The Mississippi Better Business Bureau is ramping up its pitch to small businesses locally and statewide to become accredited under bureau standards.

Three businesses in Warren County have joined the list this month, bringing the total to 34 inside and outside Vicksburg, said John O’Hara, CEO of Mississippi BBB, based in Brandon. They are Headwaters Inc., a natural resource management firm on U.S. 80; Vicksburg Special Care Pharmacy and Compounding LLC, at U.S. 61 South and Pemberton Square Boulevard; and paving contractor Central Asphalt.

A focus this year is building the ranks of accredited businesses in the state outside the capital region, O’Hara said. More than 350 businesses are accredited in Jackson, Flowood, Ridgeland and Brandon.

“We’re trying not to have such a Jackson-centric area, since we do serve the entire state,” he said between visits to Vicksburg-area businesses, adding the worst of the economic recession caused accreditation levels in the state to drop. “We also want to roll out more programs, such as alerting the public about scams.”

Businesses are accredited by the BBB when the bureau finds firms have met accreditation standards. That includes a history and policy to resolve complaints from customers, a positive customer service record and support of BBB purpose and function. Renewal is contingent on maintaining a satisfactory customer service record and a BBB rating of either A or B.

Businesses must pay an annual fee — which is tax-deductible based on employment levels to renew accreditation. O’Hara said the annual fee can pay future dividends if businesses use their accreditation status as a prime selling point.

“The fact that they are BBB-accredited is an indication of their demonstrated reliability,” O’Hara said.

The nonprofit Mississippi BBB was established in 1964 and covers 76 of the state’s 82 counties. Memphis-based BBB of the Mid-South covers six counties in north Mississippi.