Success Stories for Mississippi
Coast Electric Facilities Aid Community: In the months after Katrina, with many buildings along our coastline destroyed, organizations were left scrambling to find a place for their operations. Assistance centers and charities were ready to help the community but didn't have a place to go. Luckily, Coast Electric Power Association (Coast Electric) (MS-028), Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was able to step in and help.
The electric cooperative's conference center and old vehicle maintenance garage at the Bay St. Louis headquarters facility now house the Hancock County Business Alliance Center and serves as a warehouse for building materials for the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi's long term recovery project, known as "Susan's House."
The Business Alliance Center serves as a Small Business Administration (SBA) assistance center and a WIN job center, allowing coast residents to get help with SBA loan information and find out about available jobs in the area. Hancock County's Chamber of Commerce operates from the alliance center, keeping business owners up to date on recovery efforts and assistance programs.
Another group that is benefiting from the use of Coast Electric facilities is the Catholic Diocese of Biloxi. The diocese's Office of Long Term Recovery, which is funded in part by Catholic Charities USA, is rebuilding homes for Katrina victims in 17 counties in south Mississippi. Coast Electric is gladly allowing the charity to use the cooperative's old vehicle maintenance facility to store building materials while they help residents rebuild. "Now that Coast Electric is helping us solve our warehouse issue, we are able to contact donors who have offered contributions of building materials saying 'start sending them, we're ready', said Director of the Office of Long Term Recovery Sheri Cox Bowling. "Having these supplies at such a convenient location in Bay St. Louis will make it possible for us to greatly expand our services to help the people of Hancock County."
"Coast Electric is glad that our facilities are being used to help residents and businesses that have been affected by the storm," said Coast Electric Executive Vice President and General Manager Robert Occhi. "As a cooperative, one of our guiding principles is concern for our community. This principle is something Coast Electric employees live everyday as they help rebuild the communities they are such a vital part of. Coast Electric is dedicated to our communities and to helping the people and the businesses of the Mississippi coast rebuild our thriving communities."
Coast Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative that serves approximately 70,000 members in Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River counties. Coast Electric was recently selected as one of the "Best Places to Work in Mississippi" by the Mississippi Business Journal.
April 2006
Coast
Electric Power Association (MS-028) (Coast Electric) was recently named
one of the "Best Places to Work in Mississippi" by the Mississippi Business
Journal. The journal started the "Best Places to Work" program to identify and
honor places of business that have made exceptional contributions to their industries
and to the communities they serve. Coast Electric was recognized in the large
company category, which was comprised of businesses with 200-499 employees.
To be eligible for the award, companies could be for-profit or not-for-profit, publicly or privately held, must have a facility in Mississippi with at least 25 full-time employees and be in good standing with the Mississippi Secretary of State.
Employees of eligible companies completed online surveys that covered topics including common purpose, company culture and values, communication and cooperation, my department/team, my job, learning and development, and performance and recognition. Survey results were determined through a scientific process by the Southern Research Group, a leading marketing research firm in Jackson, Miss.
"We are very pleased to be recognized as an excellent place to work," said Coast Electric Executive Vice President and General Manager Robert Occhi. "It is always exciting to receive honors like this, but this award is very special because the results were determined by our employees' responses to the survey questions. I know we will work hard to ensure that Coast Electric continues to be one of the best places to work in the state of Mississippi for years to come."
Coast Electric and other companies that were recognized for their excellence will be featured in the March 2006 edition of the Mississippi Business Journal.
Coast Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned cooperative that serves approximately 70,000 members in Hancock, Harrison and Pearl River counties.
March 2006
