Rural Development
As a predominately rural state, Mississippi has untapped potential for rural development. MSU Extension specialists and agents work with community leaders, business owners, nonprofit organizations, and state agency partners to address the increasing demand for a variety of experiences that can be found only in the country. Whether it’s developing a new business based on a landowner’s available natural resources or capitalizing on an existing agritourism venture, Mississippians have access to a wide variety of subject-matter experts who can help them shine a light on what makes their corner of the state special.
Publications
News
From computer programs that regulate moisture sensors to smartphone apps that allow growers to monitor market data, most facets of agriculture continue their shift to digital platforms. This transition makes reliable internet access no longer a luxury, but a necessity.
Despite Mississippi agriculture’s annual economic impact of around $7 billion, broadband infrastructure is in short supply in the state’s densest agricultural hub: the 19-county Mississippi Delta.
John J. Green is bringing a career immersed in Southern sociology and community development to his new position as director of the Southern Rural Development Center headquartered at Mississippi State University.
You may have heard 2020 is the year for the federal census. When you participate, you help Mississippi get a more accurate representation for all kinds of programs that impact daily living.
Broadband internet access provides development opportunities for rural areas.
The annual Alabama-Mississippi-Tennessee Rural Tourism Conference will be in Natchez Oct. 21-23.
Success Stories
Extension food pantry serves rural community
On Tuesdays and Thursdays before lunch, Robert Jamison is usually exercising with people who have been his neighbors in Lambert for 30 years. The Quitman County Veterans Service Officer also volunteers for a food pantry there that serves about 800 local families every other month. The county does not have a grocery store, but the pantry, since it opened in 2014, has helped people in need.
Lower Delta Partnership teams with Extension to attract more visitors
When the Lower Delta Partnership coordinator sat down with the Mississippi State University Extension Service county coordinator, the two were meeting for more than just an everyday business lunch.
Before Ann Tackett helped establish a farmers market and renovate the old railroad depot building in her town, she just wanted to start a cannery.
Jackson Precast Inc. is Mississippi’s only company that specializes in producing architectural precast, DeVoss explains. When the business competes for jobs, out-of-state manufacturers are its main competitors
As a young child, Emily Davis was the victim of a horrific crime, but, with the support of her family and the pediatrician who documented the evidence, Davis became a survivor.
