JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Deane, Smith and Partners, a public relations, marketing, advertising and branding agency based in Nashville, has opened an office in Mississippi's capital city.

Deane, Smith and Partners said the move is designed to serve its growing roster of clients in Jackson.

Todd Smith, president and chief communications officer at DS&P, said Jackson's business climate is thriving and he believes the expansion will help develop opportunities for the agency.

"As we continue to expand our agency nationally, and extend our client reach, we strategically targeted Jackson as a key growth market for DS&P," said Smith, a Jackson native.

"This is a coming home of sorts both personally and professionally. I am thrilled to be revisiting and reinforcing lifelong relationships while cultivating new opportunities throughout Jackson and across Mississippi," he said.

The office is in the Jackson suburb of Ridgeland. The firm also has an office in the Washington, D.C., area in addition to its headquarters in Nashville. The firm specializes in legal, retail, health care, medical, hospitality and technology markets.

DS&P, founded in 1999 by Washington political and media veterans Silas Deane and Todd Smith, currently creates strategic branding campaigns for several Jackson-based businesses, including the Butler Snow law firm, Faces Clinic and Waggoner Engineering.

Other major clients include the National Foundation for Cancer Research, Electrolux, the Hutton Hotel, Healthcare Information Management Systems Society, Baden Supply, The Buffkin Group, Cybera Inc., Microsoft Health and the Sumner County (Tenn.) Board of Education.