Video: Small Business Incentives Extended

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TUPELO, Miss. — Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley announced today an extension through 2014, and in some instances beyond 2014, of utility rate incentives aimed at Mississippi small businesses.

To date, the incentives have helped over 1,100 Mississippi “mom and pop” businesses save more than $400,000 in utility costs.

The “Small Business Rate Incentive” first proposed by Presley in 2011 has been renewed the last two years by the Public Service Commission and Mississippi’s major electric and natural gas companies to provide initial financial savings on utility bills for small businesses.

In Mississippi Power’s territory alone, the Small Business Rate Incentives have helped create 677 new jobs.

“This program is aimed directly at Main Street businesses that are hiring Mississippians and not packing up and going to China and Mexico,” Presley said. “Small businesses don’t get bailouts like Wall Street, but they are the people creating jobs, staying in Mississippi, and hiring our people. I am proud to have authored this program and glad to see it extended another year.”

Presley highlighted the small business rate incentives with stops today at two local businesses that benefited from the program: Resale Therapy in Tupelo and BonVon Gifts in Hernando.

The Small Business Rate Incentives are offered by Atmos Energy, CenterPoint Energy, Wilmut Gas, Entergy Mississippi and Mississippi Power Company. Details about each company’s incentive program can be found on the PSC website www.psc.state.ms.us in the “Small Business Help Center”.