Gray Swoope, the outgoing executive director of the Mississippi Development Authority

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We've previously reported that Gray Swoope, the exec director of the Mississippi Development Authority, is leaving his post this week to go to Florida.

The Clarion-Ledger had a story about Swoope's departure. Some interesting tidbits (full story):

Swoope, who has led MDA since 2007, is leaving the post at the end of this week to become president and CEO of Enterprise Florida, that state's top economic development organization

Swoope earns $176,500 a year as head of MDA, but he can earn $300,000 at the Florida position.

(More info from TampaBay.com on Feb. 28:

Swoope’s contract was not finalized, but the board discussed an annual salary of $130,000 that with incentives would not exceed $300,000.

Last month, Scott fired the previous president, John A. Adams Jr., saying he wanted to take the state’s group in a “different direction.” Adams was owed at least $132,000.)

The pay for top officials in neighboring states varies. Louisiana's top official earns $320,000 a year, while Alabama's earns $175,406.

Swoope's replacement hasn't been named.

The unofficial word we've gotten about David Rumbarger, president and CEO of our Community Development Foundation, is that he likes his current job, thus he isn't expected to head to Jackson.

He said about the same thing in the C-L story:

David Rumbarger, president and CEO of the Community Development Foundation of Tupelo/Lee County, said creating jobs in states like Mississippi can involve challenges not often found elsewhere and someone who knows the region's business climate should lead its economic development efforts.

"Business development in the South is different than it is in Maine," he said.

Asked about his interest in the post, Rumbarger said he was "very happy in Tupelo."