The Mississippi Community ACtion Project (MCAP) is an innovative and comprehensive approach to helping Mississippi communities be more successful. The program allows for 10 communities within the Mississippi Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) region to take advantage of several successful community development programs in a more holistic and comprehensive manner. During the two-year program, communities will identify community development projects, engage in the local decision and planning making process, actively participate in a strategic planning process, and participate in state-wide training programs.

First Impression (FI): A Community Assessment and Improvement Program

The FI program captures the thoughts and observations of visitors on their first visit to a community. These observations are then used to raise issues that the community can evaluate and proritize for in-depth study or immediate action. The results of the FI program will be presented at a community-wide, town hall meeting where citizens will begin a community dialog regarding the future of their community.

Community Strategic Planning

The strategic planning sessions will allow for the communities to determine where they are going over the next year or more and how they are going to get there. The planning processs will include a situational analysis for the communities, visioning sessions to identify goals, prioritization of goals, and the development of strategic action plans. The goal of the planning process is to not only create a road map for communities, but to develop a plan to help initiate lasting change.

YourTown, Mississippi (YTM)

Participating communities will receive scholarships for 6 individuals to attend the state-wide YTM workshop. YTM is a 3-day interactive workshop focused on community development using basic design and planning principles. Planning professionals will facilitate group work sessions where participants will use maps, markers, pens, and tracing paper to redesign and plan a fictitious city called "YourTown." Teams will establish goals for the community; deal with issues such as a proposed bypass and reloaction of a school; map YourTown's assets and challenges; identify tourism opportunities; and other similar exercises that deal with common small town issues.

Selected to Serve (S2S)

Participating communities will also be eligible to send officials to the S2S goal-setting retreats where participants will not only network with peers and receive professional development training, but also work toward developing three specific, measurable, and worthy goals that they want to accomplish in their communities.

Why should you enroll in the MCAP?

• Community citizens will receive community development, planning and design project management training.
• Communities will be introduced to and learn to partner with community development agencies and organizations that offer assistance and grant or loan funding assistance.
• Communities will develop an increased level of self-sufficiency.
• Communities will gain a better understanding of the planning process and will develop the necessary skills needed to move community projects from talk to action.

Who within the community should participate?

Community leaders, local business owners, active organizations, and any citizen who wants to be involved in making a positive change within their community.

What is the goal?

To build the capacity of local leaders so that they will be better prepared to meet the challenges facing our communities and improve the ability of local citizens and community leaders to effectively take positive action and manage sustainable community change.

What is the cost?

The MCAP project is substantially funded by a grant from the ARC. This means that all of these programs and services, which typically cost over $5,000.00, will be provided to participating communities virtually free of charge. Each participating community will be asked to commit $500.00 towards the program. This fee will not only help to offset some of the expenses associated with the program, but also help ensure that the participating community has some investment in the program. This fee includes all community expenses associated with the various programs, including travel. This fee also includes all on-site visits and technical assistance provided by MCAP personnel during the two (2) year program.