Economic development board hears updates on various projects Tuesday

Updates on various projects were given at the Marshall Saline Development Corporation meeting Tuesday morning, May 12.

Administrative Assistant Carolyn Pearson gave the director's report prepared by Executive Director Roy Hunter, who was absent from the meeting.

The upcoming meeting for Project Green, the EcoAlgae Project, on Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Martin Community Center is meant to involve local growers and provide an update to the community, Hunter stated in his prepared material.

His report noted that he discouraged holding a meeting on this date, but the company, Saline Green Project, decided to go ahead with the meeting.

The way resolutions are listed on the Slater Enhanced Enterprise Zone application will be changed, following requests by state officials. New resolutions from the City of Slater and the Saline County Commission are now required.

Project Drill, it was reported, is moving forward, but slowly, due to communications issues.

Project Pour, the name for a planned expansion from a company based in Indiana, has made no progress because company representatives have not replied to the last two inquiries from MSDC personnel.

Slater Project, which deals with biomass production, is still conducting a feasibility study.

A preliminary proposal for Project Red River has been submitted. According to Hunter's prepared material, it is a large project that he should know more about later this week.

The labor basin study, which looks at available labor in the area, has been completed and MSDC has received a draft copy of the study. The formal presentation will take place at MSDC's office Tuesday, May 19, at noon. It is estimated the presentation will last one hour, and a luncheon will be provided.

AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer Josh King gave an update on his projects.

MSDC's new Web site was launched Monday at about 5 p.m., King said. It contains a number of new features, including the ability of users to post properties they have for sale. This Web site is located at www.marshall-saline-dev.com.

King also reported that he has been in talks with the Rev. Nelson Gabriel of Handy Chapel American Methodist Episcopal Church to create a summer camp aimed at entrepreneurial education.

Contact Geoff Rands at marshallreporter@socket.net