Reviving the Mississippi Delta

A new proposal calls for improving the Mississippi Delta, one of the most impoverished regions in America.

A legislative task force is calling for greater accountability from state, local and federal agencies operating in the Mississippi Delta Region. MPB;s Lawayne Childrey reports.

Over the past 40 years government and private philanthropy has invested heavily in the Mississippi Delta with little documented effect. Colin Austin, a researcher with the MDC group out of North Carolina recently conducted a study that says even with all of the support in the Delta, the region is still characterized by the same issues that existed 40 years ago.
“As far as educational attainment, racial disparity , issues of health conditions of quality of life.”

The study was commissioned by the legislative task force for revitalization of the delta. With the information they hope to improve education, reduce poverty and remove health disparities in the region. Washington County Representative, John Hines hope they can achieve their goal by using resources that already exist. And by holding federal, state and local agencies accountable.

“For instance if you went to a home and there were three children, one in high school, one in middle school and elementary, but you provide a service for them. What was the outcome? Did that young child along with the two others graduate? In the past people have gotten paid and hadn’t produced any outcome.”

Census figures indicate that the population in the Delta is steadily declining. That's why revitalization, is so important for task force member and former state representative Robert Clark.

“well why that population leave is ‘cause there nothing for them to do there. And this is what we are working on the condition, for industry to want to come there.”

Task force members are now calling on colleges, businesses, and other agencies to help them in their revitalization efforts. For MPB news, I'm Lawayne Childrey.