Economic Development

A. These funds must match funds from other sources; MDA grant funds will not be the primary funding vehicle. B. The maximum grant will be $50,000 or 50% of the total cost of all the due diligence/site development improvements required, whichever is less. C. In-kind services will …

Funds will be used to support the development of sites in areas of high demand or with other attributes that make them particularly differentiated and competitive. MDA will invest more in these sites and, as a result, will take measured steps to ensure a higher likelihood of a re…

A. MDA funds must match funds from other sources (excluding other grants administered by MDA) and will not be the primary funding vehicle. Funding will be made available on a reimbursement basis on a drawdown schedule agreed upon by MDA. (i)The maximum grant will be $250,000 or 5…

Each application will be reviewed objectively and solely on the merits of the proposed site enhancement and its potential for improving industrial recruitment efforts. No applicant is guaranteed funding if basic qualifying criteria are met. The merit of each application will be r…

Grants approved for projects not completed within twenty-four (24) months that show evidence of progress as determined by MDA's Financial Resources Division will be considered for funding. Grants approved for projects not completed within twenty-four (24) months and demonstrating…

Applicants approved for grant funding must execute a grant agreement with MDA outlining the project scope and allowable activities. Applying organization(s) will be accountable for all monies awarded and responsible for submission and tracking of all expenses. Applicants must sub…

If a project's scope changes during the development stages, the grant recipient must write to MDA's Business Incentives Division for approval. The letter must state the project name, grant fund number (as noted in the grant agreement), requested change, reasons for wanting the ch…

If the total cost of the completed project is less than the provided estimate, the organization will be awarded 50% of the final project costs. If the completed project cost is higher than the approved project cost, the organization will receive only the amount listed in the gran…

All projects receiving a grant must adhere to the following rules before requests for payment can be processed and payment can be made: A. The applicant must have a current W-9 form with a Federal Tax ID Number on file at MDA and must register as a vendor in the State of Mississi…

These guidelines may be amended by MDA at any time. MDA, in its discretion, may temporarily waive any requirement of the guidelines to the extent that the result of such waiver is to promote the public purpose of the statute and is not prohibited by State law. Notes 6 Miss. Code.…

A Ready Site is defined as a property that satisfactorily meets the minimum criteria for a competitive, marketable site and is ready for a project within an expedited timeframe. Ready Sites are classified as sites with a minimum of 20 highly developable acres that are site-work r…

A. Mississippi Development Authority Attn: Business Incentives Division P.O. Box 849 Jackson, MS 39205 Notes 6 Miss. Code. R. 9-1.20 Adopted 12/5/2022

A Premier Site is defined as a property that meets the desired development criteria of its potential market(s) and has additional differentiating or distinguishing site location attributes (e.g., high-demand locations, intermodal and/or port access, large-scale "mega" development…

Activities to be funded under the Mississippi Site Development Grant Program should be consistent with the recruitment strategy and industrial park development plan for the benefitting site. Local Partners (county, municipality and public or private nonprofit economic development…

State statute (Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-701) requires that Mississippi Site Development Grant Program funds be expended on industrial property owned or associated with property that is publicly owned. Site Development Grant funds may be used for site due diligence activities on opt…

Eligible expenditures as stated in statute are: A. Attorney fees B. Fees related to architectural, design, engineering, surveying, planning, mapping, and other due diligence-related professional services C. Environmental studies/assessments D. Costs associated with studies, surve…

MDA will only assist with site acquisition projects if the land being acquired for industrial development purposes is under option. The purchase price for the land being acquired cannot exceed the appraised fair market value of the property. Site acquisition costs incurred over t…

MDA will solicit applications for Ready Site and Premier Site grants under the Site Development Program. Notes 6 Miss. Code. R. 9-1.8 Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-701 Adopted 11/1/2018 Amended 12/5/2022

This program will support sites that are attempting to meet minimum criteria required for Ready Sites. A. MDA will provide grants to Local Partners on a reimbursable basis so they may perform due diligence/site development improvements to meet the minimum requirements. Funding wi…

Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-701, the Mississippi Site Development Grant Program assists public or private non-profit economic development organizations or local governments (Local Partners) in developing available greenfield sites for industrial development. The Select Sit…

Grant amounts awarded will vary based on funding availability and other factors, including, but not limited to, the development needs of the sites evaluated, the cost estimates of the site improvements proposed, the overall potential development opportunity for the benefitting pr…

All grant awards will require matching funds. MDA will determine the amount of match required on a project-by-project basis. The amount of match required will depend on such factors as the proposed scope of work, whether site due diligence has been completed, the necessary site i…

Before formally inviting a grant application, MDA will contact potential applicants to discuss the sites evaluated, the development plan for the sites, the due diligence and/or site improvements needed, and the costs of the improvements necessary to develop the site into a compet…

After completing this site evaluation process, MDA may then issue a letter inviting a Local Partner to apply for the grant. Applications must be submitted on a form prescribed by MDA and must include, at a minimum, a description of the eligible expenditures for which assistance i…

After an application is formally approved, a grant agreement outlining the project scope and allowable activities will be executed by the Local Partner and MDA. Applicants will be accountable for all monies awarded and responsible for the submission and tracking of all expenses. …

Grant funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis on a drawdown schedule agreed upon by MDA. The final 10% of Select Sites grant funds will be disbursed after a final report is submitted, accepted, and approved by MDA. Applicants must submit a final report to MDA within 90 d…

All projects receiving a grant must adhere to the following rules before requests for payment can be processed and payment can be made: A. The applicant must have a current W-9 form with a Federal Tax ID Number on file at MDA and must be registered as a vendor in the State of Mis…

If a project's scope changes at any point after an application has been invited, the grant recipient must write to MDA's Business Incentives Division for approval of the change of scope. The letter must state the project name, grant fund number (as noted in the grant agreement), …

These guidelines may be amended by MDA at any time. MDA, in its discretion, may temporarily waive any requirement of the guidelines to the extent that the result of such waiver is to promote the public purpose of the statute and is not prohibited by State law. Notes 6 Miss. Code.…

Inquiries should be directed to: A. Mississippi Development Authority Attn: Business Incentives Division P.O. Box 849 Jackson, MS 39205 Notes 6 Miss. Code. R. 9-2.19 Adopted 12/5/2022

Through the Mississippi Site Development Grant Select Sites Program, matching grants are made available to assist Local Partners in developing highly competitive greenfield sites that are ready for industrial development. MDA will evaluate prospective and pre-existing publicly ow…

MDA will invite applications from Local Partners (county, municipality, and public or private nonprofit economic development entities including, but not limited to, local authorities, commissions, or other entities created by local and private legislation) for Site Development Gr…

MDA will evaluate potential applicants' available sites and will invite Select Sites applications based on the results of that evaluation and funding availability. Site evaluation criteria include, but are not limited to: A. the site's location, B. the suitability of the site for…

The number of applications invited will be based on funding availability and the identified site development needs of the evaluated sites. Notes 6 Miss. Code. R. 9-2.5 Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-701 Adopted 12/5/2022

State statute requires that Mississippi Site Development Grant Program funds be expended on site development projects associated with property that is publicly owned. Site Development Grant funds may be used for site due diligence activities on optioned property, but not for phys…

Eligible expenditures include: A. Attorney fees B. Fees related to architectural, design, engineering, surveying, planning, mapping, and other due diligence-related professional services C. Environmental studies/assessments D. Costs associated with studies, surveys, permitting, o…

MDA will only assist with site acquisition projects if the land being acquired for industrial development purposes is under option. The purchase price for the land being acquired cannot exceed the appraised fair market value of the property. Select Sites grants cannot be used to …

MDA reserves the right to negotiate the scope of site development work and the budget for the proposed work with prospective applicants and as part of the application review process. Notes 6 Miss. Code. R. 9-2.9 Miss. Code Ann. § 57-1-701 Adopted 12/5/2022

Pursuant to Miss. Code Ann. § 57-114-1 et seq., the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive Program assists companies locating or expanding into Mississippi by providing a tax credit which can be taken to offset state taxes incurred during the establishment of the project. mFLEX was c…

Each applicant that is awarded a certification will be required to complete and submit an annual report by the last business day of the month following the end of the quarter during which the annual anniversary of the project certification was issued. This report, along with any …

Based on the information provided in the entity's annual report, MDA will identify any adjustment to the initial estimates provided by the applicant. Adjustments to the certification may include: * Updates to the demographic and contact information of the company * Updates to the…

All mFLEX applications and annual reports are exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. MDA is statutorily required to provide copies of each mFLEX agreement, mFLEX certification, and mFLEX certification amendment to the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House t…

If a project's scope changes at any point after certification, the mFLEX credit recipient must provide an update using the annual update form and include the project name, requested change, reasons for requesting the change, and any alterations in investment and/or job creation a…

The company is required to ensure compliance with the Mississippi Employment Protection Act ("MEPA"), Miss. Code. Ann. § 71-11-3 et seq., and must ensure that the entity registers and participates in the status verification system for all newly hired employees. Under MEPA, the te…

These rules and regulations may be amended by MDA at any time. MDA, in its discretion, may temporarily waive any requirement of the rules and regulations to the extent that the result of such waiver is to promote the public purpose of the statute and is not prohibited by State la…

Through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive Program, a taxpayer credit is provided to a new or expanding industry based on investment, job creation and average wages of the created jobs. This credit can be used to offset income, franchise, sales, use, and payroll withholding t…

MDA will invite applications from eligible industries planning to locate or expand in the state. To qualify, the applicant must commit to creating a minimum of 10 new full-time jobs paying a minimum of seventy-five percent (75%) of the average state or county wage or investing a …