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About MDEZA
The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. is designated a tax exempted organization (501 C 3) by the United States Department of Treasury – Internal Revenue to re-vitalize the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone and the Greater Mississippi Delta region. The Empowerment Zone Community program is designed to afford communities real opportunities for growth and revitalization.
What is the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc (“MDEZA”)?
The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. is a 501 C (3) tax exempted organization designated as the lead entity of the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone. The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone is composed of six (6) counties, (Bolivar, Holmes, Humphreys, Leflore, Sunflower and Washington), sixteen (16) municipalities, five (5) census tracts, and covers approximately just less than 1000 square miles.
The Community Empowerment Program was enacted into law in August 1993 pursuant to Title XX of the Social Services Act, as amended by Part VI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993 (pertinent parts are codified at 42 U.S.C., Section 1387f). The Empowerment Zones/Enterprise Communities program is administered/funded as a Special Social Services Block Grant through the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Round I designated Empowerment Zones and Enterprise Communities program is managed jointly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In January 1994, the opening of competition for Round I designations was announced. To be eligible, communities had to have high rates of poverty.
The Mi-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc.’s application consisted of a comprehensive strategic plans that was developed with the active participation of low-income community residents and community leaders. In December 1994, three rural Empowerment Zones (EZ) and 30 rural Enterprise Communities (EC) were named. Urban EZs and ECs were named at the same time. As one of the rural Ezs, the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. received a grant of $40 million administered by the Department of Health and Human Services.
The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. is designed to afford communities real opportunities for growth and revitalization through community development, economic development, housing development and social development initiatives. The framework of the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. is embodied in four key principles:
Economic Opportunity
The first priority in revitalizing distressed communities is to create economic opportunities- jobs and work- for all residents. The creation of jobs, both within the community and throughout the region, provides the foundation on which residents become economically self-sufficient and communities can revitalize themselves. Opportunities for entrepreneurial initiatives, small business expansion, and training for jobs that offer upward mobility are other key elements for providing economic opportunity and direction.
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Sustainable Community Development
The creation of jobs is the first critical step toward the creation of a livable and vibrant community where human initiative, work, and stable families can flourish. However, economic development can only be successful when part of a coordinated and comprehensive strategy that includes physical development as well as human development. A community where streets are safe to walk, the air and water are clean, housing is secure, and human services are accessible, and where a vital civic spirit is nurtured by innovative design, is a community that can be a source of strength and hope to its residents. A community where learning is a commitment for life can foster the skills, habits of mind, and attitudes that will make work rewarding and families nurturing.
The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. seeks to empower its communities by supporting local plans that coordinate economic, physical, environmental, community, and human development.
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Community-Based Partnerships
The road to economic opportunity and community development starts with broad participation by all segments of the community. The residents themselves, however, are the most important elements of revitalization. Others may include the political and governmental leadership, community groups, health and social service groups, environmental groups, religious organizations, the private and nonprofit sectors, centers of learning, and other community institutions.
Communities cannot succeed with public resources alone. Private and nonprofit support and involvements are critical to the success of a community seeking revitalization. Partners also must be created within and among the levels of government. Government departments and agencies on all levels must work together to ensure that relevant programs and resources can be used in a coordinated, flexible, and timely fashion to help implement the community's strategic plan and that regulatory and other barriers to sustainable growth are removed. Through the Empowerment Zone and Enterprise Community process, the Federal government offers a compact with communities and State and local governments: if you plan comprehensively and strategically for real change, if the community designs and drives the course, we, the Federal government, will waive burdensome regulations whenever possible, and work with you to make our programs responsive to your plan.
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Strategic Vision for Change
A bold and innovative vision for change describes what the community wants to become -- for example, the community may envision itself as a center for emerging technologies with links to a nearby university or community college; a key export center for certain farm products, customized manufacturing goods, or health and other human services; or a vibrant residential area focused around an active local school, with access to jobs, retail markets, recreation, and entertainment.
The vision for change is a comprehensive strategic map for revitalization. It is a means to analyze the full local context and the linkages to the larger region. It builds on the community's assets and coordinates its response to its needs -- such as public safety, human and social services, and environmental protection. It integrates economic, physical, environmental, community, and human development in a comprehensive and coordinated fashion so that families and communities can work together and thrive. A strategic plan also sets real goals and performance benchmarks for measuring progress and establishes a framework for assessing how new experience and knowledge can be incorporated on an on-going basis into a successful plan for revitalization.
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Who is the governing authority of the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc?
The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. is governed by a thirty-fve (35) member Board of Commissioners. The Commissioners serve a term of three (3) years each.
The Commissioners are elected or appointed in accordance with the Federal rules and regulations governing empowerment zones (7 CFR Part 25). The Commissioners are elected or appointed in the following manner……….
Elected Positions:
- Five (5) Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone resident representatives by census tract
- ix (6) Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone resident representatives by county
Appointed Positions
- Six (6) Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone elected officials by county
- Three (3) Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone elected officials by municipality
- Thirteen (13) Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone representatives by organizations
- Two (2) Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone representatives by the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc.
What is the geographical boundary of the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone?
The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone consists of three (3) noncontiguous geographical units that are primarily situated in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. This area is generally referred to as the Yazoo-Mississippi River flood pain, and is well known for its rich, fertile and productive soil.
The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone consists of eight (8) census tracts (Bolivar County-9502, Bolivar County-9503, Holmes County-9501, Humphreys County-9501, Leflore County-9503, Sunflower County-9503, Washington County-01 and Washington County-02) across six (6) counties.
A total of 16 municipalities Beulah, Durant, Greenville, Gunnison, Indianola, Isola, Itta Bena, Merigold, Metcalfe, Morgan City, Mound Bayou, Pace, Rosedale, Sunflower, West and Winstonville) are located in the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone.
Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. is a designed Community Housing Development Organization by the Mississippi Development Authority.
Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance, Inc. is a designated Community Housing Development Organization by the Mississippi Development Authority. A Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) (pronounced cho'doe) is a private nonprofit, community-based service organization whose primary purpose is to provide and develop affordable housing for the community it serves.
MDEZA is an eligible entity to apply for HOME funds set-aside just for CHDOs, as well as additional special technical assistance. CHDO set-aside funds provide equity for community-based organizations to undertake projects, build their capacity to serve a broad range of affordable housing needs and provide guaranteed resources for affordable housing development.
MDEZA, as a state-certified CHDO ,is eligible to apply for CHDO OPERATING ASSISTANCE FUNDS. These funds provide operating support to secure the technical assistance and training necessary for CHDOs to succeed as well as to provide general operating support during the development of affordable housing projects. This funding support program is intended to assist organizations that can demonstrate a need for operating support.
View our maps here.
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TESTIMONIALS:
 “With help from MDEZA we have purchased a police car and police equipment, such as an NCIC computer and a radio system. We’ve also bought a new fire truck and fire equipment. We’re in the process of rebuilding our water system to get rid of that famous brown Delta water. One of our next steps will be to begin economic development. MDEZA will be a key player on that as well. They help in so many ways.”
Mayor Kennedy V. Johnson,
Mound Bayou
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