Mississippi towns to get help in planning for future funding

Using a $300,000 grant, MSU's John C. Stennis Institute of Government and the Mississippi Municipal Association are preparing the state's small cities and towns for some major changes.

The Stennis Institute and MMA recently began a technical assistance and training project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service division. Called "Building Self Reliance," the project stems, in part, from the federal government's planned transfer of many of its powers and responsibilities to local entities.

"As a result of this transfer, state and local governments increasingly will face larger financial burdens," said institute executive director Marty Wiseman. "The higher goal of this project is to help small Mississippi municipalities become more self-reliant, financially viable and attractive to private-sector investors."

Specifically, the multi-stage project addresses community management of water systems and wastewater treatment operations and infrastructure.

"Unfortunately, many elected officials don't have the resources available to make the types of decisions that will provide their communities with sound infrastructure in the future," Wiseman said.

To address this challenge, the project will culminate with a series of statewide workshops. In addition to mayors, facility operators and engineers, the sessions will include business representatives and local citizens.

"We want to ensure that they are aware of all the options for financing and developing water and wastewater infrastructure," Wiseman said.

Research assistant Samantha J. Steeber said the institute is working initially with 15 communities to develop "model programs." The models "are enabling us to develop an effective set of training materials and provide valuable experiences and feedback to project team members," she added.

"Model sites" include Belzoni, Carthage, Durant, Hollandale, Holly Springs, Kosciusko, Lucedale, Marks, Newton, Port Gibson, Roxie, Saltillo, Sumrall, Waveland, and West Point. Information obtained from the models will be bolstered by a statewide survey.

Though still in the early stages, the project already is generating a significant response. "The MMA has received numerous requests for copies of our documents and related information, and a number of other municipalities have requested to be considered as 'models,'" Steeber said.

Joining her and Wiseman on the project are MSU faculty members Wallace E. Killcreas of agricultural economics, John C. Morris of public administration and Charles A. Sparrow of chemical engineering.

Four graduate students also are involved in the effort.

Steeber said project updates are being published on the Stennis Institute's web page at <www.sig.msstate.edu> and in the MMA's Municipalities magazine.