Progress 07/01/07 to 06/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The goal of the Delta Rural Revitalization Project is to create and implement innovative strategies that will help advance the long-term economic and sustainable development of the Mississippi Delta region. The project involves the undertaking of applied research and outreach education activities in concert with local practitioners and economic development leaders in the region. Over the past year, the SRDC has worked closely with the Delta Council and Mississippi State University Extension on the following: Upgrading and Expansion of the Delta Data Information Toolkit - This Web-based resource provides local Delta leaders and economic development agencies with timely data on a variety of labor market and socioeconomic-related conditions and trends in the region. Presence of Extension Economic Development Educators in the Delta - The role of these educators, who are housed at the Delta Data Center, is to guide and inform the economic diversification efforts of the region, including the pursuit of value-added agricultural activities such as bio-fuels, entrepreneurship/micro-businesses, business feasibility studies and business retention and expansion efforts. Assistance in the Development of Economic Progress Reports on the Delta - Such reports are valuable sources of information on the current and emerging economic development activities and opportunities in the region. PARTICIPANTS: Lionel J. Beaulieu, Professor and Director of the Southern Rural Development Center and Roberto Gallardo, Sidney Massey and Marcus Young (all Extension Associates with the Delta Data Center) worked on this project. In addition, leadership from the Delta Council participated in carrying out the goals and objectives of the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local, state and national leaders and policy makers from the 18 Delta counties as well as agricultural producers, business people, and citizens are the targeted audience for this initiative. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
The impact of the SRDC is captured below along with the series of specific efforts that were successfully completed: (1) Generating Information to Meet Local Needs: Maintained a regional and local web portal database including infrastructure maps, population/labor radius maps (using GIS), location, sites/buildings, tailor-made community profiles, and other data relevant to the region's economic development efforts. Prepared highway maps to show transportation progress and needs in the Mississippi Delta region. Compiled several farm policy hand-outs to depict the changes and current status of agriculture in the MS Delta. Assisted Greenville, MS leaders in preparing five manufacturing proposals. Prepared a proposal for Sunflower County, MS that to recruit a call center to Indianola, MS. Assisted Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis representatives with attainment of information from the MDDA portal. Created customized informative packets and professional documents for an expansion project at Fishbelt Feeds, Inc. Provided images, charts, factual documents, and editing assistance for the development of the Yazoo Backwater Project Reformulation Summary for the MS Levee Board. Prepared presentations given to leaders at all levels on a variety of subjects such as water and natural resources development, transportation, health, education and the agriculture in the region. (2) Providing Technical Assistance to Key Stakeholders: Provided assistance to the Mid Delta Development Association by helping to incorporate national demographic data into its website. Worked with the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and Entergy MS in gathering information from MS Delta businesses to input into the E-Synchronist national database. Coordinated working meetings with representatives of the Workforce Investment Area Board, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the Capps Workforce Center, and Mississippi Delta Community College that were focused on possible economic and workforce development strategies. (3) Producing Specialized Reports on the Region: Researched, Prepared and Designed the Economic Progress Report for data on crop production, employment trends, population changes, and cash receipts for counties in the region. Created marketing flyer/brochures for the MS Delta region by compiling information to exemplify the region's assets, strategic location, and proximity to major cities. Tour of Rural America: A Visit to the Mid South Delta Region: The SRDC co-sponsored and assisted with a regional tour hosted by the Farm Foundation in the Mid South Delta region. The tour provided opportunities for approximately 40 policymakers, representatives of community development organizations, NGO leaders, production agriculture, agribusiness leaders, university faculty, and media to interact with individuals and organizations on the front line of rural economic development. The participants visited rural communities in TN, AR and MS, and observed the work that local people used to address social, economic and environmental/natural resource challenges facing rural areas located in the Delta region.
Publications
- Beaulieu, L. Southern Region Information Toolkit, a website designed to provide a number of quality data sources to leaders and policy makers in the Delta Region. http://srit.srdc.msstate.edu. 2005.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Bolivar County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Carroll County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Coahoma County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. DeSoto County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Grenada County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Holmes County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Humphreys County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Issaquena County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Leflore County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Montgomery County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Panola County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Quitman County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Sharkey County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Sunflower County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Tallahatchie County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Tate County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Tunica County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Warren County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Washington County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Yazoo County Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
- Parisi, D. and S. Grice. Delta Business and Economic Environment Report. Workforce, Economic and Community Development Research Unit. Mississippi State University. March 2007.
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Progress 07/01/05 to 06/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The goal of the Delta Rural Revitalization Project is to create and implement innovative strategies that will help advance the long-term economic and sustainable development of the Mississippi Delta region. The project involves the undertaking of applied research and outreach education activities in concert with local practitioners and economic development leaders in the region. Over the past year, the SRDC has worked closely with the Delta Council and Mississippi State University Extension on the following: Upgrading and Expansion of the Delta Data Information Toolkit - This Web-based resource provides local Delta leaders and economic development agencies with timely data on a variety of labor market and socioeconomic-related conditions and trends in the region. Presence of Extension Economic Development Educators in the Delta - The role of these educators, who are housed at the Delta Data Center, is to guide and inform the economic diversification efforts of the region, including the pursuit of value-added agricultural activities such as bio-fuels, entrepreneurship/micro-businesses, business feasibility studies and business retention and expansion efforts. Assistance in the Development of Economic Progress Reports on the Delta - Such reports are valuable sources of information on the current and emerging economic development activities and opportunities in the region. PARTICIPANTS: Lionel J. Beaulieu, Professor and Director of the Southern Rural Development Center and Roberto Gallardo, Sidney Massey and Marcus Young (all Extension Associates with the Delta Data Center) worked on this project. In addition, leadership from the Delta Council participated in carrying out the goals and objectives of the project. TARGET AUDIENCES: Local, state and national leaders and policy makers from the 18 Delta counties as well as agricultural producers, business people, and citizens are the targeted audience for this initiative. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The impact of the SRDC is captured below along with the series of specific efforts that were successfully completed: (1) Generating Information to Meet Local Needs: Maintained a regional and local web portal database including infrastructure maps, population/labor radius maps (using GIS), location, sites/buildings, tailor-made community profiles, and other data relevant to the region's economic development efforts. Prepared highway maps to show transportation progress and needs in the Mississippi Delta region. Compiled several farm policy hand-outs to depict the changes and current status of agriculture in the MS Delta. Assisted Greenville, MS leaders in preparing five manufacturing proposals. Prepared a proposal for Sunflower County, MS that to recruit a call center to Indianola, MS. Assisted Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis representatives with attainment of information from the MDDA portal. Created customized informative packets and professional documents for an expansion project at Fishbelt Feeds, Inc. Provided images, charts, factual documents, and editing assistance for the development of the Yazoo Backwater Project Reformulation Summary for the MS Levee Board. Prepared presentations given to leaders at all levels on a variety of subjects such as water and natural resources development, transportation, health, education and the agriculture in the region. (2) Providing Technical Assistance to Key Stakeholders: Provided assistance to the Mid Delta Development Association by helping to incorporate national demographic data into its website. Worked with the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) and Entergy MS in gathering information from MS Delta businesses to input into the E-Synchronist national database. Coordinated working meetings with representatives of the Workforce Investment Area Board, the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, the Capps Workforce Center, and Mississippi Delta Community College that were focused on possible economic and workforce development strategies. (3) Producing Specialized Reports on the Region: Researched, Prepared and Designed the Economic Progress Report for data on crop production, employment trends, population changes, and cash receipts for counties in the region. Created marketing flyer/brochures for the MS Delta region by compiling information to exemplify the region's assets, strategic location, and proximity to major cities. Tour of Rural America: A Visit to the Mid South Delta Region: The SRDC co-sponsored and assisted with a regional tour hosted by the Farm Foundation in the Mid South Delta region. The tour provided opportunities for approximately 40 policymakers, representatives of community development organizations, NGO leaders, production agriculture, agribusiness leaders, university faculty, and media to interact with individuals and organizations on the front line of rural economic development. The participants visited rural communities in TN, AR and MS, and observed the work that local people used to address social, economic and environmental/natural resource challenges facing rural areas located in the Delta region.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 07/01/06 to 06/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The Delta Rural Revitalization Initiative continues to make significant progress toward the addressing of issues in its 18 targeted Mississippi counties. Several outputs from this project continue to be enhanced. These include: (1) Information Toolkit: Continual upgrade and expansion of the Delta Data Information Toolkit has resulted in providing local Delta leaders and economic development agencies with timely data on a variety of labor market and socioeconomic-related conditions and trends in the region. This important data resource showcases complex data products, such as location quotients and shift-share analysis, but in a manner that proves very informative and helpful to local community and economic development leaders; (2) Economic Development Outreach Education Programs: Extension educators have worked full-time in the Delta region to introduce and support the economic diversification efforts of the region, including value-added agriculture activities (such as
bio-fuels), entrepreneurship, and business retention and expansion; (3) Economic Development Progress Reports: Several types of economic and social development progress reports have been developed for the region by SRDC faculty and professional staff. These reports have included demographic and economic situation reports, reports on the progress of infrastructure investments in the region such as highway construction, the Delta Council's Economic Progress report for the 18 county region, and various other types of data and information reporting formats as requested by stakeholders; (4) Consolidated Federal Funding Database on the Delta: A database that provides local leaders with insights on the variety of federal funds invested in the Delta region has been completed; and (5) Delta Data Center: The local presence of the MSU-ES Delta Data Center continues to provide local leaders with access to data and educational assistance to support the economic-related information needs of firms
being recruited to the region.
PARTICIPANTS: Key participants in this project include Lionel Beaulieu, Sidney Massey, Marcus Young, and Roberto Gallardo, all of the Southern Rural Development Center. Other participants include Frank Howell and Chip Morgan of the Delta Council and Virgil Culver of Mississippi State University.
TARGET AUDIENCES: The primary target audiences for this project are the key policy makers and economic development entities either residing or working in the 18 county Delta Council region. Other entities which benefit from the work of the project include social and economic development organizations providing programming and technical assistance to the region. These include such entities as the Foundation for the Mid South, Southern Bancorporation, and the National Rural Funders Collaborative.
Impacts
A number of impacts/outcomes have occurred as a result of the project. These include assisting the Industrial Development Department of the Delta Council and local communities in responding to questions from potential or existent companies analyzing possible investments in the region; collaborating with the Mississippi Development Authority regional office in projects involving business retention and expansion, and potential prospects for the region; giving support and assistance to local communities with gathering and analyzing specific economic, social, and demographic data for economic development projects involving existent industries and potential prospects; regional data compiling and analysis for the Mississippi Delta Developers Association (MDDA), a regional economic development organization comprising 20 counties of northwest Mississippi; maintaining a regional and local web portal database including infrastructure maps, population/labor radius maps (using
GIS), location, sites/buildings, tailor made community profiles, and other data related to economic development; providing assistance to the Delta Council Industrial Development Department in organizing site consultants events of key industries with the objective of attracting those industries to the region; preparing PowerPoint presentations given to local community, state, and national leaders in subjects such as water resources, natural resources development, transportation infrastructure, health, education, and the impacts of agriculture in the region. All of these issues are fundamental to the success and future development of the MS Delta. Programmatic impacts of the Delta Revitalization Initiative include the development of a critical bridge between the Delta Council and its local rural members; assistance and support for data gathering and analysis provided to local rural communities that may not have the resources or staff available to gather and interpret the critical data
needed to carry out important economic development activities; an important collaboration between the Delta Data Center has developed with other regional partners (including the Mississippi Delta Developers Association and the Mississippi Development Authority) in support of the expansion of economic development activities in the Delta; the capacity to do regional bio-fuels project analyses in a timely, efficient manner has been established; and the Delta Data Center is the driving force behind the outreach of Delta Council, Mississippi Delta Developers Association, and other groups in the Delta and a key conduit for the outreach education programs of the MS State University Extension Service and the Southern Rural Development Center. As such, it has made positive contributions to the region because it's helped facilitate the successful implementation of regional economic development approaches in the Delta.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 07/01/05 to 07/01/06
Outputs
Several important activities have been completed or are actively continuing as part of this important initiative: (1) Information Toolkit: A major effort was launched to develop and make readily available a comprehensive database that offers data on a variety of items, including current and historical data on population, education, and economic conditions. This important data resource showcases complex data products, such as location quotients and shift-share analysis, but in a manner that proves very informative and helpful to local community and economic development leaders; (2) Regional Labor Market Studies: A regional labor market analysis, as well as county-by-county labor market profiles for 20 Delta counties, are being completed and will provide valuable guidance regarding the workforce development/training needs associated with new jobs that are projected for the Delta over the next 5-10 years; (3) Consolidated Federal Funding Database on the Delta: A database
that provides local leaders with insights on the variety of federal funds invested in the Delta region has been completed; (4) Delta Data Center: The local presence of the MSU-ES Delta Data Center provides local leaders with access to data and educational assistance to support the economic-related information needs of firms being recruited to the region; (5) Economic Development Outreach Education Programs: Extension educators have worked full-time in the Delta region to introduce and support the economic diversification efforts of the region, including value-added agriculture activities (such as bio-fuels), entrepreneurship, and business retention and expansion; and (6) Research on Emerging Delta Region Issues: The SRDC and MSU-ES have teamed up with researchers and practitioners in the Delta region to prepare a new report titled, Working Differently with the Delta. Supported in part with a grant from the National Rural Funders Collaborative, the report outlines the key emerging
policy challenges facing the Delta Region. Seven major themes are outlined as critical to the long-term vitality of the region. These include the changing demography; the shifting economic landscape; education and workforce development enhancements; improving access to 21st century community infrastructure (such as broadband); health care improvements; and expansion of housing in the region.
Impacts
A number of impacts/outcomes are expected to occur as a product of this project: (1) The web-based data toolkit is providing access to economic data useful to local government agencies and decision makers - data that are helping them determine the competitive advantage of Delta counties relative to other counties in the South or nation; (2) county by county labor market studies being conducted in a 20-county area of the Delta will identify the type of workforce needed to respond to future job changes in the area (3) research reports are providing local and state leaders with a straightforward assessment of the major economic, educational, and social challenges facing the region as a result of regional, national and global forces; (4) the Delta Data Center is addressing needs in the region including: creating tailored information for current and potential firms; collaborating with the Mississippi Development Authority in business retention and expansion activities;
compiling data analyses for the Mississippi Delta Developers Association - a regional economic development organization for 20 northwest Mississippi counties; maintaining a web portal database including infrastructure maps, population/labor radius maps, location, sites/buildings, and other requested data; assisting the Delta Council Industrial Development Department in organizing events involving key industries with the objective of attracting those industries to the region; and preparing presentations targeted to leaders on key subjects in the region (such as water resources, natural resources development).
Publications
- Working Differently with the Delta. Timothy Murphy, Lionel J. Beaulieu, Angela Duran and Alan Barefield. National Rural Funders Collaborative and the Southern Rural Development Center. 2005.
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