Downtown is not only the economic and cultural heart of Meridian; it is now also at the center of great economic opportunity in east Mississippi.

With the highly successful renovation of the MSU Riley Center for Education and Performing Arts, the exciting renovation of Meridian's City Hall and the upcoming and much anticipated renovation of the Three Foot building into a luxury hotel hosting new restaurants and specialty boutiques; Downtown Meridian is fast forging a new identity as the place to go for unique, high quality shopping, diverse cultural arts presentations and fun-filled family oriented events.

View "A Place Called Meridian" video by clicking this photo.

     The Meridian Downtown Association and Leading Edges unveiled a video promoting the past, present and future of Meridian's downtown growth.  The 5 minute video was presented to area business leaders at the Meridian Rotary Club meeting.
     "Tony Pompelia with Leading Edges and I collaborated on this video for our downtown area and Meridian" stated Ken Watts, Meridian Downtown Association, Past President.  "There in no financial gain from this.  This video is to promote Meridian, nothing more.  It is being offered free to any business, organization or individual needing a resource that provides positive information about Meridian."
     Narrated by Sela Ward, the video highlights Meridian's past, current renovations, art community, business opportunities and future goals.

    Tony Pompelia of Leading Edges Advertising said the video is intended to capture the essence of Meridian--it's past, present and future.  "This video has the potential to inspire people who live here with an emotional reminder of where the city was and is today, plus point out the prospects of where we hope to be.  Meridian is a wonderful place.  It deserves to be showcased."

    Pompelia also stated the video is not a "cure-all" in promoting Meridian to ourselves and others.  It's just one step.  "We hope it helps people here get to know our hometown all over again and offers newcomers a small taste of what we are, where we came from and where we are going" said Pompelia.  "We had a good time making it and the staff at Leading Edges worked very hard and did a great job".

    Leading Edges is making the video available to everyone through their website.  Just go to www.leadingedges.net/video.  "We urge you all to use this video to promote our town to our people first and our neighbors next," Pompelia commented.

    "We have got to get past the idea that we don't deserve to be noticed...to grow...," said Watts.  "To quote Gov. Haley Barbour,"...we underestimate ourselves in East Mississippi and it's time to move past that.  We have a great City, one to be proud of.  We need to take the time to rediscover it."