Rankin First Economic Development Authority

The purpose of RANKIN FIRST is to combine the economic development efforts of Rankin County to create a comprehensive economic development organization with broad powers to be utilized in the effort to create a higher quality of life for the residents of Rankin County. Another purpose of RANKIN FIRST is to improve and better Rankin County as a place to live and earn a living. The organization is a comprehensive economic development authority that involves itself in areas generally categorized in the economic development profession as the “Four Building Blocks of Economic Development”: Business Development, Work Force Development, Social Infrastructure Development, and Physical Infrastructure Development. Within these four areas RANKIN FIRST engages in such activities as new industrial, wholesale, retail, and technological development; development of industrial sites and parks – including spec buildings, build to suit and sell or lease facilities, and incubators; support services to existing business or industry, assistance to agencies, groups, or institutions which provide work force or other social infrastructure preparation; tourism development, marketing of the County’s resources; and other such activities which can enhance Rankin County as a place to live and do business.

Rankin First Development Foundation

The Rankin First Development Foundation, a 501(C)6 nonprofit corporation, was created to speed up projects needed in Rankin County to spur economic development. This organization exists solely to provide private participation into the county's economic development efforts. Members of the Foundation are at the forefront of the volunteer effort to move Rankin County forward. Membership in the Foundation automatically makes one a member of the Rankin County Chamber. Both the funds raised and the involvement of outstanding leaders helps to insure that a true public/private partnership exists in Rankin County, insures continuity of the economic development effort, and helps speed up and improve results.

Private input is critical to the development of sound economic related policies. Our county's business leaders must be involved from both financial and leadership standpoints if their best interest is to be served by elected and appointed officials. Membership in Rankin First Development Foundation's "Committee of 100" brings together the larger businesses in the community and those organizations that have the greatest stake in future development of the area.