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00) may be loaned to such an enterprise for the purpose of defraying costs incurred by the enterprise for site preparation and real property improvements during the construction of the project in excess of budgeted costs; however, the amount of any such loan shall not exceed fifty percent (50%) of such excess costs;

2. Not more than Sixty Million Dollars ($60,000,000.00) may be loaned to such an enterprise or paid to a lender providing financing to the enterprise for purposes determined appropriate by the authority, and the enterprise shall be obligated to repay the amount of the loan or payment plus any expenses incurred by the state as a result of the issuance of bonds pursuant to Section 57-75-15(3)(p) ; however, no such loan or payment may be made before the beginning of the fifth year after issuance by the enterprise of debt in like amount the proceeds of which are to be used in connection with the project;

(iii) To supervise the use of all such loan funds;

(iv) Loans under this paragraph (jj) may be for any term determined appropriate by the authority provided that the payments on any loan must be in an amount sufficient to pay the state's debt service on bonds issued for the purpose of providing funds for such a loan; and

(v) The repayment obligation of the enterprise for any loan or payment authorized under this paragraph (jj) shall, in the discretion of the authority, be secured in an amount and a manner as may be determined by the authority.

(kk) In connection with projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or a facility related to such a project:

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse public agencies, Itawamba Community College, Northeast Mississippi Community College, and/or East Mississippi Community College, public or private nonprofits or an enterprise owning or operating a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) for site preparation, real estate improvements, utilities, railroads, roads, infrastructure, job training, recruiting and any other expenses approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(s) ;

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds so reimbursed; and

(iii) To enter into contractual agreements to warrant site preparation and availability for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) .

(ll) In connection with a project related to a Tier One supplier:

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse public agencies, public or private nonprofits and Tier One suppliers for site preparation, real estate improvements, utilities, railroads, roads, infrastructure, job training, recruiting and any other expenses approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(t) ;

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds so reimbursed.

(mm) In connection with projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) or a facility related to such a project:

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse public agencies or an enterprise owning or operating a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) for site preparation, real estate improvements, utilities, fire protection, wastewater, railroads, roads, infrastructure, job training, recruiting and any other expenses approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(u) ; and

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds so reimbursed.

(nn) It is the policy of the authority and the authority is authorized to accommodate and support any enterprise owning or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xviii) , 57-75-5(f)(xxi) , 57-75-5(f)(xxii) , 57-75-5(f)(xxvi) , 57-75-5(f)(xxvii) , 57-75-5(f) (xxviii), 57-75-5(f)(xxix), 57-75-5(f)(xxx), 57-75-5(f)(xxxi), 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) or 57-75-5(f)(xxxiii), or an enterprise developing or owning a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xx) , that wishes to have a program of diversity in contracting, and/or that wishes to do business with or cause its prime contractor to do business with Mississippi companies, including those companies that are small business concerns owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals. The term “ socially and economically disadvantaged individuals ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 8(d) of the Small Business Act ( 15 USCS 637(d) ) and relevant subcontracting regulations promulgated pursuant thereto; except that women shall be presumed to be socially and economically disadvantaged individuals for the purposes of this paragraph.

(oo) To provide grant funds to an enterprise developing or owning a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xx) for reimbursement of costs incurred by such enterprise for infrastructure improvements in the initial phase of development of the project, upon dedication of such improvements to the appropriate public agency.

(pp) In connection with projects defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiii) :

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse public agencies or an enterprise operating a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiii) for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads, public works, job training and any other expenses approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(v) ; and

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds so reimbursed.

(qq)(i) To provide grant funds for the expansion of a publicly owned building for the project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiv) or loans to an enterprise owning, leasing or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiv) for the purchase and/or relocation of equipment, or for any other purpose related to the project as approved by the authority; however, the aggregate amount of any such loans under this paragraph (qq) shall not exceed Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000.00) and the aggregate amount of any such grants under this paragraph (qq) shall not exceed Seven Million Dollars ($7,000,000.00);

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds or loans; and

(iii) Notwithstanding any provision of this act to the contrary, such loans shall be for a term not to exceed ten (10) years as may be determined by the authority, shall bear a rate of interest to be determined by the authority, and shall be secured in an amount and a manner as may be determined by the authority.

(rr)(i) To provide grant funds to an enterprise owning or operating a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxv) for reimbursement of costs incurred by the enterprise in reconfiguring the manufacturing plant and for the purchase of equipment, or for any other purpose related to the project as approved by the authority;

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds.

(ss) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvi) :

(i) To provide grant funds and/or loans to a public agency in an amount not to exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) for the construction of a publicly owned building to be leased by the enterprise owning or operating the project;

(ii) To provide loan guarantees in an amount not to exceed the total cost of the project for which financing is sought or Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00), whichever is less, for the purpose of encouraging the extension of conventional financing and the issuance of letters of credit to the enterprise owning or operating the project;

(iii) In connection with any loan guarantee made pursuant to this paragraph, to make payments to lenders providing financing to the enterprise owning or operating the project and the enterprise shall be obligated to repay the amount of the payment plus any expenses incurred by the state as a result of the issuance of bonds pursuant to Section 57-75-15(3)(y) ;

(iv) To supervise the use of all such grant funds, loan funds or payments; and

(v) To require the enterprise owning or operating the project to provide security for the repayment obligation for any loan guarantee authorized under this paragraph in an amount and in a manner as may be determined by the authority.

(tt) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvii) :

(i) To provide loans to a public agency in an amount not to exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) for the construction of a publicly owned building and acquisition of equipment to be leased by the enterprise owning or operating the project; and

(ii) To supervise the use of all such loan funds.

(uu) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f) (xxviii):

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse public agencies or an enterprise operating a project for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchase and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, job training and any other expenses approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(aa) ;

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds so reimbursed.

(vv) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix) :

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse or otherwise defray the costs incurred by public agencies or an enterprise operating a project for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, buildings and fixtures, job recruitment and training, as well as planning, design, environmental mitigation and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other purposes approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(bb) ;

(ii) To provide loans to public agencies for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, buildings and fixtures, job recruiting and training, as well as planning, design, environmental mitigation and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other purposes approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(bb) ;

(iii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds so reimbursed and/or loans so made; and

(iv) To the extent that the authority enters into any construction or similar contract for site preparation work or for the construction of any improvements on a project site, to assign or otherwise transfer to an enterprise or affiliate thereof that owns or operates such a project on such project site any and all contractual, express or implied warranties of any kind arising from such contract or work performed or materials purchased in connection therewith, and cause any such contract to contain terms and provisions designating such enterprise as a third-party beneficiary under the contract.

(ww) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx) :

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse or otherwise defray the costs incurred by public agencies or an enterprise operating a project for public infrastructure needs, site preparation, building improvements, purchase of launch systems, recruitment of employees to fill new full-time jobs, providing internal company training and train prospective, new and existing employees of the enterprise associated with the project, including training of company employees who will utilize such instruction to teach other prospective, new and existing employees of the company and other workforce expenses and any other expenses approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(cc) ; and

(ii) To supervise the use of all such grant funds so reimbursed.

(xx) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) :

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse or otherwise defray the costs incurred by public agencies or any enterprise operating one or more such projects for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, utilities, roads, rail improvements, public works, buildings and fixtures, job recruitment and training, as well as planning, design, environmental mitigation and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other purposes approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(dd) ;

(ii) To provide loans to public agencies for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, buildings and fixtures, job recruiting and training, as well as planning, design, environmental mitigation and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other purposes approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(dd) .

(yy)(i) In connection with projects defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) , the authority is further authorized to provide to the enterprises operating one or more of the projects, an annual grant in an amount not to exceed three and one-half percent (3.5%) of the additional payroll for a period of ten (10) consecutive years. Each such aggregate annual grant amount shall be remitted to one or more of the enterprises and/or one or more of their affiliates, in such sub-amounts as the enterprises shall collectively direct, or that their common direct or indirect parent company shall direct, in writing, to the authority each year during such ten-year period. The ten-year period for the series of ten (10) annual grants authorized by this paragraph (yy) shall commence no later than January 1, 2029.

(ii) In the event that the annual number of full-time jobs maintained or caused to be maintained by the enterprises operating one or more projects and/or one or more affiliates thereof falls below the minimum annual number of full-time jobs required by the authority pursuant to a written agreement between the authority and the enterprises and/or any affiliate thereof for one or more years, the annual grant authorized by this paragraph (yy) may be reduced or suspended by the authority until the first calendar year during which the annual number of full-time jobs maintained or caused to be maintained by the enterprises and/or their affiliates reaches the minimum annual number of full-time jobs required by the authority pursuant to the written agreement.

(iii) The annual grants authorized by this paragraph (yy) may be funded from the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to Section 57-75-15(3)(dd) ; provided that the aggregate amount of the annual grants over the entire ten-year period shall not exceed Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00).

(iv) For purposes of this paragraph (yy):

1. “ Additional payroll ” shall mean the sum of the annual payroll amount (i.e., all annual employee income that is subject to State of Mississippi and/or federal income taxation) for any calendar year beginning January 1, 2023, which is associated with full-time jobs created and maintained by all enterprises that undertake any project and/or by any affiliates thereof, in excess of the amount the annualized payroll (i.e., all annual employee income that is subject to State of Mississippi and/or federal income taxation), which is associated with employees employed in the State of Mississippi by such enterprises or their affiliates as of September 30, 2022; and

2. “ Base payroll level ” shall mean the annualized payroll amount (i.e., all annual employee income that is subject to State of Mississippi and/or federal income taxation) paid to employees employed in the State of Mississippi by all enterprises that undertake any project and/or by any affiliates thereof during the twelve-month period ending on September 30, 2022.

(v) The Mississippi Development Authority may promulgate rules and regulations necessary to administer the provisions of this paragraph (yy) and may otherwise administer and prescribe rules and restrictions with respect to the annual grant authorized by this paragraph (yy) pursuant to a written agreement between the authority and any enterprises operating one or more projects and/or any affiliate thereof.

(zz) In connection with a project defined under Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) :

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse or otherwise defray the costs incurred by public agencies or any enterprise operating one or more such projects for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, utilities, roads, rail improvements, public works, buildings and fixtures, job recruitment and training, as well as planning, design, environmental mitigation and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other purposes approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(ee) ;

(ii) To provide loans, grants and other funds to public agencies for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, buildings and fixtures, job recruiting and training, as well as planning, design, environmental mitigation and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other purposes approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(ee) .

(aaa) In connection with a project defined under Section 57-75-5(f) (xxxiii):

(i) To provide grant funds to reimburse or otherwise defray the costs incurred by public agencies or any enterprise operating one or more such projects for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, utilities, roads, rail improvements, public works, buildings and fixtures, job recruitment and training, as well as planning, design, environmental mitigation and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other purposes approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(ff) ; and

(ii) To provide loans to public agencies for site preparation, utilities, real estate purchases, purchase options and improvements, infrastructure, roads, rail improvements, public works, buildings and fixtures, job recruiting and training, as well as planning, design, environmental mitigation and environmental impact studies with respect to a project, and any other purposes approved by the authority in amounts not to exceed the amount authorized in Section 57-75-15(3)(ff) .

(aab)(i) In addition to any other requirements or conditions under this chapter, the authority shall require that any application required by the authority for assistance regarding a project under this chapter include, at a minimum:

1. A two-year business plan (which shall include pro forma balance sheets, income statements and monthly cash flow statements);

2. Financial statements or tax returns for the three (3) years immediately prior to the application (if the project is a new company or enterprise, personal financial statements or tax returns will be required);

3. Credit reports on all persons or entities with a twenty percent (20%) or greater interest in the project;

4. Data supporting the expertise of the project's principals;

5. A cost-benefit analysis of the project performed by a state institution of higher learning or other entity selected by the authority; and

6. Any other information required by the authority.

(ii) The authority shall require that binding commitments be entered into requiring that:

1. The applicable minimum requirements of this chapter and such other requirements as the authority considers proper shall be met; and

2. If the agreed upon commitments are not met, all or a portion of the funds provided under this chapter as determined by the authority shall be repaid.

(iii) Where appropriate, in the discretion of the authority, the authority shall acquire a security interest in or other lien upon any applicable collateral.

(iv) The provisions of this paragraph (xx) shall not apply to a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiii) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-35 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 23 / Section 61-35
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-35
Status: in_force

Except as otherwise authorized in Section 7-5-39 , the Attorney General of the State of Mississippi shall represent the seller in issuing, selling and validating bonds herein provided for, and the seller is hereby authorized and empowered to expend from the proceeds derived from the sale of the bonds authorized hereunder all necessary administrative, legal and other expenses incidental and related to the issuance of bonds authorized under this chapter.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-36 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 28 / Section 61-36
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-36
Status: repealed

(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than Fourteen Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($14,500,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of making grants to municipalities through a Development Infrastructure Grant Fund to complete infrastructure related to new or expanded industry.

(2) [Repealed]

(3) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize the monies transferred from the Housing Development Revolving Loan Fund and not more than One Hundred Nine Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($109,100,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of making grants or loans to municipalities through an equipment and public facilities grant and loan fund to aid in infrastructure-related improvements as determined by the Mississippi Development Authority, the purchase of equipment and in the purchase, construction or repair and renovation of public facilities. Any bonds previously issued for the Development Infrastructure Revolving Loan Program which have not been loaned or applied for are eligible to be administered as grants or loans. In making grants and loans under this section, the Mississippi Development Authority shall attempt to provide for an equitable distribution of such grants and loans among each of the congressional districts of this state in order to promote economic development across the entire state.

The requirements of Section 57-61-9 shall not apply to any grant made under this subsection. The Mississippi Development Authority may establish criteria and guidelines to govern grants made pursuant to this subsection.

(4) [Repealed]

(5)(a) The Mississippi Development Authority may establish a Capital Access Program and may contract with any financial institution to participate in the program upon such terms and conditions as the authority shall consider necessary and proper. The Mississippi Development Authority may establish loss reserve accounts at financial institutions that participate in the program and require payments by the financial institution and the borrower to such loss reserve accounts. All monies in such loss reserve accounts is the property of the Mississippi Development Authority.

(b) Under the Capital Access Program a participating financial institution may make a loan to any borrower the Mississippi Development Authority determines to be qualified under rules and regulations adopted by the authority and be protected against losses from such loans as provided in the program. Under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Mississippi Development Authority, a participating financial institution may submit claims for the reimbursement for losses incurred as a result of default on loans by qualified borrowers.

(c) Under the Capital Access Program a participating financial institution may make a loan that is secured by the assignment of the proceeds of a contract between the borrower and a public entity if the Mississippi Development Authority determines the loan to be qualified under the rules and regulations adopted by the authority. Under such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Mississippi Development Authority, a participating financial institution may submit an application to the authority requesting that a loan secured pursuant to this paragraph be funded under the Capital Access Program.

(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority may utilize not more than One Million Five Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,550,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of making payments to loan loss reserve accounts established at financial institutions that participate in the Capital Access Program established by the Mississippi Development Authority; however, any portion of the bond proceeds authorized to be utilized by this paragraph that are not utilized for making payments to loss reserve accounts may be utilized by the Mississippi Development Authority to advance funds to financial institutions that participate in the Capital Access Program pursuant to paragraph (c) of this subsection.

(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of assisting Warren County, Mississippi, in the continuation and completion of the study for the proposed Kings Point Levee.

(7) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of developing a long-range plan for coordinating the resources of the state institutions of higher learning, the community and junior colleges, the Mississippi Development Authority and other state agencies in order to promote economic development in the state.

(8) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall use not more than One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of providing assistance to municipalities that have received Community Development Block Grant funds for repair, renovation and other improvements to buildings for use as community centers. Assistance provided to a municipality under this subsection shall be used by the municipality to match such Community Development Block Grant funds. The maximum amount of assistance that may be provided to a municipality under this subsection shall not exceed Seventy-five Thousand Dollars ($75,000.00) in the aggregate.

(9) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of assisting in paying the costs of constructing a new spillway and related bridge and dam structures at Lake Mary in Wilkinson County, Mississippi, including construction of a temporary dam and diversion canal, removing existing structures, removing and stockpiling riprap, spillway construction, dam embankment construction, road access, constructing bridges and related structures, design and construction engineering and field testing.

(10) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the Mississippi Development Authority shall utilize not more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00) out of the proceeds of bonds authorized to be issued in this chapter for the purpose of assisting the City of Holly Springs, Mississippi, in providing water and sewer and other infrastructure services in the Marshall, Benton and Tippah Counties area.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 73 / Section 75-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-75-9
Status: in_force

(1) The authority is hereby designated and empowered to act on behalf of the state in submitting a siting proposal for any project eligible for assistance under this act. The authority is empowered to take all steps appropriate or necessary to effect the siting, development, and operation of the project within the state, including the negotiation of a fee-in-lieu. If the state is selected as the preferred site for the project, the authority is hereby designated and empowered to act on behalf of the state and to represent the state in the planning, financing, development, construction and operation of the project or any facility related to the project, with the concurrence of the affected public agency. The authority may take affirmative steps to coordinate fully all aspects of the submission of a siting proposal for the project and, if the state is selected as the preferred site, to coordinate fully, with the concurrence of the affected public agency, the development of the project or any facility related to the project with private business, the United States government and other public agencies. All public agencies are encouraged to cooperate to the fullest extent possible to effectuate the duties of the authority; however, the development of the project or any facility related to the project by the authority may be done only with the concurrence of the affected public agency.

(2)(a) Contracts, by the authority or a public agency, including, but not limited to, design and construction contracts, for the acquisition, purchase, construction or installation of a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 or any facility related to the project shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 if:

(i) The authority finds and records such finding on its minutes, that because of availability or the particular nature of a project, it would not be in the public interest or would less effectively achieve the purposes of this chapter to enter into such contracts on the basis of Section 31-7-13 ; and

(ii) The enterprise that is involved in the project concurs in such finding.

(b) When the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection are met:

(i) The requirements of Section 31-7-13 shall not apply to such contracts; and

(ii) The contracts may be entered into on the basis of negotiation.

(c) The enterprise involved with the project may, upon approval of the authority, negotiate such contracts in the name of the authority.

(d) The provisions of this subsection (2) shall not apply to contracts by the authority for excavation, fill dirt and compaction for the preparation of the site of a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 and such contracts may be entered into pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(3)(a) Contracts by the authority for excavation, fill dirt and compaction for the preparation of the site of a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 and the following procedure shall be followed in the award of such contracts:

(i) The authority shall advertise for a period of time to be set by the authority, but in no event less than one (1) business day, the date, time and place of a meeting with the authority to receive specifications on a request for proposals on excavation, fill dirt and compaction for the preparation of the site of the project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(iv) 1 .

(ii) The authority shall set the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for award of the contract and the advertisement shall set forth such minimum qualifications.

(iii) Following the meeting the authority shall, in its discretion, select one or more of the qualified contractors with whom to negotiate or award the contract. The decision of the authority concerning the selection of the contractor shall be final.

(b) Contracts by the authority or a public agency for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, wastewater or for public works for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 and the following procedure shall be followed in the award of such contracts:

(i) The authority or the public agency shall advertise for a period of time to be set by the authority or the public agency, but in no event less than one (1) nor more than five (5) calendar days, the date, time and place of a meeting with the authority or the public agency to receive specifications on the preparation of the site of the project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxi) or Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) .

(ii) The authority or the public agency shall set the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for award of the contract and the advertisement shall set forth such minimum qualifications.

(iii) Following the meeting the authority or the public agency shall, in its discretion, select one or more of the qualified contractors with whom to negotiate or award the contract. The decision of the authority or the public agency concerning the selection of the contractor shall be final.

(c) Contracts by a public agency for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads or for public works for a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiii) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) or Section 57-75-5(f) (xxxiii) may be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 and the following procedure shall be followed in the award of contracts:

(i) The public agency shall advertise for a period of time to be set by the public agency, but in no event less than one (1) nor more than five (5) calendar days, the date, time and place of a meeting with the public agency to receive specifications on site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads or for public works related to the project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxiii) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) or Section 57-75-5(f) (xxxiii).

(ii) The public agency shall set the minimum qualifications necessary to be considered for award of the contract and the advertisement shall set forth such minimum qualifications.

(iii) Following the meeting the public agency shall, in its discretion, which discretion may include participation by an enterprise involved in the project, select one or more of the qualified contractors with whom to negotiate or award the contract. The decision of the public agency concerning selection of the contractor shall be final.

(4)(a) Contracts, by the authority or a public agency, including, but not limited to, design and construction contracts, for the acquisition, purchase, construction or installation of a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvi) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxvii) , Section 57-75-5(f) (xxviii), Section 57-75-5(f)(xxix) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxx) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxi) , Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) or Section 57-75-5(f) (xxxiii), and any contracts by the authority or a public agency for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads or for other public facilities related to any such project shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 31-7-13 if:

(i) The authority finds and records such finding on its minutes, that because of availability or the particular nature of a project, it would not be in the public interest or would less effectively achieve the purposes of this chapter to enter into such contracts on the basis of Section 31-7-13 ; and

(ii) The enterprise that is involved in the project concurs in such finding.

(b) When the requirements of paragraph (a) of this subsection are met:

(i) The requirements of Section 31-7-13 shall not apply to such contracts; and

(ii) The contracts may be entered into on the basis of negotiation with the authority or such public agency, and the authority or such public agency may, as part of such negotiations, further negotiate and require the level of participation by the enterprise involved in the project in the negotiation of such contracts.

(c) Contracts by the authority or a public agency for site preparation, utilities, real estate improvements, infrastructure, roads or for other public facilities related to a project defined in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxxii) , shall be exempt from the provisions of Section 65-1-85 , and the authority or public agency is authorized to use any method for design and/or construction procurement and contracting. With respect to any such contract that is anticipated to be federally funded, in whole or in part, the authority or public agency may nonetheless comply with the provisions of Section 65-1-85 for purposes of compliance with any applicable federal funding requirements.

(d) The decision of the authority or the public agency concerning selection of the contractor shall be final.

(e) The company shall make commercially reasonable efforts to place out for bid, such that Mississippi Contractors and Mississippi Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBEs”) shall have an equal opportunity to respond to such bid, any contract by the company which (i) is subject to tax pursuant to Mississippi Code Section 27-65-21 (i.e., contracts for constructing, building, erecting, grading, excavating, etc.), and (ii) will be paid, or payment thereunder by the company will be reimbursed, using any portion of the grant proceeds or funds provided by the authority to the company in accordance with this agreement. In carrying out such efforts, in order to increase the pool of qualified DBE bidders, the company will request that successful prime contract bidders include in their response a commitment to (a) participate in and/or host forums that highlight subcontract bidding opportunities for DBEs; and (b) work with various trade associations and the Mississippi Development Authority to promote increased participation from DBEs. With respect to awarding any contract placed out for bid, the company shall be allowed to award such contract in the company's sole discretion (e.g., based upon optimization of quality, cost and efficiency or on any other basis as the company may see fit). MDA agrees that it will offer to eligible contractor DBEs that have an opportunity to work on the project assistance through its Minority Surety Bond Guaranty Program.

(5) The Department of Employment Security is authorized to provide to the authority any information received, obtained or produced, or findings or determinations made thereby, with respect to any jobs created or maintained for a project that has been certified by the authority as a project as defined in Section 57-75-5(f) .
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-25 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 26 / Section 61-25
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-61-25
Status: in_force

(1) The seller is authorized to borrow, on the credit of the state upon receipt of a resolution from the Mississippi Development Authority requesting the same, monies not exceeding the aggregate sum of Four Hundred Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($402,500,000.00), not including monies borrowed to refund outstanding bonds, notes or replacement notes, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter. The rate of interest on any such bonds or notes which are not subject to taxation shall not exceed the rates set forth in Section 75-17-101, Mississippi Code of 1972 , for general obligation bonds.

(2) As evidence of indebtedness authorized in this chapter, general or limited obligation bonds of the state shall be issued, from time to time, to provide monies necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter for such total amounts, in such form, in such denominations payable in such currencies (either domestic or foreign, or both) and subject to such terms and conditions of issue, redemption and maturity, rate of interest and time of payment of interest as the seller directs, except that such bonds shall mature or otherwise be retired in annual installments beginning not more than five (5) years from date thereof and extending not more than thirty (30) years from date thereof.

(3) All bonds and notes issued under authority of this chapter shall be signed by the chairman of the seller, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the seller shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the seller.

(4) All bonds and notes issued under authority of this chapter may be general or limited obligations of the state, and the full faith and credit of the State of Mississippi as to general obligation bonds, or the revenues derived from projects assisted as to limited obligation bonds, are hereby pledged for the payment of the principal of and interest on such bonds and notes.

(5) Such bonds and notes and the income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.

(6) The bonds may be issued as coupon bonds or registered as to both principal and interest, as the seller may determine. If interest coupons are attached, they shall contain the facsimile signature of the chairman and secretary of the seller.

(7) The seller is authorized to provide, by resolution, for the issuance of refunding bonds for the purpose of refunding any debt issued under the provisions of this chapter and then outstanding, either by voluntary exchange with the holders of the outstanding debt or to provide funds to redeem and the costs of issuance and retirement of the debt, at maturity or at any call date. The issuance of the refunding bonds, the maturities and other details thereof, the rights of the holders thereof and the duties of the issuing officials in respect to the same shall be governed by the provisions of this section, insofar as they may be applicable.

(8) As to bonds issued hereunder and designated as taxable bonds by the seller, any immunity of the state to taxation by the United States government of interest on bonds or notes issued by the state is hereby waived.

(9) The proceeds of bonds issued under this chapter after April 9, 2002, and any monies provided by the Legislature may be used to reimburse reasonable actual and necessary costs incurred by the Mississippi Development Authority for the administration of the various grant, loan and financial incentive programs administered by the authority. An accounting of actual costs incurred for which reimbursement is sought shall be maintained by the Mississippi Development Authority. Reimbursement of reasonable actual and necessary costs shall not exceed three percent (3%) of the proceeds of bonds issued or the monies provided by the Legislature. Reimbursements under this subsection shall satisfy any applicable federal tax law requirements.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-115-5 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 79 / Section 115-5
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-115-5
Status: in_force

(1)(a) The MDA must provide a standardized format for applying for the Mississippi small business investment credit authorized under this chapter, and for certification as a Mississippi small business investment company.

(b) An applicant for certification as a primary Mississippi small business investment company must:

(i) File an application with the MDA which shall include a business plan detailing:

1. The approximate percentage of designated capital the applicant will invest in qualified businesses by the second, fourth and sixth anniversaries of its allocation date;

2. The industry segments listed by the North American Industrial Classification System code and percentage of designated capital in which the applicant will invest; and

3. The number of jobs that will be created or retained as a result of the applicant's investments once all designated capital has been invested. A job shall be considered created or retained if the job pays one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the state average annual wage and is maintained for at least three (3) years. The application shall project, at a minimum, that one (1) job shall be created or maintained for each One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) in credits awarded to the participating investors of the Mississippi small business investment company;

(ii) Pay a nonrefundable application fee of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500.00) at the time of filing the application;

(iii) Submit as part of its application an audited balance sheet that contains an unqualified opinion of an independent certified public accountant issued not more than thirty-five (35) days before the application date that states that the applicant has an equity capitalization of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) or more in the form of unencumbered cash, marketable securities or other liquid assets; and

(iv) Have at least two (2) principals or persons, at least one (1) of which is primarily located in Mississippi, employed or engaged to manage the funds who each have a minimum of five (5) years of money management experience in the venture capital or private equity or lending industry.

(c) An applicant for certification as a secondary Mississippi small business investment company must:

(i) File an application with the MDA which shall include a business plan detailing:

1. The approximate percentage of designated capital the applicant will invest in qualified businesses by the second, fourth and sixth anniversaries of its allocation date;

2. The industry segments listed by the North American Industrial Classification System code and percentage of designated capital in which the applicant will invest; and

3. The number of jobs that will be crested or retained as a result of the applicant's investments once all designated capital has been invested. A job shall be considered created or retained if the job pays one hundred twenty-five percent (125%) of the state average annual wage and is maintained for at least three (3) years. The application shall project, at a minimum, that one (1) job shall be created or maintained for each One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) in credits awarded to the participating investors of the Mississippi small business investment company;

(ii) Pay a nonrefundable application fee of Three Thousand Seven Hundred Fifty Dollars ($3,750.00) at the time of filing the application;

(iii) Submit as part of its application an audited balance sheet that contains an unqualified opinion of an independent certified public accountant issued not more than thirty-five (35) days before the application date that states that the applicant has an equity capitalization of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) or more in the form of unencumbered cash, marketable securities or other liquid assets;

(iv) Demonstrate that fifty percent (50%) of all secondary investment company investments have been in Mississippi, and all of the applicant's employees have lived in Mississippi for at least two (2) years prior to the application being filed, and that those who are employed or engaged to manage the funds have a minimum of three (3) years of money management experience in the venture capital or private equity or lending industry; and

(v) Submit as part of its application a signed and notarized partnership agreement letter with a certified primary Mississippi small business investment company.

(d)(i) Any participating partner or individual in a certified secondary small business investment company that successfully participated in the initial authorization and allocation of credits in 2012, and which is a partner in a submitted application for credits allocated in subsection (4)(b) of this section, while partnered with the same primary small business investment company from the previous 2012 allocation, shall have the requirements in paragraph (c)(iii) and (iv) of this subsection waived as having been completed through the previous allocation.

(ii) Any participating partner or individual in a certified secondary small business investment company that successfully participated in the authorization and allocation of credits in 2018, and which is a partner in a submitted application for credits allocated in subsection (4)(c) of this section, while partnered with the same primary small business investment company from the previous 2018 allocation, shall have the requirements in paragraph (c)(iii) and (iv) of this subsection waived as having been completed through the previous allocation.

(e) The MDA may certify partnerships, corporations, trusts, or limited liability companies, organized on a for-profit basis, which submit an application to be designated as a Mississippi small business investment company if the applicant is located, headquartered, and licensed or registered to conduct business in Mississippi, has as its primary business activity the investment of cash in qualified businesses, and meets all of the criteria of this section.

(f) The MDA must:

(i) Review the organizational documents of each applicant for certification and the business history of each applicant;

(ii) Determine whether the applicant has satisfied all of the requirements of this section; and

(iii) Determine whether the officers and the board of directors, general partners, trustees, managers or members are trustworthy and are thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of this chapter.

(g) Within forty-five (45) days after the receipt of an application, the MDA may issue the certification or refuse the certification and may communicate in detail to the applicant the grounds for refusal, including suggestions for the removal of the grounds.

(h) The MDA must begin accepting applications to become a Mississippi small business investment company not later than August 1, 2012, for credits allocated in subsection (4)(a) of this section, not later than August 1, 2018, for credits allocated in subsection (4)(b) of this section, and not later than August 1, 2023, for credits allocated in subsection (4)(c) of this section.

(i) Certification by the MDA and operation of a primary Mississippi small business investment company is not subject to completion of any relationship or agreement with a secondary Mississippi small business investment company, and it is not the intent of this chapter to compel any such agreement.

(2)(a) An insurance company or affiliate of an insurance company must not, directly or indirectly:

(i) Beneficially own, whether through rights, options, convertible interest, or otherwise, fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting securities or other voting ownership interest of a Mississippi small business investment company;

(ii) Manage a Mississippi small business investment company; or

(iii) Control the direction of investments for a Mississippi small business investment company.

(b) A Mississippi small business investment company may obtain one or more guaranties, indemnities, bonds, insurance policies, or other payment undertakings for the benefit of its participating investors from any entity, except that in no case can more than one (1) participating investor of a Mississippi small business investment company on an aggregate basis with all affiliates of the participating investor, be entitled to provide guaranties, indemnities, bonds, insurance policies, or other payment undertakings in favor of the participating investors of a Mississippi small business investment company and its affiliates in this state.

(c) This subsection (2) does not preclude a participating investor, insurance company or other party from exercising its legal rights and remedies, including, without limitation, interim management of a Mississippi small business investment company, in the event that a Mississippi small business investment company is in default of its statutory obligations or its contractual obligations to a participating investor, insurance company, or other party, or from monitoring a Mississippi small business investment company to ensure its compliance with this chapter or disallowing any investments that have not been approved by the MDA.

(d) The MDA may contract with an independent third party to review, investigate, and certify that the applications comply with the provisions of this chapter.

(3)(a) At the time of its investment of designated capital a participating investor shall earn a vested credit against the participating investor's state premium tax liability in an amount equal to one hundred percent (100%) of the participating investor's investment of designated capital in a Mississippi small business investment company, subject to the limits imposed by this section.

(b) From and after January 1, 2015, a participating investor may claim the credit allocated in subsection (4)(a) of this section as follows: For each taxable year from 2015 through 2019, an amount equal to twenty percent (20%) of the participating investor's investment of designated capital.

(c) From and after January 1, 2021, a participating investor may claim the credit allocated in subsection (4)(b) of this section as follows:

(i) For each taxable year from 2021 through 2025, an amount equal to sixteen and sixty-six one-hundredths percent (16.66%) of the participating investor's investment of designated capital; and

(ii) For the 2026 taxable year, an amount equal to sixteen and seven-tenths percent (16.7%) of the participating investor's investment of designated capital.

(d) From and after January 1, 2027, a participating investor may claim the credit allocated in subsection (4)(c) of this section as follows:

(i) For each taxable year from 2027 through 2031, an amount equal to sixteen and sixty-six one-hundredths percent (16.66%) of the participating investor's investment of designated capital; and

(ii) For the 2032 taxable year, an amount equal to sixteen and seven-tenths percent (16.7%) of the participating investor's investment of designated capital.

(e) The credit for any taxable year cannot exceed the state premium tax liability of the participating investor for the taxable year. If the amount of the credit exceeds the state premium tax liability of the participating investor for the taxable year, the excess is an investment tax credit carryover for five (5) years from the date the credit is first able to be utilized in accordance with paragraph (a) of this subsection (3).

(f) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter to the contrary, the granting of any credits against the insurance premium tax shall not affect the insurance premium tax receipts distributed pursuant to Sections 83-1-37 , 83-1-39 , 83-34-39 , 45-11-5 and 21-29-233 , which shall take priority over all other distributions of premium tax receipts and shall be calculated based upon gross insurance premium tax liability before the application of the tax credits.

(g) A participating investor claiming a credit under this chapter is not required to pay any additional retaliatory tax under Section 27-15-123 levied as a result of claiming the credit.

(h) A participating investor is not required to reduce the amount of tax pursuant to the state premium tax liability included by the participating investor in connection with ratemaking for any insurance contract written in this state because of a reduction in the participating investor's tax liability based on the tax credit allowed under this chapter.

(i) If the taxes paid by a participating investor with respect to its state premium tax liability constitute a credit against any other tax that is imposed by this state, the participating investor's credit against the other tax shall not be reduced by virtue of the reduction in the participating investor's tax liability based on the tax credit allowed under this chapter.

(j) Final decertification of a Mississippi small business investment company under this chapter prior to such Mississippi small business investment company meeting the requirements of Section 57-115-7(1)(a)(ii) , shall result in the disallowance and the recapture of all of the credits allocated to its participating investors under this chapter. Once a Mississippi small business investment company has satisfied the requirements of Section 57-115-7(1)(a)(ii) , any subsequent decertification shall not cause the disallowance or recapture of any credits allocated to its participating investors under this chapter.

(k) The credits allowed under this chapter are not transferable; however, a participating investor may transfer credits to an affiliated insurance company provided it gives prior written notice of such transfer to the MDA and the Department of Revenue.

(4)(a)(i) Through January 1, 2018, the aggregate amount of investment tax credits that may be allocated to all participating investors of Mississippi small business investment companies under this section shall not exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00), and no Mississippi small business investment company, on an aggregate basis with its affiliates, may file credit allocation claims that exceed Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00).

(ii) The Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) aggregate amount of investment tax credits allocated in this paragraph (a) shall be divided into a primary tax credit pool which may be applied for by certified primary Mississippi small business investment companies and a secondary tax credit pool which may be applied for by certified secondary Mississippi small business investment companies. The secondary tax credit pool shall be Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000.00) of the total Fifty Million Dollars ($50,000,000.00) aggregate amount of investment tax credits. Secondary Mississippi small business investment companies may not apply for more than One Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,750,000.00) worth of credits on a single application. A certified secondary Mississippi small business investment company may apply for additional tax credit allocation from the secondary tax credit pool, if the credits are available, after fifty percent (50%) of its previously allocated credits are used in qualified investments.

(iii) If there are any tax credits remaining available for allocation in the secondary tax credit pool on August 1, 2013, those available tax credits shall revert to the primary tax credit pool and be made available to primary Mississippi small business investment companies according to rules and regulations promulgated by the MDA. Prior to August 1, 2013, primary Mississippi small business investment companies, including any wholly owned subsidiary company, shall be prohibited from making application to the MDA to be additionally certified as a secondary Mississippi small business investment company for purposes of the tax credits allocated in this paragraph (a) and prohibited from applying for any tax credit allocation from the secondary tax credit pool. A certified primary Mississippi small business investment company may have ownership equity in a certified secondary Mississippi small business investment company, but the equity interest owned by the certified primary Mississippi small business investment company shall not exceed forty percent (40%).

(b)(i) From and after July 1, 2018, through January 1, 2023, an additional aggregate amount of investment tax credits may be allocated to all participating investors of Mississippi small business investment companies under this section. The amount so allocated shall not exceed Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00), and no Mississippi small business investment company, on an aggregate basis with its affiliates, may file credit allocation claims on the additional aggregate amount of tax credits that exceed Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00).

(ii) The Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00) aggregate amount of investment tax credits allocated in this paragraph (b) shall be divided into a primary tax credit pool which may be applied for by certified primary Mississippi small business investment companies and a secondary tax credit pool which may be applied for by certified secondary Mississippi small business investment companies. The secondary tax credit pool shall be Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000.00) of the total Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00) aggregate amount of investment tax credits. Secondary Mississippi small business investment companies may not apply for more than One Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,750,000.00) worth of credits on a single application. A certified secondary Mississippi small business investment company may apply for additional tax credit allocation from the secondary tax credit pool, if the credits are available, after fifty percent (50%) of its previously allocated credits are used in qualified investments.

(iii) If there are any tax credits remaining available for allocation in the secondary tax credit pool on August 1, 2019, those available tax credits shall revert to the primary tax credit pool and be made available to primary Mississippi small business investment companies according to rules and regulations promulgated by the MDA. Prior to August 1, 2022, primary Mississippi small business investment companies, including any wholly owned subsidiary company, shall be prohibited from making application to the MDA to be additionally certified as a secondary Mississippi small business investment company for purposes of the tax credits allocated in this paragraph (b) and prohibited from applying for any tax credit allocation from the secondary tax credit pool. A certified primary Mississippi small business investment company may have ownership equity in a certified secondary Mississippi small business investment company, but the equity interest owned by the certified primary Mississippi small business investment company shall not exceed forty percent (40%).

(c)(i) From and after July 1, 2023, an additional aggregate amount of investment tax credits may be allocated to all participating investors of Mississippi small business investment companies under this section. The amount so allocated shall not exceed Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00), and no Mississippi small business investment company, on an aggregate basis with its affiliates, may file credit allocation claims on the additional aggregate amount of tax credits that exceed Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00).

(ii) The Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00) aggregate amount of investment tax credits allocated in this paragraph (c) shall be divided into a primary tax credit pool which may be applied for by certified primary Mississippi small business investment companies and a secondary tax credit pool which may be applied for by certified secondary Mississippi small business investment companies. The secondary tax credit pool shall be Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,500,000.00) of the total Forty-five Million Dollars ($45,000,000.00) aggregate amount of investment tax credits. Secondary Mississippi small business investment companies may not apply for more than One Million Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,750,000.00) worth of credits on a single application. A certified secondary Mississippi small business investment company may apply for additional tax credit allocation from the secondary tax credit pool, if the credits are available, after fifty percent (50%) of its previously allocated credits are used in qualified investments.

(iii) If there are any tax credits remaining available for allocation in the secondary tax credit pool on August 1, 2024, those available tax credits shall revert to the primary tax credit pool and be made available to primary Mississippi small business investment companies according to rules and regulations promulgated by the MDA. Prior to August 1, 2027, primary Mississippi small business investment companies, including any wholly owned subsidiary company, shall be prohibited from making application to the MDA to be additionally certified as a secondary Mississippi small business investment company for purposes of the tax credits allocated in this paragraph (c) and prohibited from applying for any tax credit allocation from the secondary tax credit pool. A certified primary Mississippi small business investment company may have ownership equity in a certified secondary Mississippi small business investment company, but the equity interest owned by the certified primary Mississippi small business investment company shall not exceed forty percent (40%).

(d) Credits must be allocated to investors in the order that the credit allocation claims are filed with the MDA.

(e) Any credit allocation claims filed with the MDA before the initial credit allocation claim filing date will be deemed to have been filed on the initial credit allocation claim filing date. The MDA will set the initial credit allocation claim filing date to be not less than one hundred twenty (120) days and not more than one hundred fifty (150) days after the date the MDA begins accepting applications for certification. Credit allocation claims filed on the same day with the MDA must be treated as having been filed contemporaneously.

(f) If two (2) or more Mississippi small business investment companies file credit allocation claims with the MDA on behalf of their respective participating investors on the same day and the aggregate amount of credit allocation claims exceeds the aggregate limit of credits authorized under this subsection (4) or the lesser amount of credits that remain unallocated on that day, then the credits shall be allocated among the participating investors who filed on that day on a pro rata basis with respect to the amounts claimed. The pro rata allocation for any one (1) participating investor is the product obtained by multiplying a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount of the credit allocation claim filed on behalf of a participating investor and the denominator of which is the total of all credit allocation claims filed on behalf of all participating investors on that day, by the aggregate limit of credits authorized under this subsection (4) or the lesser amount of credits that remain unallocated on that day.

(g) Within ten (10) business days after the MDA receives a credit allocation claim filed by a Mississippi small business investment company on behalf of one or more of its participating investors, the MDA may notify the Mississippi small business investment company of the amount of credits allocated to each of the participating investors of that Mississippi small business investment company. In the event a Mississippi small business investment company does not receive an investment of designated capital from each participating investor required to earn the amount of credits allocated to the participating investor within ten (10) business days of the Mississippi small business investment company's receipt of notice of allocation, then it shall notify the MDA on or before the next business day, and the credits allocated to the participating investor of the Mississippi small business investment company will be forfeited. The MDA may then reallocate those forfeited credits among the participating investors of the other Mississippi small business investment companies on a pro rata basis with respect to the credit allocation claims filed on behalf of the participating investors. The MDA may levy a fine of not more than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00) on any participating investor that does not invest the full amount of designated capital required to fund the credits allocated to it by the MDA in accordance with the credit allocation claim filed on its behalf.

(h) No participating investor, on an aggregate basis with its affiliates, may file an allocation claim for more than twenty-five percent (25%) of the maximum amount of investment tax credits authorized under this subsection (4), regardless of whether the claim is made in connection with one or more Mississippi small business investment companies.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-123-11 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 75 / Section 123-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-123-11
Status: in_force

(1) The Department of Finance and Administration shall establish a program for the purpose of providing funds to Mississippi Main Street Association as provided in this section. Monies disbursed by the Department of Finance and Administration under this section shall be disbursed in compliance with all requirements and/or conditions on funds appropriated from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund for the program established under this section.

(a) For the first round of grants, the Department of Finance and Administration shall disburse funds under this section to Mississippi Main Street Association to be used for the purpose of making revitalization grants to Mississippi communities as follows:

2020

Number of

Grant

Total

population

communities

amount

grants

More than 25,000

8

$ 125,000.00

$ 1,000,000.00

Not more than 25,000

40

$ 100,000.00

$ 4,000,000.00

Total

$5,000,000.00

(b) For the second round of grants, the Department of Finance and Administration shall disburse funds under this section to Mississippi Main Street Association to be used for the purpose of making revitalization grants to Mississippi communities as follows:

2020

Number of

Grant

Total

Population

Communities

Amount

Grants

More than 25,000

8

$ 68,000.00

$ 544,000.00

Not more than 25,000

40

$ 61,400.00

$ 2,456,000.00

Total

$ 3,000,000.00

(2) The Department of Finance and Administration shall have all powers necessary for the implementation of this section.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-33 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 33 / Section 44-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-33
Status: in_force

Bonds issued under the provisions of Sections 57-44-11 through 57-44-39 and income therefrom shall be exempt from all taxation in the State of Mississippi.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-49-33 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 29 / Section 49-33
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-49-33
Status: in_force

The board shall submit any written agreement or modification or technical revision to an agreement negotiated under Section 57-49-29 , and approved by the board and approved by the federal department of energy or other federal agency, to the governor, through the council. The board shall submit with the agreement, modification or technical revision a written summary of the hearings held under Section 57-49-29 .
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 11 / Section 31-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-31-9
Status: in_force

The authority shall have power and is hereby authorized with the approval and consent of the board of supervisors of such county, at one time or from time to time, to provide by resolution for the issuance of negotiable promissory notes or revenue bonds of the authority to provide funds for the purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of any project authorized by this chapter, but in no event shall the amount of such bonds issued for any project exceed the estimated cost of any such project nor shall the amount of such bonds exceed the amount which can be repaid, together with interest accruing thereon, from funds pledged to said authority under Section 27-39-329 . The principal of and the interest on such revenue bonds shall be payable solely from a special fund to be provided for that purpose in the manner hereinafter set forth. Such bonds shall bear date or dates, be in such denomination or denominations, bear interest at such rate or rates, be payable at such place or places within or without the State of Mississippi, shall mature absolutely at such time or times, be redeemable prior to maturity at such time or times and upon such terms, with or without premium, shall bear such registration privileges, and shall be substantially in such form, all as shall be determined by resolution of the authority; however, such bonds shall mature in annual installments extending not more than thirty (30) years from date thereof. Such bonds shall be signed by the president of the authority, or by his facsimile signature, and the official seal of the authority shall be affixed thereto, attested by the secretary of the authority. The interest coupons, if any, to be attached to such bonds may be executed by the facsimile signatures of said officers. Whenever any such bonds shall have been signed by the officials herein designated to sign the bonds who were in office at the time of such signing but who may have ceased to be such officers prior to the sale and delivery of such bonds, or who may not have been in office on the date such bonds may bear, the signatures of such officers upon such bonds and coupons shall nevertheless be valid and sufficient for all purposes and have the same effect as if the person so officially signing such bonds had remained in office until the delivery of the same to purchaser or had been in office on the date such bonds may bear. Prior to approval being granted by the board for bonds to be issued by the authority, the board shall comply with the provisions of Section 19-9-11 . The bonds of any issue shall not bear a greater overall maximum interest rate to maturity than that allowed in Section 75-17-103 . No bond shall bear more than one (1) rate of interest; each bond shall bear interest from its date to its stated maturity date at the interest rate specified in the bid; all bonds of the same maturity shall bear the same rate of interest from date to maturity; all interest accruing on such bonds so issued shall be payable semiannually or annually, except that the first interest coupon attached to any such bond may be for any period not exceeding one (1) year.

No interest payment shall be evidenced by more than one (1) coupon and neither cancelled nor supplemental coupons shall be permitted; the lowest interest rate specified for any bonds issued shall not be less than seventy percent (70%) of the highest interest rate specified for the same bond issue.

Each interest rate specified in any bid must be in multiples of one-eighth of one percent ( 1 / 8 of 1%) or in multiples of one-tenth of one percent ( 1 / 10 of 1%). The denomination, form, and place, or places, of payment of such bonds shall be fixed in the resolution or order of the authority issuing such bonds.

In addition to the other powers and authority granted by this section, the authority is granted the authority, with the approval and consent of the board of supervisors of the county, to provide by resolution for the issuance of a negotiable promissory note in an amount not to exceed Fifteen Million Dollars ($ 15,000,000.00) to provide funds for a project described in Section 57-75-5(f)(xxii) provided the authority makes a finding that the promissory note will be paid by bonds issued by the board of supervisors of the county. Compliance with the notice provisions of Section 19-9-11 shall not be required for the approval of such promissory note.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-115-1 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 79 / Section 115-1
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-115-1
Status: in_force

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Mississippi Small Business Investment Company Act.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-39-39 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 3 / Section 39-39
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-39-39
Status: reserved

(1) There is hereby created in the State Treasury a fund to be known as the Energy Development Fund. Monies in such fund are reserved exclusively for:

(a) Promoting the development of Mississippi's energy resources.

(b) Developing projects under this section which will demonstrate a realistic promise of making a significant energy contribution to the State of Mississippi.

(c) Effectively utilizing the state's existing alternative and conventional energy resources to foster economic and social improvements in the state.

(2) The division will administer the fund. The division will establish policy and guidelines for use of the fund not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after July 1, 2013.

(3) The division will submit to the Governor on or before December 31 of each year a comprehensive report on the operation of the fund.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-43-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 31 / Section 43-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-43-9
Status: in_force

The board of supervisors of a county or the governing authority of a municipality may, with the approval of the Mississippi Department of Transportation, appropriate funds from the county or municipal general fund to the Railroad Revitalization Fund. The money shall be used in accordance with this chapter only for rehabilitation or improvement of rail lines within the county from which the county or municipal funds are provided. The county or municipality may, according to the provisions of Section 57-43-3, Mississippi Code of 1972 , receive a partial or total reimbursement for this appropriation.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 33 / Section 44-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-44-9
Status: in_force

In administering the provisions of this chapter, the Department of Economic and Community Development shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) To supervise the use of all funds made available under this chapter;

(b) To review all freight rail service projects for which loans are made under this chapter by local governments;

(c) To requisition monies in the Local Governments Freight Rail Service Project Revolving Loan Fund and distribute those monies to counties and municipalities, on a project-by-project basis in accordance with the provisions of this chapter;

(d) To ensure that the funds made available to a county or an incorporated municipality under this chapter provide for an equitable distribution of projects and funds among the counties and incorporated municipalities;

(e) To maintain an accurate record of all funds made available to counties and municipalities.

(f) To adopt and promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary or desirable for the purpose of implementing the provisions of this chapter; and

(g) To file annually with the Legislature a report detailing how monies in the Revolving Loan Fund were spent during the preceding fiscal year in each county and incorporated municipality, the number of freight rail service projects constructed, and the cost of each project.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-41-11 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 15 / Section 41-11
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-41-11
Status: in_force

Notes issued under the provisions of this chapter shall be legal investments for commercial banks, savings and loan associations and insurance companies organized under the laws of this state.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-141 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 1 / Section 1-141
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-141
Status: in_force

The bonds issued under Section 57-1-139 shall be signed by the president of the board of commissioners, counter-signed by the clerk of said board of commissioners, and shall pledge the full faith and credit of the supervisors' districts included in the municipality.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-39-109 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 31 / Section 39-109
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-39-109
Status: in_force

Any agency or institution designated by the division and funded in whole or in part by public funds shall appoint a coordinator from existing staff who shall advise the agency head or institution head on energy-related matters. The coordinator shall confer and cooperate with the board in developing, implementing and evaluating an energy management plan for the agency or institution. Any public school district may appoint a coordinator from its existing staff.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-32-9 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 29 / Section 32-9
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-32-9
Status: in_force

Any county electing to designate a specific portion of the levy authorized by this chapter to industrial development within such county may also pledge to continue to levy an assessment, not in excess of three-fourths ( 3 / 4 ) mill, against all of the assessed property in said county for a period of time no longer than twenty (20) years, in order to further secure any indebtedness of the council incurred pursuant to the granted authority under Section 57-32-5 . Once the board of supervisors of any county has so pledged to levy such millage, not in excess of three-fourths ( 3 / 4 ) mill, the county shall be obligated to continue such levy until the indebtedness of the council for which the levy was pledged under the authority of this chapter has been paid in full, but in no case shall such levy continue in force longer than twenty (20) years. No county shall be obligated to continue any levy to pay off any indebtedness of the council the board of supervisors of such county, by appropriate order, shall have approved the borrowing of such money by the council for a specific purpose and shall have pledged to levy such assessment, not in excess of three-fourths ( 3 / 4 ) mill, for such specific indebtedness of the council.
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-69-3 — MS Code / Title 57 / Chapter 64 / Section 69-3
Miss. Code Ann. § 57-69-3
Status: in_force

Unless the context requires otherwise, the following words shall have the following meanings for the purposes of this chapter:

(a) “ Class of contract basis ” means an entire group of contracts having a common characteristic.

(b) “ Commercially useful function ” means being responsible for execution of a contract or a distinct element of the work under a contract by actually performing, managing, and supervising the work involved.

(c) “ Contract ” means all types of state agreements, regardless of what they may be called, for the purchase of supplies or services or for construction or major repairs. “ Contract ” includes the following:

(i) Awards and notices of award.

(ii) Contracts of a fixed price, cost, cost-plus-a-fixed-fee, or incentive types.

(iii) Contracts providing for the issuance of job or task orders.

(iv) Leases.

(v) Letter contracts.

(vi) Purchase orders.

(vii) Any supplemental agreements with respect to (i) through (vi) of this paragraph.

(d) “ Contracting base ” means the dollar amount of contracts for public works and procurement of goods and services awarded by a state agency or a state educational institution during a fiscal year.

(e) “ Contract by contract basis ” means a single contract within a specific class of contracts.

(f) “ Contractor ” means a party who enters into a contract to provide a state or educational institution with goods or services, including construction, or a subcontractor or sublessee of such a party.

(g) “ Director ” means the Executive Director of the Office of Minority Business Enterprises of the Mississippi Development Authority.

(h) “ Educational institutions ” means the state universities, vocational institutions, and any other state-supported educational institutions.

(i) “ Joint venture ” means an association of two (2) or more persons or businesses to carry out a single business enterprise for profit for which purpose they combine their property, capital, efforts, skills, and knowledge, and in which they exercise control and share in profits and losses in proportion to their contribution to the enterprise.

(j) “ Minority ” means a person who is a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States and who is:

(i) Black: having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa.

(ii) Hispanic: of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish or Portuguese culture or origin regardless of race.

(iii) Asian American: having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands.

(iv) American Indian or Alaskan Native: having origins in any of the original peoples of North America.

(v) Female.

(k) “ Minority business enterprise ” or “ minority owned business ” means a socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern organized for profit performing a commercially useful function which is owned and controlled by one or more individuals or minority business enterprises certified by the office, at least seventy-five percent (75%) of whom are resident citizens of the State of Mississippi. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “ socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under the Small Business Act ( 15 USCS, Section 637(a) ). Owned and controlled means a business in which one or more minorities or minority business enterprises certified by the office own at least fifty-one percent (51%) or in the case of a corporation at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting stock and control at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the management and daily business operations of the business. The term “minority business enterprise” does not include any medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act. 1

(l) “ Minority business enterprise supplier ” means a socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern which is owned and controlled by one or more individuals, at least seventy-five percent (75%) of whom are resident citizens of the State of Mississippi. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “ socially and economically disadvantaged small business concern ” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term under the Small Business Act ( 15 USCS, Section 637(a) ) except that the net worth of the business may not be greater than Seven Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($750,000.00). Owned and controlled means a business in which one or more minorities own at least fifty-one percent (51%) or in the case of a corporation at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting stock and control at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the management and daily business operations of the business. The term “minority business enterprise supplier” does not include any medical cannabis establishment as defined in the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act.

(m) “ Office ” means the Office of Minority Business Enterprises of the Mississippi Development Authority.

(n) “ Procurement ” means the purchase, lease, or rental of any goods or services.

(o) “ Commodities ” means the various items described in Section 31-7-1(e) .

(p) “ Professional services ” means all personal service contracts utilized by state agencies and institutions.

(q) “ Small business ” means a small business as defined by the Small Business Administration of the United States government which for purposes of size eligibility or other factors meets the applicable criteria set forth in Part 121 of Title 13 of the Code of Federal Regulations as amended, and which has its principal place of business in Mississippi.

(r) “ State agency ” includes the State of Mississippi and all agencies, departments, offices, divisions, boards, commissions, and correctional and other types of institutions. “State agency” does not include the Mississippi Department of Transportation nor the judicial or legislative branches of government except to the extent that procurement or public works for these branches is performed by a state agency.