Jimmy and Ray Heidel Award

Jimmy and Ray Heidel
Economic Development Leadership Award

AWARD HISTORY

The Ray Heidel Leadership Award was established in 1995 by the Mississippi Economic Development Council to honor the life and contributions to the profession by Ray Heidel.  In 1999 the name was changed to The Jimmy and Ray Heidel Economic Development Leadership Award to recognize Jimmy Heidel’s contributions to the profession on both the local and statewide levels. This change was made possible by the following organizations that contributed to the program:

Butler, Snow, O’Mara, Stevens and Cannada
C-2 Friends of Ray
Entergy
H & M Company
Holley, Grubbs, Mitcham & Phillips
Mississippi Manufacturers Association
Mississippi Power Company
North Mississippi Industrial Development Association
Viking Range Corporation
Watkins, Ludlam, Winter & Stennis
Wellman, Inc.
Numerous MEDC members

AWARD / PURPOSE

The purpose of the award is to foster further development of promising economic development practitioner leadership skills and consists of:

• A full-tuition scholarship for one year only to either the Economic Development Institute or the Community Development Institute, which is decided upon by the recipient.  
• A Plaque
• Recognition at the MEDC Conference

AWARD SELECTION PROCESS

The award recipient is selected during the week of the True South Basic Economic Development Course by a committee of three, which is determined by the course director.

AWARD SELECTION CRITERIA

The award is presented annually to a recipient who meets the selected criteria:

• Member of the Mississippi Economic Development Council
• Employed as a business development professional within the State of Mississippi
• Participant in the True South Economic Development Course at the University of Southern Mississippi
• Exhibits fully developed leadership skills or potential for leadership skills
   

1996-2023 JIMMY AND RAY HEIDEL AWARD WINNERS