About Us
The JDC EDD is responsible for developing the economy of Jefferson Davis County by attracting new industries and businesses to locate here. This is done with the goal of increasing the tax base through sales tax and stimulating the economy with the wages earned and spent by the employees that fill these jobs.
Branded as the Garden Spot of the Earth, this 11th poorest county has some of the most fertile soil, pristine forests and other natural attractions that made many a General in the USAF fly over to see the lush natural beauty that abounds here.
Staff
Gary Russell Bass
Executive Director
601-792-5903
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Born on an Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Gary was raised in the small rural South Mississippi town that bears his family name — Bassfield. After graduating from Columbia Academy with honors and USM with a BS in Business, he worked as a corporate trainer for a franchise sales company before moving to New York City. After 8 years in New York and New England, he moved West to Sedona, Arizona where he honed his sales and marketing skills in the travel and tourism industry. In 2011, he returned home to Mississippi and has worked as a community activist, marketing consultant, marketing director for a manufacturing start up as well as a small business entrepreneur. He buried a time capsule to commemorate the founding of Bassfield in December 2020.
In February 2021 Bass was unanimously named Director of the Jefferson Davis County Economic Development District. One year later, Bass received a CEDA -Community Economic Development Award from the MEDC - Mississippi Economic Development Commision for the 125th Anniversary Time Capsule Ceremony for the town of Bassfield. He was also selected as a 2022 Fellow in the Delta Regional Authority’s Leadership Institute. He will be learning best practices in Economic & Community Development. Bass lives in the house he grew up in with his rescue dogters - Elly Mae and JuneBug.
Frankie Holliman
Office Manager
601-792-5903
Ellen Porter
Jeff Davis County Miss Hospitality 2024
Gary Russell Bass
Executive Director
601-792-5903
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Born on an Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, Gary was raised in the small rural South Mississippi town that bears his family name — Bassfield. After graduating from Columbia Academy with honors and USM with a BS in Business, he worked as a corporate trainer for a franchise sales company before moving to New York City. After 8 years in New York and New England, he moved West to Sedona, Arizona where he honed his sales and marketing skills in the travel and tourism industry. In 2011, he returned home to Mississippi and has worked as a community activist, marketing consultant, marketing director for a manufacturing start up as well as a small business entrepreneur. He buried a time capsule to commemorate the founding of Bassfield in December 2020.
In February 2021 Bass was unanimously named Director of the Jefferson Davis County Economic Development District. One year later, Bass received a CEDA -Community Economic Development Award from the MEDC - Mississippi Economic Development Commision for the 125th Anniversary Time Capsule Ceremony for the town of Bassfield. He was also selected as a 2022 Fellow in the Delta Regional Authority’s Leadership Institute. He will be learning best practices in Economic & Community Development. Bass lives in the house he grew up in with his rescue dogters - Elly Mae and JuneBug.
Frankie Holliman
Office Manager
601-792-5903
Ellen Porter
Jeff Davis County Miss Hospitality 2024
