CENTREVILLE &045;&045; Centreville needs someone to pursue economic development and grant possibilities, members of the town’s Downtown Development Association said Monday.

The town has received some state and federal funds for recent projects, such as the renovation of the town’s library and waste water treatment facilities.

But the community is leaving too many stones unturned when it comes to pursuing grants, Centreville contractor Bernie Bagley said.

&uot;We have the potential to go after other grants. There’s a myriad of different programs and assistance available,&uot; Bagley said.

DDA Chairman R.J. &uot;Dick&uot; Field agreed. &uot;We need someone to hustle grants,&uot; he said.

The group also discussed the need to locate businesses in the former Carter Company building on Mississippi 24 and at the Centreville Industrial Park on Mississippi 33.

Bagley said the town should work more closely with county and state officials to make sure Centreville is included in economic development ventures.

&uot;The county’s Economic Development District is centralized in Woodville. We should be represented there,&uot; Bagley said.

In 2003, Wilkinson County was designated by the Mississippi Development Authority as a Growth and Prosperity county. Centreville is located on the Wilkinson and Amite County line.

GAP counties can extend qualifying businesses exemptions from some state and local taxes for a 10-year period. The local exemptions do not include ad valorem taxes that support education and public safety.

On another topic, Centreville Museum Committee Chairman Mildred Field encouraged members of the group to attend this year’s reunion of the 99th &uot;Checkerboard&uot; Division in Biloxi in August.

She said the event provides an opportunity to elicit more involvement and support from veterans of the 99th for the Centreville Camp Van Dorn Museum project.