Jackson Free Press

LCD Foods Opens New Grocery Store

Mayor Harvey Johnson, Jr. attended the grand opening of LCD Foods' third Jackson Save-A-Lot Grocery Store Feb. 2. The store's opening brought 60 new jobs to Jackson. Renovations for the new store are valued at $1.5 million.

LCD Foods opened the first Save-A-Lot in Jackson on Cooper Road in 1997. The company opened its second location, on the corner of Hanging Moss Road and Nakoma Drive, in 2005.

Mayor's Youth Employment Expo

The Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Expo is Monday, March 11, at the Metrocenter Mall (3645 Highway 80 W.) from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free and open to all young people ages 16 to 24.

The expo is part of the Mayor's Summer Youth Employment Program, designed to give youth experience in the workforce. Local businesses will discuss job opportunities for temporary summer employment. Businesses must have summer, part-time positions available to participate as vendors. Interested businesses can contact the Family and Youth Division at 601-960-0326.

Federal Home Loan Bank Grants $280,000 to Jackson Emergency Housing Fund

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas, in partnership with BankPlus, is granting Jackson a $280,000 Affordable Home Program Grant for its Emergency Housing Rehab Assistance Program.

The Emergency Housing Rehab Assistance Program assists low- to moderate-income homeowners with emergency plumbing, roofing and electrical repairs. The program primarily considers elderly or disabled homeowners. Forty housing units are scheduled to receive up to $20,000 amongst them.

The Office of Housing and Community Development is accepting applications for the housing program during the fall. For general information about the program, contact OHCD at 601-960-2155.

SBA More than Triples Surety Bonds

A major revision in the U.S. Small Business Administration's Surety Bond Guarantee Program has more than tripled the eligible contract amount that the agency will guarantee on surety bonds for public and private contracts, from $2 million to $6.5 million. The SBA expects the higher limits to help construction and service sector small businesses gain greater access to contracts and secure larger contracts vital to small business growth.

The changes also allow the SBA to guarantee bonds for government contracts valued at up to $10.

"These new contract ceilings are one more way we can help small businesses, particularly in the construction and service sectors, compete for and win critical contracting opportunities that help them grow their businesses and create jobs," SBA Administrator Karen Mills said in a statement. "Additionally, these changes, which are enthusiastically supported across the surety industry and small business community, will help spur economic growth and recovery in areas that have been hard hit by disasters, bringing jobs and economic activity to regions at a time when it is needed most."

For more information on SBA's Surety Bond Guarantee Program, including Surety Office contacts, visit http://www.sba.gov/osg/ or call 1-800-U-ASK-SBA.