Oxford Lafayette Incorporated

06/12/2026

Innovate MississippiMississippi SBDC Network

06/12/2026

OLinc is proud to announce the winners of the 5th Annual Oxford Pitch Competition!

SBDC Track Winners
First Place in the SBDC Track and a $7,500 prize was awarded to Munchies Chicken and Waffles, represented by Brett Doherty and McClain Schieltz.

First Place in the Innovate Mississippi Track and a $7,500 prize was awarded to American Drone Solutions, represented by Lt. Col. Leonard Boothe, USAF (Ret.).

There were 10 finalists in total including: Lt. Col. Leonard Boothe, Garrett Bradham and Dr. Brenton Laing, Barrett Lott, Sagan Karthikeyan, Keerthin Karthikeyan, Ashton Rowland, and Omeyimi Dimowo from the Innovate MS Track.

SBDC Track Finalists included: McClain Schieltz, Brett Doherty, Dr. Georgianna Schroeder, Nyseer Fullwood-Theodore, and Davondre “Dre” Bassett.

Congrats to all the competitors for a great night celebrating entrepreneurship in North Mississippi! Innovate MississippiMississippi SBDC Network

06/11/2026

06/10/2026

Today, with heavy hearts, we mourn the loss of Tommy Smith, one of the founders and a devoted supporter of the Oxford Lafayette Economic Development Foundation, now known as Oxford Lafayette Incorporated.

For more than 31 years, Tommy generously shared his time, leadership, and vision to help strengthen our community and advance economic development in Oxford and Lafayette County. His dedication to our mission was unwavering, and his influence will be felt for generations to come. During his tenure as Chairman of the Board from 2015 to 2017, Tommy provided thoughtful leadership, steady guidance, and a deep commitment to the success of our organization.

Beyond his service to the EDF, Tommy was a respected business leader and partner of Smith Building Supply, a trusted resource for contractors and homeowners since 1960. He was known not only for his business acumen, but also for his kindness, integrity, and genuine care for others.

Tommy's legacy is woven into the fabric of our community, and he will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Our thoughts, prayers, and heartfelt condolences are with Tommy's family, friends, and loved ones during this difficult time.

His contributions helped shape Oxford and Lafayette County into the thriving community it is today, and his memory will continue to inspire us.

06/10/2026

Our Ole Miss interns are an invaluable part of our economic development program. They gain real-world experience while contributing fresh ideas and perspectives—and we learn just as much from them as they learn from us.

This morning, Adam Nichols stepped out of his comfort zone and into the spotlight for his very first radio broadcast with Gary Darby. Adam did an outstanding job discussing recent economic development successes in Oxford and Lafayette County while helping promote tomorrow's Oxford Pitch Competition.

If you've ever enjoyed watching Shark Tank, you'll love this event! Join us at the Oxford Conference Center tomorrow from 1:00–6:00 PM to hear innovative entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas. Admission is free, and guests are welcome to come and go throughout the day.

Congratulations, Adam, on a great first radio appearance!

06/09/2026

Today’s Member Spotlight: Delta Utilities

From heating homes to fueling local industries, Delta Utilities provides essential natural gas service across Mississippi and the Gulf South.

Their dedication to safe, reliable delivery makes them a critical part of the infrastructure our communities rely on every day.

06/07/2026

While making you plans for this week. Plan on attending the Oxford Pitch Competition. It's exciting and inspiring! This competition is free and open to the public. Come and go as you please! Help us celebrate entrepreneurship, innovation, and small business growth across Mississippi and the Mid-South.

The Oxford Pitch Competition serves as one of seven regional qualifying events for Innovate Mississippi’s CoBuilders Accelerator, a statewide entrepreneurial development program designed to help startup and small business founders grow scalable companies through mentorship, coaching, and access to capital and business resources.

This year’s competition will feature two tracks: an SBDC Track focused on traditional and growth-oriented small businesses, and an Innovate Track focused on high-growth and innovation-driven ventures.

A total of $25,000 in prize funding will be awarded during the event.

2026 Oxford Pitch Competition Finalists will include:

SBDC Track

OK Thanks!, LLC — Erik Hom and Georgianna Schroeder

Munchies Chicken and Waffles — McClain Schieltz

Easy Offer Acquisitions — Nyseer Fullwood-Theodore

Custom Threads — James “Jackson” Parks

Memphis Sippi — Davondre “Dre” Bassett

Innovate Track

American Drone Solutions — Lt. Col. Leonard Boothe

Vero Transportation — Barrett Lott

Drape — Omeyimi Dimowo

Interbeat Industries — Garrett Bradham

PleXene Technologies LLC — Keerthin Karthikeyan

Formenos Industries — Ashton Rowland

Participants will pitch their businesses before a panel of judges representing entrepreneurship, investment, business leadership, and economic development from across the region.

The Oxford Pitch Competition will be held at the Oxford Conference Center located at 102 Ed Perry Blvd., Oxford, Mississippi.

Hope to see you there!

06/04/2026

Join Oxford Lafayette Incorporated (OLinc) on Wednesday, July 8, at 8:00 a.m. at Oxford High School for an engaging Fireside Chat and Continental Breakfast featuring two of Mississippi’s leading economic development experts:
• Bill Cork, CEO of the Mississippi Development Authority
• Dr. Courtney Taylor of Accelerate Mississippi
Together, they will pull back the curtain on what it takes to attract companies, create jobs, develop talent, and position a community for long-term economic success.
RSVP to [email protected]
OLINC members complimentary, non-members $25