An economic development expert who honed his skills in one of the fastest growing communities in the United States is coming home to Mississippi to lead the Vicksburg-Warren Community Alliance.

J. Scott Martinez, 35, was chosen Friday to head the self-formed community interest and advocacy group. Nineteen people from Mississippi and other states applied for the job.

Martinez was one of four final candidates. The other three were Wayne Mansfield, director of planning for the city of Vicksburg; Greg Deakle, of Pass Christian; and Stephen Heavener, of Green River, Wyo.

Martinez fills the position that has been held on an interim basis by Charlotte Koestler since August 2003. Koestler declined to comment on whether she applied for the job.

A native of Laurel, Martinez brings seven years of experience in rounding up new business and capital investment in two Texas metropolitan areas – Houston and Austin.

As associate director of the Greater Conroe Economic Development Council from 1999 to 2004, Martinez led a program that pumped $25 million into the economy in Houston.

Since June 2004, Martinez has served as vice president of economic development with the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce, where he helped garner $1.6 million in private sector money for local economic development.

Also during his tenure, home furnishings retailer IKEA agreed to open a 250,000-square-foot store in Round Rock, a city about 20 miles north of Austin, by 2007. Since 1990, the population of Round Rock has increased 159 percent and is expected to grow another 23 percent by 2009. About 84,000 people live in the city.

Martinez hopes to put his skills and experience to work in Vicksburg and Warren County, an area he said &#8220has tremendous potential.”

&#8220There’s the interstate, the river, the convention center, a nice downtown area. I have a results-driven approach to economic development. It’s a tremendous opportunity, and I’ve been successful everywhere I’ve been,” Martinez said.

Pulling together various government entities and others interested in economic development and pointing them in the right direction is key to developing a plan for Vicksburg and Warren County, Martinez said.

&#8220I think he’s real sharp guy and he’s on the ball,” said Bobby Bailess, chairman of the Alliance board of trustees.

Another factor in choosing Vicksburg over other career opportunities, Martinez said, was a chance for he and his wife, the former Melissa Attkisson of Hattiesburg, to be closer to family.

Martinez has a master’s degree in economic development from the University of Southern Mississippi and a bachelor‘s degree from the University of Mississippi.

His economic development studies abroad include visits to New Zealand and Australia. He also took classes through the International Economic Development Council.

Martinez expects to take the reins of the organization by mid-February. His salary will be in the range of $80,000.

Vicksburg-Warren Community Alliance Inc. is a self-formed organization that coordinates activities of multiple state and private agencies. It has a 25-member board of trustees that represents 14 community member organizations.

The Alliance has an annual budget of about $80,000, mostly from private donations. Those funds have been used to fund TV commercials that have appeared in out-of-state markets, a community Web calender, signs to downtown and other projects. The Alliance is open to the public, and organizations that are part of the group include local governments, economic development associations and charities.

In April 2005, the group was recognized as a 501(c)(3) organization, making donations to the Alliance tax deductible on federal and state returns.

One of its members is the Vicksburg Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, which is funded by a 1 percent sales tax collected on local hotel rooms.

Austin-based Johnson & Associates, a professional search team that specializes in economic development counseling, assisted in selecting Martinez when the 19-applicant field was narrowed to four.

When he takes over the Alliance next month, Martinez will lead an organization that has been active in the debate of two tourism and economic development issues stirring in Vicksburg and Warren County.

One is the direction of the VCVB, for which Compass Facility Management Inc. is developing a management plan after debate.

The other is the future of the U.S. 80 bridge. During her tenure as interim director, Koestler and other Alliance trustees indicated support for securing federal money for a pedestrian trail and park atop the 75-year-old, county-owned structure that runs across the Mississippi River.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors is noncommittal on the issue, leaving doors open to sell the structure to pay for county infrastructure such as a new jail and courthouse annex.