As we prepare to celebrate a new year in Southwest Mississippi, we should all take a little time to reflect on the progress our community has made over the past year. Being a newcomer, I can see great potential for the future.

The Daily Leader staff and I have been discussing the positive changes of this past year and beyond. Progress has been made, and we want to help the community continue down that path.

As you know, the area continues to grow and prosper. While these events have been reported as they developed, the Leader staff wanted to produce for our readers a stronger focus on developments and how they impact our quality of life. This special “Progress Edition” will strive to deliver to readers a strong discussion of why this area is a great place to raise a family, find qualified employees to fill existing and new jobs, or retire to a caring community. We will work hard to make this edition something you will want to share with businesses and families that you would like to show more about the community we call home.

We plan on developing a marketing tool to be used by the Chamber of Commerce, city and county governments, schools, churches, hospital and medical community, realtors, developers and civic leaders who love Brookhaven/Lincoln County. We plan on a tool that displays an active, vibrant and welcoming community.

This special edition will be completely locally written and exclusively about our community. Our reporters and photographers will take a look at Education; Government; Business, including existing and prospective businesses and industries; Health; and the Community, including spiritual and civic organizations, sports and recreation, neighborhoods and other areas that make for a quality of life not available in most communities this size.

As you might imagine, this is a sizeable project for a newspaper our size. We need your help. Our reporters will be talking to lots of business and industry owners and managers. If you have an idea or success story of your own that you would like included, please call me at 601-833-6961 or email otis.raybon@dailyleader.com. I will make sure you are included.

If you are a merchant, professional, or business/industry manager, please consider advertising in this important edition. Our sales reps will be calling on each of you soon. I encourage you to participate as your business contributes greatly to the progress of this community. This will be a good edition to highlight the time your business has been established, recognize your employees for their contribution to your success or just thank your customers.

As we have reviewed the industry that provides jobs, we see a very diversified array of goods and services manufactured here. Some of these products are consumed here and across the United Sates and the world. Lots of our readers don’t know what you make or where it is shipped; this is an opportunity to inform us all.

Churches, schools, civic organizations, even individuals and neighborhoods make a unique contribution to our quality of life.

The historic sign in downtown Brookhaven reads a “Home Seekers Paradise”! Help us tell others the stories that, when combined, make this true.

Please give me a call if you would like to discuss or be included.

Thanks for supporting The Daily Leader.

Otis Raybon is the publisher of The Daily Leader. Contact him at otis.raybon@dailyleader.com or (601) 833-6961.