- The Enterprise & Community
Resource Development (E & CRD) program area within the Mississippi
State University Extension Service consists of three units-Community
Resource Development(CRD), the Center for Governmental Technology(CGT)
and the Food & Fiber Center(FFC). The following includes examples
from the MSU-ES E&CRD program area, but does not include any of
the significant state impacts of the Southern Rural Development Center,
also located at Mississippi State University.
- Through a partnership developed
by the Mississippi Association of Business Cooperatives, Alcorn State
University, Mississippi Department of Ag and Commerce, and Mississippi
State University Extension Service, the state of Mississippi has received
over $750,000 to establish the Mississippi Center for Cooperative Business
Development. The MCCBD is in its fourth year of operation and is working
closely with the development, maintenance, and growth of agribusiness
cooperatives in the state.
- Through a $107,938 grant
from the Appalachian Regional Commission a series of workshops was developed
and conducted for existing and new business start-ups. The "Electric
Retailing: Selling on the Internet" conference was one component of
the grant with over one-third of those attending from ARC counties.
The second component was the "Entrepreneurship 101" course consisting
of a series of workshops implemented in the fall of 2000 with 61 business
owners attending. Sessions were presented on: Basic Business Start-Up,
Marketing Products & Services, Small Business Record-keeping &
Taxes, and Writing a Business Plan. The third component was a specialized
e-commerce training course for small businesses, "E-Biz" , which consisted
of four hands-on workshops covering topics such as, Small Business E-Commerce
Overview and Web Site Analysis and two workshops on Web Store Development
and Site Marketing. The course had of 72 participants.
- A lumber company was organized
in 2000 when several businessmen purchased assets from the Louisiana
Pacific Corporation. The mill manufactures dimension lumber from pine
which grows abundantly in the region.. Following a period of significant
losses, the mill closed, leaving 85 people unemployed. The FFC worked
with the owners to put together a Pro Forma Financial Projections report,
which specified a financial plan for the re-opening and continued operation
of the mill. The mill has re-opened and all 85 previous employees have
been re-employed.
- The CGT assists local government
officials, local units of government, associations of local government
officials and state agencies in their efforts to improve governance
at the grassroots and delivery of services to the citizens of Mississippi.
During 2000, 7,218 county and municipal officials received training
on the duties and responsibilities of their offices through 46 specialized
educational programs presented in 69 different locations. Some 230 individuals
have received intensive training in principles of leadership, communications,
community development, and state and local government through CGT leadership
programs. Twelve municipal clerks or deputy clerks were certified in
their position, 61 county and state tax assessment/appraisal personnel
were certified in their position, 389 county supervisors received training
as part of the legislatively-mandated Professional Education Program
for Supervisors. 173 newly-elected supervisors received information
and training on the duties and responsibilities of their position; 76
county board attorneys received up to 12 hours of continuing legal education
credit in local government. 240 county purchase, receiving, or inventory
control clerks received legislatively-mandated certification.
- The MSU-ES Community Resource
Development Unit is in the third year of a contract with the Division
of Water Supply, Mississippi State Department of Health to develop,
train, coordinate, and oversee the management training mandated by the
State Legislature for Board members of all 1200 rural water systems.
This is an educational effort designed to improve the management skills
of volunteer board members to insure a safe water supply for rural community
residents and to support economic development. During 2000, thirty-five
(35) workshops were held in 30 counties that trained 500 board members.
Successful development and implementation required collaboration with
the following groups and organizations: National Rural Water Association,
Community Resource Groups, Inc., Mississippi Rural Water Association,
and Mississippi Water and Pollution Control Operators' Association.
A standardized curriculum and manual were developed for statewide training
and distribution.
- In addition to other assistance,
the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program offers grants to States to help
implement a Critical Access Hospital program in the context of broader
initiatives to strengthen the rural health care infrastructure. MSU-ES
has obtained a grant from the Office of Rural Health, Mississippi State
Department of Health to assist communities with qualifying hospitals
with comprehensive health care planning. We begin with an estimate of
the economic importance of the health care sector in the county, provide
a community health profile, and assist with feasibility studies of offering
selected medical services locally when requested. Five pilot counties
will have complete economic estimates by the end of August, and comprehensive
health care planning is in various stages in each county. This project
will continue for at least two more years. Over 100 hospital administrators,
board members, and community residents attended an educational workshop
about the importance of the health sector in the local economy.
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