Good morning Vanessa!

What an incredible moment for our region as we officially launched the public phase of the ELEVATE campaign. The energy in the room at our kickoff event was inspiring, and if you haven’t seen the campaign video yet, I encourage you to take a few minutes to watch it. You’ll hear directly from local leaders about why this effort matters and how it’s shaping the future of Greater Hattiesburg. It captures the spirit of where we are — and, more importantly, where we’re headed.

We’re proud to share that we’ve already secured commitments from 66 investors, totaling $4,252,000 in pledged support. To each of you who has stepped up early: thank you. Your belief in this vision is what’s driving us forward. I’m also incredibly grateful for the ELEVATE Campaign Leadership Team as your dedication has laid the groundwork for this early momentum.

ELEVATE is more than a campaign, it’s a commitment to our people, our economy, and the future of this place we call home.

Thank you for being a part of this campaign.

Jeff Bowman

CEO, Cooperative Energy & ELEVATE Campaign Chair