Sen. Hyde-Smith keynote speaker at Innovation & Technology naming ceremony

The Mississippi Center for Innovation & Technology naming ceremony will be held at 1622 Washington St. in Vicksburg on Friday, Feb. 21, at 10 a.m.

U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith

The presenting keynote speaker is U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

Under the leadership of the Economic Development Foundation, the community identified the old Mississippi Hardware Building as the place where a Center for Innovation & Technology can be developed. The center will bring all relevant partners together to create an eco-system that spurs innovation, accelerates technology transfer and increases opportunities for U.S. Army Engineering Research & Development Center contracts to be given to Mississippi companies. The center will also provide higher education opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math.

Since it was announced that the EDF committed to developing the Hardware Building into the Mississippi Center for Innovation & Technology, the State of Mississippi has committed $5 million to the project and the City of Vicksburg has committed $300,000 per year for 10 years. Close to $5 million in Historic Tax Credits has been secured for the project.