Lt. Governor makes BP Advisory Board appointment

This morning, Lt. Governor Tate Reeves announced he has chosen two Coast businessmen to serve on the BP Advisory Board.

Mark Cumbest and Jerry Levens will serve on the board which will assist the Mississippi Development Authority with distribution of funds from BP to settle the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.

The committee will be comprised of seven individuals, three appointed by Governor Phil Bryant, two by House Speaker Philip Gunn, and two by Lt. Governor Tate Reeves.

Both Levens and Cumbest hope the settlement funds will build a prosperous coastal economy and create good paying jobs for Mississippians. “What would success look like is if we end up with an economic base that expands with job opportunities to create that environment where the next generation will have economic opportunities to stay in the area,” said Levens.

Cumbest said, “I want to make sure this money is used in a good way to make permanent improvements on the Gulf Coast economy and for the whole region.”

Mark Cumbest is the broker owner of Cumbest Realty and Jerry Levens currently serves as the Hancock-Whitney Corporation’s Vice Chair of the Board and Executive Committee.