Series 1736: BAWI, General Obligation and Revenue Bond Records. 1939-1999.
Economic and Community Development (RG 76).

Series 1736: BAWI, General Obligation and Revenue Bond Records. 1939-1999.
Economic and Community Development (RG 76).

      Bond files, correspondence, and administrative reference files pertaining to the promotion of industrial development throughout the state. Primarily these records consist of files of certificates of public convenience and necessity, but also included are administrative reference files and some general correspondence. As part of this finding aid, there is a detailed list, in alphabetical order by town, of all the certificates of public convenience and necessity files. This will allow a researcher to determine the exact box(es) that will be required.

      The folders generally contain the request by the county or municipality for a certificate, the minutes of the A & I Board/DED/DECD granting the certificate, the approval by the A & I Board/DED/DECD of the contract and other legal documents, the calls for and results of the bond elections, and the legal papers describing the sale of the bonds. Correspondence concerning the bond issue between the county or municipality, the A & I Board/DED/DECD, and other interested parties is also included. The folders are arranged by town. Where only a county is named, it is located with other folders from the county seat. For counties with two county seats, folders are generally (but not always) located with only one of the county seats – for such counties, researchers should always check under both municipalities. Within each folder, the papers are generally arranged in reverse chronological order. Oversized items from the folders have been housed separately in Boxes 4773 and 12712.

      The administrative reference files contain one file related to staff procedures and policies, and numerous files of attorney general opinions on such matters as bond elections; bond funds and revenues; building construction; rent, lease, and access laws; tax exemptions; and the ports of Gulfport and Jackson County.

      Correspondence not pertaining directly to specific bond issues was consolidated into separate folders. The correspondence consists generally of letters to and from the Executive Director. These folders are organized chronologically.

      Certificates of public convenience and necessity were initially issued to the counties and municipalities by the Agricultural and Industrial Board (A & I Board), and later by the Department of Economic Development (DED) and Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), authorizing them to hold elections for and to issue bonds to start an industry in their area. Authorized by the legislature in 1944 (Mississippi, General Laws, ch. 241), when the A & I Board was formed, the “Balance Agriculture with Industry” (BAWI) program was initially begun in 1936 (Mississippi, General Laws, ch. 1, First Extraordinary Session). The procedures established in 1944 have been generally the same through the time period of these files (Mississippi Code Annotated (1972), § 57-3). In the front of Box 2340 is a folder containing a 1945 edition of the A & I Board pamphlet “Balance Agriculture with Industry Plan of Action for Community Development.” This pamphlet was used by the A & I Board and the various county and municipal governments to develop their requests for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity, as well as a guide to the remainder of the procedures to be followed. The term “BAWI” was gradually phased out, but the procedures for counties and municipalities to issue bonds to attract or expand industries has continued.

See also:
      Series 558: Correspondence. 1940-1944. (RG 11)
      Series 598: Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity. 1936-1939. (RG 13)
      Series 1669: Executive Director’s Correspondence. 1980-1987. (RG 76)
      Series 1674: Agricultural & Industrial Board Minute Books. 1944-1980. (RG 76)
      Series 1687: Board of Economic Development Minute Books. 1980-1989. (RG 76)
      Series 2133: Economic and Community Development Minutes. 1990-1998. (RG 76)

      As part of this finding aid, following on pages 6 through 46 is a detailed list, in alphabetical order by town, of all the certificates of public convenience and necessity files. This will allow a researcher to determine the exact box(es) that will be required.