- The Velvet Hammer! We call her that because she smoothly works our issues over at the Capitol, and she can be tough when she needs to be. She goes above and beyond the call of duty for us … We think she’ s better than apple pie.”Allen LylesPresident of the Mississippi State Troopers Association
Successes & Clients
Her tenacity, like that of a bulldog, is the key to legislative successes.
The Echols Group provides lobbying and consulting assistance to a variety of clients. The firm provides focused, analytical management skills that only sixteen years of experience can deliver, and that spells “success” for our clients.
The Echols Group Delivers.
- Passed the largest pay increase in State Trooper history
- Fought for $150 million in state tax incentives for the $2.9 billion dollar Riverbend Project
- Obtained $5 million in state bonds for the City of Southaven infrastructure improvements
- Authorize off-duty use of uniforms/weapons by law enforcement for private employment
- Delivered $28 million in state bonds for new Department of Public Safety facilities
- Provided $63 million in bonding authority to create the Capitol City Convention Center
- Passed an organ donation income tax credit
- Developed and passed the Mississippi Movie Incentive Act
- Creation of a Hepatitis C study among health care officials
- Fought to pass “Felony to Flee” legislation and the “Castle Doctrine”
- Delivered $6 million in state bonds for the Farish Street Entertainment District for infrastructure
- Obtained $2 million in state bonds for the Mississippi Children’s Museum
- Provided $11.7 million in bonds for renovations to the Mississippi Memorial Stadium
- Created a benefit fund for families of law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty
- Defended against increased taxes for gaming and business clients
- Closed an 11 year old loophole in the Chop Shop Act
- Passed landmark Storm Water Drainage Districts Act
- Obtained $1 million in state bonds for a youth leadership program
- Created the Tourism Incentive Program to provide sales tax rebates to tourist facilities
- Passed legislation that allows for the construction of brew pubs
- Created strong statutory penalties for uncleaned and abandoned property
- Secured an extra $4 million in state monies for the Mississippi Development Authority
- Helped get almost $1 million in monies for the Cal Ripken, Sr., Foundation
A List of Clients:
- Riverbend Crossing Development, Inc.
- Commonwealth Brands
- Penn National Gaming
- Mississippi Tourism Association
- Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation
- Hoffmann-LaRoche Pharmaceutical
- Mississippi State Troopers Association
- Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceutical
- Mississippi Association of Chiefs of Police
- City of Southaven
- DeSoto County School System
- Clinical Therapy Association
- Tradewinds Media Consortium
- bhg Graphic Design
- Mississippi Speech-Language & Hearing Association
A bill signing with the governor
Special Project Clients:
- Kelly Services
- Jackson Bandits and the Mississippi Indoor Sports Association
- Beau Rivage Casino and Resort
- March of Dimes
- IESI Solid Waste Firm
- Sterne/Agee/Leach Financial Consultants
- American Public Works Association
- Siemens Building Technologies, Inc.
- Mississippi Organ Recovery Association
- GEOTECH Engineering & Testing, Inc.
- American Medical Response (AMR) Ambulance Services
- Mississippi Economic Development Council
- ACTV of New York
- Cascio Development, Inc.
- City of Jackson
- City of Gulfport
- St. Ambrose Leadership College
- National Alternative Staffing Association
- Mississippi Collision Repair Association
- Maximus Child Support Collections
- 911 Coalition of Public Safety Answering Points
- Central Parking of Mississippi
- Hinds County Board of Supervisors