Jackson Free Press

Mississippi residents have the lowest tax burden in the nation. Mississippi Development Authority was quick to spread this news.

Bloomberg, a financial news service, ranked states based on income, property, consumption and inheritance taxes, along with taxes on retirement investments. The ranking placed Mississippi ahead of South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama and Alaska. Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Maryland were ranked as the states with the highest tax burdens.

Mississippi has a 5-percent income tax and 7-percent sales tax statewide. Property taxes per capita are $785 and there is no inheritance or estate tax. It also exempts all individual retirement accounts from income tax and is one of four states that allows citizens to contribute to retirement accounts without paying state income tax on the money.

Chamber to Hold Annual Meeting

The Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership will hold its annual meeting Jan. 25 at the Jackson Convention Complex. The doors open at 11 a.m.

Representatives from Atlanta-based Market Street Consultants will give an update on development of a chamber-sponsored 10-year long-range community plan, a "living document" that the chamber will update regularly to adapt to a growing community.

Gov. Phil Bryant will speak at the meeting. Paul Moak, 2011 chairman, and Mayo Flynt, incoming chairman, will also talk.

The annual meeting also will announce the winners of the Business of the Year, the Pat Yarborough Award (for Outstanding Individual) and Ambassador of the Year.

ChamberPlus, Entergy, BlueCross BlueShield of Mississippi and Trustmark Bank are sponsoring the event.

The cost is $50 per person and $500 for a table of 10. Deadline for reservations is Wednesday, Jan. 18. Only company tables of 10 will have reserved seating.

For information, email Tyler Armstrong at [e-mail missing].

Tour Venture Incubator

The Venture Incubator hosts a free, informal "Tour and Talk Open House" every Monday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and every Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. Make reservations to tour facilities and discuss your business idea. To RSVP, call 601-414-0140.

The Venture Incubator Fast Start Program is for companies who need to develop new or improved strategies for business success. These include strategies for sales and marketing, accounting, technology, risk management and human resources. For information, contact Wes Holsapple at 601-906-4868 or [e-mail missing].

Philip M's to Reopen

The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians and the Pearl River Resort will reopen Philip M's restaurant at Silver Star Hotel and Casino Jan. 24. Tribal Chief Phyllis J. Anderson will speak at a 2 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Plastic Surgeon to Speak

Dr. Adair Blackledge, a plastic surgeon, will speak at the Jan. 24 Women in Networking meeting. WIN is a professional networking group for women who belong to the Greater Jackson Chamber Partnership.

Blackledge, however, will not talk about networking for women. He will speak about skin care for different age groups and the various types of surgeries he offers. The cost to attend is $15 for chamber members and $20 for prospective members.

The meeting is at 11:45 a.m. Jan. 24 at the Jackson Convention Center. For information, contact Debi Green at [e-mail missing].