WINONA – Members of North Central Planning and Development District’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy committee met on July 20 in Winona to conduct an analysis on regional strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.
North Central Planning and Development District (NCPDD) is designated as an Economic Development District (EDD) through the Economic Development Administration (EDA), which means NCPDD is responsible for developing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), according to NCPDD Planner Chris Pope.
The strategy is submitted for approval every five years, he said.
Applicants in NCPDD’s seven-county region are eligible to receive EDA grants, if the CEDS is approved by the EDA.
“The CEDS is designed to coordinate public and private sector planning and investments, with the goal of diversifying and strengthening a regional economy,” said Pope.
NCPDD represents seven counties, including Montgomery, Carroll, Grenada, Yalobusha, Leflore, Holmes and Attala, and the CEDS committee consists of two members from each county representing the public, private and nonprofit sectors, according to Pope.
During the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis, members provided responses for each category.
“Outdoor recreational opportunities, civic groups, and access to workforce training were cited as strengths. Aging roadway infrastructure, lack of zoning, and outmigration were cited as weaknesses,” said Pope. “An aging population, youth, and a rich cultural heritage were cited as opportunities. Natural disasters, perceptions of rural Mississippi, and drugs were cited as threats.”
The results of the SWOT analysis are being used to develop regional service priorities for the area, according to Pope.
