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Blake Wilson, president and CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council, speaks to members of the Grenada Rotary Club at Regions Bank on Monday.
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By GALEN HOLLEY
Staff Writer
A representative from the Mississippi Economic Council was at Regions Bank on Monday to brief Rotarians about collaborative efforts between the public and private sectors.
Blake Wilson spoke about Blueprint Mississippi, an effort to position the state for progress.
Some of the key points of the Blueprint Mississippi are racial reconciliation, communication and coordination between public, private and nonprofit leaders and cultivating a more robust workforce, Wilson said.
Health care
Wilson also spoke of health care as an economic driver.
A healthier workforce means lower insurance costs, less man hours lost and higher productivity, Wilson said.
Rotarians and their guests were given remote voting devices in order to respond to a survey Wilson conducted.
“How important is physical exercise to managing a healthy lifestyle?” Wilson asked.
Ninety-one percent said it was very important.
“How many engage in an organized exercise program?” he asked.
Only 42 percent said they did.
“How important is health care as en economic driver to your part of the state?” Wilson asked.
Seventy-two percent said that it was very important.
Mississippi has long ranked as the most obese state.
Wilson asked in what areas people believed their region had the most potential for growth in health care. Growth of Grenada Lake Medical Center and growth of speciality care were the top responses.
Businesses are increasingly offering incentives for wellness and health living, Wilson said. That was another example of how the private sector is promoting higher standards in public life.
For the full story, see the printed edition or the online edition of the GrenadaStar.
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