| Since 1987, the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (the District) has had a vision for an executive education center and supporting resort amenities on the shores of the Ross Barnett Reservoir, located in the northeast portion of metropolitan Jackson, Mississippi. Mississippi does not have an executive education center. Most other southeastern states have one or more university operated and/or privately operated centers.; From 1987 to 1990, the District under the leadership of its General Manager, Charlie Moak, tried extensively, but unsuccessfully, to interest the private hospitality industry to invest in, and operate, an executive education center on its Lost Rabbit property. The development community was interested in investing in a residential development, a marina, and a golf course; but, despite somewhat favorable market feasibility, insisted that the executive education center, hotel, and infrastructure would have to be financed through state and federal economic development, or tourism, grants or bonds.; In 1994, under the leadership of its new General Manager, Ken Griffin, the District decided to change from a privately managed executive education center, not affiliated with a university, to one that was affiliated with one or more universities. The District first unsuccessfully sought funding from Dr. Ray Cleere, Commissioner of the Institutions of Higher Learning, for a center for all eight state universities to use for executive education purposes. The District offered 10-20 acres of prime waterfront property, if the IHL could secure the necessary funding from the State Legislature.; The District then made its proposal to individual institutions, chronologically: Mississippi State University, Millsaps College, the University of Mississippi, and Mississippi College. The two private institutions were not interested in raising the necessary funding; but the two state universities possibly were. Eventually, President Donald Zacharias of Mississippi State University, and Chancellor Khayat of the University of Mississippi, told the District that they would start to try to raise the necessary funding. They asked for, and received from the District, a new market study that included the affiliation with their two universities. This December 1996 market study, prepared by Horwath Hospitality Consulting, predicted much stronger financial performance than the February 1989 market study. Whether this greater financial feasibility results in the District's vision for its Lost Rabbit property becoming reality, will be determined by the success of on-going fund raising efforts. |
