“The Oxford of Tomorrow”

Photo by Robert Jordan, OIe Miss Communications

The Oxford Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation announced today that they will be hosting an event on October 15th that will examine the future of Oxford through the lens of entrepreneurship and technology growth. The event, hosted by the EDF’s Entrepreneurial Alliance and Innovate Mississippi, will be held in the Innovation Hub at Insight Park on the campus of the University of Mississippi. There will be a panel discussion by successful entrepreneurs and critical thinkers. Tentatively scheduled to participate in the discussion are Dr. Ed Meek, of Hotty Toddy.com, Mr. Max Hipp, President and CEO of the EDF, Dr. Bill Rayburn, CEO and co-founder of FNC, and Mr. Malcolm White, director of the Mississippi Development Authority’s Tourism Division. These panelists will all be posed the question, “Can you describe the Oxford of Tomorrow?”.

These panelists all have experience in building and developing businesses, thinking strategically and understanding how today’s efforts create tomorrow’s results. The idea of the discussion is to develop a vision that local entrepreneurs and business developers can use to provide direction as Oxford and Lafayette County continue to grow. “Growing Oxford is our primary role here at the EDF, ” said Jon Maynard, Executive Vice President of the EDF. “Keeping Oxford consistent and charming while providing a plan for the future is how we want to make that growth happen.” said Maynard. “This panel has a feel for where we are headed as a community, how small businesses and start ups can feed into that growth pattern, what resources are needed and what the larger community can do to support that growth.”

Anyone wanting to start a business or who currently has a business that they are developing is encouraged to attend. This tentative panel will give insight as to how they got their start, as well as how things have changed since they have been in our community. “We will begin the discussion at 6:00 and we expect to wrap up the formal portion with a social hour immediately following. The audience will be encouraged to meet the panelists and ask questions that did not get answered during the formal discussion”, said Jordan Bankhead, chairman of the Entrepreneurial Alliance.

The Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation is a member driven organization whose mission is to be a leader in creating opportunities for responsible economic investment, thereby raising the per capita income for all citizens of Lafayette County. The Entrepreneurial Alliance is a group of dedicated and experienced individuals who are working to develop the proper resources so that Oxford, Mississippi is considered the best city in America in which to start and grow business.

For more information, please contact Jon Maynard at the Economic Development Foundation, 662-234-4651