Jackson Free Press

Fondren Gets Greener

For years, Jackson resident Gary Morgan eyed the corner of Duling Avenue and North State Street where the consignment shop The Orange Peel was located. After years of searching for the perfect place to have his own eco-clothing store, he jumped at the opportunity to lease the space when it came available last month after the consignment store moved to Mitchell Avenue.

Early next month, Morgan will open "The Green Room," a clothing store that sells animal-friendly and organic cotton clothing for men and women as well as accessories.

The Pensacola, Fla., native has lived in Jackson for the past 20 years and worked for various banks as an investment banker.

"With Fondren being the way that it is, It's a great location," Morgan said.

The Green Room will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. At 3026 N. State St. Morgan has not yet determined weekend hours.

Silly Billy's Grand Opening Today

Fondren's newest consignment shop, Silly Billy's, will celebrate its grand opening at 4:30 p.m. today at 622 Duling Ave., Suite 205. Jackson Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. will speak.

Silly Billy's features new and consigned clothing for men, women and children. The stores owners are Randy McDonald, Rodale Hall and Vacita Jones.

Silly Billy's is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 601-672-6693.

Coast Gets Tourism Funds

BP announced this week that the company will provide $16 million to help the recovery of the Mississippi Gulf Coast tourism and hospitality industries after the April 20, 2010, Deepwater Horizon oil spill caused economic damage to businesses. Last year, BP provided $18 million to boost coast tourism.
 
A regional board of directors with tourism experience in Jackson, Harrison and Hancock counties, called the Mississippi Coast Regional Tourism Partnership, will oversee the funds.
 
Lockheed Martin to Relocate to Clinton

Lockheed Martin, a global security company, announced today that it will locate its new Mission Support Center to Clinton's South Pointe Business park. The new office will provide 350 new jobs to the area.
 
 The Mississippi Development Authority assisted the venture through the Momentum Mississippi incentives program.
 
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs approximately 132,000 people throughout the world.

FDIC Takes Over Heritage Banking Branch

The Mississippi Department of Banking and Consumer Finance and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation have taken control of eight Heritage Banking Group branches in Carthage. Heritage is based in Carthage.

Heritage will reopen open Monday as Trustmark National Bank. Trustmark entered into an agreement with the FDIC to purchase the branches.

As of Dec. 31, 2010, Heritage Banking Group had approximately $224 million in total assets and $196.2 million in total deposits. Trustmark National Bank will pay the FDIC a premium of 0.15 percent to assume all of the deposits of Heritage Banking Group.