Mississippi honors one of our own
By Bob Wilson

Beverly Meng makes a speech.

On November 12, a bus aptly named "Obsession" will embark on a statewide farewell tour honoring longtime Mississippi Main Street Association (MMSA) Executive Director Beverly Meng.

Since 1993, Meng has been at the helm of the state's Main Street program, a program recognized during her tenure as "Number One Main Street in America." During this same period, more than 4,000 new businesses and more than 22,000 jobs have been credited to the success of the Main Street program.

Meng was the first state coordinator of Main Street to serve on the National Trust for Historic Preservation Board of Trustees representing her colleagues nationwide. She led the Mississippi Main Street Association to implement its Main Street, Small Towns Main Street, and Urban Neighborhood Main Street Programs in 52 communities throughout Mississippi. "This tour is the least we can do to recognize Beverly's accomplishments and pay tribute to the passion and energy she poured into our state for so many years," said Suzanne Smith of Renasant Bank and MMSA board president. The farewell tour will make stops in nine Mississippi Main Street communities during four days and includes Port Gibson, Woodville, Gulfport, Hattiesburg, Columbus, Tupelo, Hernando, Greenwood, and Jackson. The week's events will conclude with an after- hours reception at the Fairview Inn in the historic Belhaven Neighborhood in Jackson. The tour is underwritten by contributions from Main Street supporters.

The Mississippi Main Street program is an economic development program based in historic preservation focused on developing Mississippi's downtowns through a fourpoint approach: organization, promotions, design, and economic restructuring. The Mississippi Main Street Association leads the nation in program success, and is a designated partner of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Mississippi Development Authority.