Alcorn State makes a large contribution to the economics of Vicksburg

During a special Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting Friday, Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs Jr. emphasized the impact of Alcorn State University on the city of Vicksburg.

“When Alcorn State plays Jackson State, you can’t find a hotel (room) in Vicksburg,” Flaggs said.

The city’s hospitality industry benefits every time Alcorn fans come to town.

“Any home game weekend, SWAC fans account for 80 percent of our overall hotel occupancy and 100 percent occupancy during homecoming weekend,” said Lynn Foley, executive director of sales at Southern Hospitality Services.

While football has a big impact, all the Alcorn sports teams contribute to the city’s hotel stays. Foley says her hotels work with visiting SWAC basketball, volleyball, softball and baseball teams and fans to accommodate their stays.

Alcorn State also brings other types of business to the city.

“Alcorn rents out our hotel event space for conferences and special events,” Foley said. “They also book rooms for visiting consultants, auditors and construction crews, and we truly value their business.”

Alcorn also has a stake in ensuring the success of the Mississippi Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer in Vicksburg.

“It is important that we have that relationship with Alcorn because we need their approval of the technology incubator,” Flaggs said.

Once completed, the MCITT’s facility in the old Mississippi Hardware Building will house the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Engineer Research and Development Center’s existing graduate institute and incorporate portions of the Vicksburg Warren School District’s career academies in addition to undergraduate programs from Alcorn and other public universities.

Opportunity for Vicksburg’s students is one reason Flaggs believes the relationship with Alcorn is vital to the health of the city.

“We are working with our local high schools for students to graduate high school (and) stay in Vicksburg,” Flaggs said. He pointed to the nursing programs at Alcorn and Hinds Community College as one incentive for students to stay, complete their educations and start careers in the city.

“It’s about economic prosperity,” Flaggs said. “it’s about bringing in people that can make a difference in the job creation field and in tax revenue.”

During the meeting, the board approved a request for advertising in the amount of $10,000 from Alcorn State University for the SWAC Football Championship Parade in Vicksburg on Jan. 19.

“I have every intention to make it certain that every road from Alcorn will lead towards Vicksburg,” Flaggs said. “Alcorn is worth every bit of what we do in Vicksburg.”