Jackson Free Press

A panel of 23 creative professionals, community leaders and economic developers from across the state will host an advisory panel on growing Mississippi's creative economy Wednesday, July 29, at The Hatch in Midtown (126 Keener Ave.).

Mississippi's creative economy is the sum of the wealth that the state's cultural and creative enterprises, including performing arts, culinary, design, film and even craft-beer brewing, generates. The creative economy has a strong influence on manufacturing, agriculture, service and tourism, as well as where people choose to live and work.

The Creative Economy Advisory Panel, the first of its kind in the state, will help guide Visit Mississippi's Bureau of Creative Economy & Culture in strategic planning to enhance and expand the state's creative sector.

"The purpose of the Creative Economy Advisory Panel is to build the statewide infrastructure needed to grow the creative sector," Malcolm White, director of Visit Mississippi and owner of Hal and Mal's (200 S. Commerce St.), said in a release. "It will bring key influencers together who are committed to fostering creative people, businesses and communities in their hometowns. Investing in, engaging and promoting Mississippi's creative people and their work will ultimately enhance the quality of life throughout our state."

For more information on Mississippi's creative economy, visit www.visitmississippi.org or www.mscreativeeconomy.com.

Dogwood Festival Green Market & Craft Fair

Inland Commercial Real Estate Services, LLC, which owns and manages Dogwood Festival Market (120 Promenade Blvd., Flowood), will host a weekly event called the Dogwood Festival Green Market & Craft Fair every Wednesday through Nov. 4, 2015. The event will be in the parking lot near Chick-fil-A (Dogwood Festival, 274 Dogwood Blvd., Flowood) from 4 to 8 p.m. The fair will bring local farmers and craft makers to one convenient location.

For more information, contact Maureen Denard ([email protected], 630-368-2227) or contact DRB Group LLC ([email protected], 724-772-1877).

Solar Powering Your Community Workshop

The Solar Outreach Partnership, an organization aligned with the U.S. Department of Energy's Sunshot Initiative, which accelerates the adoption of solar energy in local communities, is hosting a free workshop in Jackson next month.

The Solar Powering Your Community Workshop, which takes place Wednesday, Aug. 5, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Jackson Convention Complex (105 E. Pascagoula St.), will feature a panel of national and local experts who will give a presentation on the benefits and barriers of solar development in Jackson. The panel will discuss subjects including necessary preparations to introduce solar power, how to understand the regulatory landscape of solar energy and innovative financing options available for solar projects.

After the presentation, the panel will open for community discussion on topics such as identifying goals for solar-market development, incorporating solar power into comprehensive plans, drafting solar development regulations, streamlining the solar permitting process and procuring the use of solar power for municipal facilities.

Solar Outreach will provide lunch for registered participants. The workshop is worth four AICP CM Credits.

Visit Solar Outreach's website to register. For more information, email Riana Ackley at [email protected].