Northeast Madison County Economic Development Project
In search of ideas to spur economic development in northern Madison County, the Madison County Economic Development Authority (MCEDA), led by Executive Director Tim Coursey and Board Chairman Barbara Gray, sponsored a bus tour of the Tellico Reservoir area for community leaders from northern Madison County. The tour of the Tellico Reservoir, which is located in a largely rural area south of Knoxville, TN, took place on November 15 and 16th. The thirty member Madison County delegation included elected officials, government representatives, farmers, educators, as well as many other civic and community leaders from the northern portion of the County. The group, which also included State Senator Joseph Thomas and State Representative Ferr Smith, dedicated the two days to exploring potential economic development ideas for northern Madison County.
The tour was organized and hosted by the Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute to allow participants to see first-hand how a large water impoundment project could become a rural economic development hub and accelerator. According to Jeff Ballweber, Associate Director of Mississippi Water Resources Research Institute, "Tellico Reservoir is a good example of mixed land use economic development, with a combination of residential and light industrial land use and associated quality of life amenities." Jeff Ballweber and his team at Mississippi State have experience with economic development projects, particularly those related to lakes, and Jeff says they look forward to helping residents and stakeholders develop a vision of what northern Madison County should look like in twenty years.
Several of the participants were particularly interested in how enhanced economic development opportunities in northern Madison County might benefit local schools. The area's educational system was well represented by Dwight Luckett, Assistant Superintendent for Canton Public Schools, Dr. Paula Griffin, Assistant Superintendent for Madison County Public Schools, Shirley Simmons, Madison County School Board Representative, and others. "The group had a great time," said Madison County District 5 Supervisor Paul Griffin. "This is the first step of many more steps to get a better quality of life in northern Madison County."
On the trip, the group toured a child care facility, hotel, and multi-purpose convention center, located directly in the industrial park for the added convenience of park employees. Other amenities in the industrial area included a fire station, a dental clinic, a medical facility, and a bank. Also notable was the fact that several well-known boat manufacturers were originally attracted to the area specifically because of the Lake. On the second and final day of the tour, the group visited a public park and recreation area, residential developments, and a cultural museum and amphitheater highlighting the area's Cherokee Indian heritage. The tour allowed community leaders to determine likes and dislikes regarding economic development opportunities which may be possible for northern Madison County's future. MCEDA's Tim Coursey said, "We think the trip gave everyone a good sampling of the types of economic development opportunities, when combined with good planning, education, and community involvement, that can become a reality in remote rural areas. In this respect, we think the trip was very successful and sets the stage for more input." Although no dates have been set at this time, future community meetings will be held to discuss economic development possibilities for northern Madison County, and these meetings will be open to the public.
Report:
Mississippi State University (MSU) has been leading civic engagement activities in northern Madison County. Specifically, a tour of the Tellico Reservoir near Knoxville, Tennessee successfully initiated community outreach activities, with 31 participants touring the Tellico Reservoir November 15-16, 2005. The tour showed participants from northern Madison County first-hand how a successful lake project can be an economic development accelerator and a hub for various public, nonprofit and private economic and quality of life enhancements. We have continued to emphasize to the citizens of northern Madison County that this project is not a lake project but rather an economic development project with a lake as one possibility.
At the conclusion of the Tellico Trip, we told participants that we would meet and discuss the project with any interested group in northern Madison County. It is important to note that we are guests at these meetings, which provide informal opportunities to discuss the project with interested parties. The Velma Jackson Alumni Association invited us to speak in Camden, Mississippi on December 9, 2005. The Cameron Community Club extended the second invitation, and we spoke to them on January 18, 2006. At both meetings, we recorded comments made by the audience, especially their responses to the question "What is your vision for northern Madison County's future?" Many positive comments were received from the Velma Jackson Alumni Association, and several negative comments were received from the Cameron Community Club. We gave a project update to the MCEDA Board of Directors on January 19, 2006. We also led a follow-up meeting on January 31, 2006 with the Tellico tour participants to make sure that we had accurately captured in writing their thoughts about the trip.
We are now working with MCEDA to organize formal, public meetings to finalize a consensus to translate into a Statement of Purpose and Need. At MCEDA's suggestion, we have contacted Ms. Lurlene Irvin, Director of Jackson State University's Center for Business Development and Economic Research and have invited her to participate in future public meetings. Finally, depending on the consensus established in northern Madison County, the project team will develop a realistic but aggressive ten-year work plan and budget to translate the community's vision into a viable "project." We believe that the current project will provide MCEDA and other stakeholders with a consensus vision for where northern Madison County can and should go in the next twenty years.
Based on our response to date, we recommend the following to maintain momentum and avoid a lapse in the project:
- Seeking additional funding from Mississippi’s Congressional Delegation to continue and expand this effort. The MCEDA Board accepted our recommendation and voted to ask the Madison County Board of Supervisors to seek funding from Mississippi’s Congressional Delegation.
- The MCEDA Board should establish a Northern Madison County Economic Development Committee to continue momentum and improve communication between the MCEDA Board of Directors, the northern Madison County communities, and the Madison County Board of Supervisors.
- We also recommend discussing and reaching an agreement on the most appropriate process to draft, evaluate and finalize the Statement of Purpose and Need. This will solidify and document the vision for northern Madison County’s economic development. Then, we can evaluate the economic feasibility of the Statement of Purpose and Need.
