Pathways to Progress

A Local Policy Agenda for Mississippi’s Black and Rural Communities

Report Overview

Local governments are the heartbeat of strong communities, playing a vital role in advancing economic mobility, especially in majority-Black and rural areas. Despite persistent barriers—rooted in historical inequities, underinvestment, and systemic policy failures—as well as differing policy priorities at the federal and state levels, municipalities and counties have the power to shape policies that directly impact residents’ daily lives. Through strategic policymaking and community-driven initiatives, local governments can serve as engines of progress, fostering opportunity and equity in Black and rural communities across Mississippi. This policy agenda outlines key priorities to achieve local prosperity.

Fostering Economic Justice

Every Mississippian deserves the opportunity to achieve financial stability and upward mobility

Living Wage Ordinances: Implement local living wage ordinances, using local tax incentives or corporate partnerships to encourage businesses to comply without significant upfront costs.

Job Training and Apprenticeship Programs: Partner with local universities, non-profits, and local businesses to provide job training and placement programs in high-demand industries, using community volunteers or interns to assist with implementation, preparing residents for better employment opportunities.

Universal Basic Income Pilot: Apply for federal or state grants for pilot programs on universal basic income or explore partnerships with philanthropic organizations for funding to provide immediate financial relief and promote economic stability for residents.

Financial Literacy Education: Offer financial literacy workshops by partnering with local non-profits, churches, or sororities and fraternities to help residents better manage their finances, save, and invest in their futures.

Confront Preemption: Advocate against state laws limiting local control over wages, housing, tax, health, and labor protections.

Expanding Affordable Housing and Homeownership

Safe, affordable housing is the foundation of strong communities.

Down Payment Assistance Programs: Partner with local credit unions, local banks, or federal housing assistance programs to create local programs to assist first-time homebuyers with down payments and closing costs.

Rent Stabilization and Tenant Protections: Implement rent control ordinances by leveraging local zoning policies, making it easier for landlords to offer affordable rent while protecting renters. Establish rental assistance programs, legal aid for tenants, and mediation services.

Housing Rehabilitation Grants: Work with local non-profits to administer small grants for home repairs. Additionally, explore state or federal funding specifically designated for housing rehabilitation and maintenance.

Revitalization of Vacant Properties: Offer grants or low-interest loans to homeowners and developers to rehabilitate vacant and abandoned properties into affordable housing units.

Community Land Trusts: Develop community land trusts to keep land ownership within local communities and prevent displacement.

Address homelessness: Secure federal and state funding to address homelessness. Deploy trained outreach teams to connect unhoused individuals with services and explore low-cost housing solutions such as tiny home villages or modular housing.

Strengthening Education

Quality education unlocks potential and empowers communities.

Expanded After-School Programs: Fund and support after-school programs that offer tutoring, enrichment activities, and mentorship to underserved students.

Increased Funding for Public Schools: Advocate for increased local funding for public schools, particularly those in underserved communities, to reduce class sizes and improve resources.

Teacher Training and Retention Incentives: Lobby for state funding or apply for education grants to increase local teacher salaries and create local initiatives that support teacher professional development and offer retention incentives, particularly in high-need schools.

Community Schools Model: Partner with local non-profits, community organizations, and universities to create community schools that serve as hubs for both education and social services. These schools can offer wraparound services like healthcare, meals, and family support, ensuring that students’ basic needs are met so they can succeed academically.

Nonprofit Tutoring Partnerships: Partner with local nonprofits to provide after-school tutoring and mentorship programs. Many organizations have the resources and volunteers to support these initiatives, reducing the burden on public funds while enhancing educational outcomes.

Shared Resources and Staff: For smaller districts or municipalities, collaborate with neighboring districts to share resources, such as specialized teachers (e.g., for art, music, or special education), professional development programs, or educational materials. This allows for cost-effective services that would otherwise be unaffordable for smaller communities.

Vocational and Technical Education Programs: Create vocational training programs that focus on high-demand skills such as welding, healthcare, or technology. Collaborate with community colleges or trade schools to offer these programs at minimal cost, providing students with marketable skills and reducing the need for costly four-year college degrees.

Affordable Pre-K Programs: Strengthen collaborations with the local childcare providers and federal Head Start program to ensure more children have access to early childhood education, reducing long-term educational disparities.

School-Community Resource Centers: Develop school-community resource centers where students can access extra help, supplies, and other educational resources. These centers can be run by local governments in partnership with community organizations, churches, and businesses, minimizing the cost to taxpayers while creating a supportive learning environment.

Job Training and Internship Programs: Collaborate with local businesses to create job training, apprenticeships, and internships for high school students. These programs provide valuable skills, offer students a pathway to employment, and can be cost-effective by leveraging private sector resources.

School Infrastructure Improvements: Apply for grants or partner with local businesses to invest in upgrading aging school facilities, ensuring that students have safe and conducive learning environments.

Promoting Public Health and Wellness

Everyone deserves access to quality healthcare.

Healthy Food Access Programs: Collaborate with local farmers’ markets, co-ops, and food banks to increase access to healthy foods. Use volunteers to organize mobile markets or pop-up food markets in underserved areas. Support the creation of community gardens and local farmers’ markets, and provide incentives for grocery stores to open in food deserts

Expanded Access to Mental Health Services: Partner with local universities, mental health non-profits, and state or federal programs to expand access to mental health services. Utilize volunteers and interns from psychology or social work programs to reduce costs

Community Health Clinics: Apply for state and federal grants to expand health services, especially for low-income residents. Encourage partnerships with local health providers and telehealth services to offer in-kind support for expanding clinic services.

Health Education and Preventative Care Initiatives: Work with churches, local health organizations, universities, or non-profits to offer free health screenings.

Affordable Health Insurance Options: Advocate for local policies to help residents access affordable health insurance, such as Medicaid expansion or state-provided subsidies. Utilize public awareness campaigns to ensure residents are informed about available options.

Reforming Criminal Justice and Public Safety

Justice should be fair and restorative.

Alternatives to Incarceration: Partner with courts, non-profit legal aid organizations, and local community centers to decriminalize minor offenses and offer diversion and rehabilitation programs pre-booking and pre-sentencing, reducing costs compared to traditional incarceration.

Bail Reform: Implement local bail reform policies that allow judges to consider non-monetary options for release, reducing reliance on costly incarceration.

Police Accountability Measures: Establish community oversight boards and community-led violence prevention programs that prioritize intervention and rehabilitation to improve transparency and promote community policing to help improve safety for all and reduce the financial burden on local governments.

Restorative Justice Programs: Collaborate with local universities or legal organizations to establish restorative justice initiatives that offer alternatives to traditional punitive justice at a low cost.

Expungement Assistance: Provide free or low-cost legal assistance to individuals seeking expungement through partnerships with law schools or non-profit legal organizations.

Address the school to prison pipeline: Revoke funding and revise laws about the use of police and criminalization in schools.

Local budget: Avoid unnecessary jail expansion and police budget increases. Any additional resources for policing should be based on a thorough needs assessment, data-driven analysis, and meaningful community engagement.

Investing in Infrastructure

Investing in infrastructure improvements ensures that no community is left behind.

Broadband Expansion: Apply for federal and state grants for broadband expansion. Work with local technology companies and internet providers to reduce installation costs and expand coverage in underserved areas.

Public Transit Improvements: Seek state or federal transportation funding to enhance local public transit. Partner with local businesses to sponsor transit routes or expand services. Prioritize road and public transportation investments to connect rural communities to job centers and services. Seek funding to create bike paths and walking trails for residents.

Road and Bridge Repairs: Apply for federal and state funding for transportation infrastructure like potholes or bridge maintenance. Use a phased approach to repairs based on priority needs and safety concerns, ensuring the most critical projects are addressed first.

Water and Sewer System Upgrades: Seek funding through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or state water improvement programs to fund necessary upgrades. Look into low-interest loans or grants to reduce upfront costs.

Community Centers and Recreation Facilities: Repurpose existing buildings or partner with local organizations to fund new community centers, using volunteer labor to reduce construction costs. Use community volunteers to clean up and upgrade parks and green spaces

Empowering and Engaging Youth

Young people are the key to a thriving Mississippi.

Youth Mentorship Programs: Partner with local schools, universities, and non-profits to establish mentorship programs, recruiting volunteers from the community to serve as mentors

Youth Employment Programs: Collaborate with local businesses to provide internships or job shadowing opportunities for youth. Use state or federal funds designated for workforce development to support these programs.

Recreation and Sports Programs: Utilize local parks and recreation facilities to offer free or low-cost sports and recreation programs. Work with community volunteers to coach and organize events.

Teen Mental Health Services: Develop partnerships with local mental health professionals or non-profits to provide mental health resources tailored to teens, using volunteers or students from local colleges.

Protecting Civil Rights and Democratic Participation

Democracy works best when every voice is heard.

Voter Registration Drives: Collaborate with local non-profits or community organizations to host voter registration drives, using volunteers to increase participation in underrepresented communities.

Accessible Voting Options: Advocate for expanded voting access through early voting, absentee ballots, and more polling locations, while leveraging state or federal funding to support these initiatives.

Public Engagement Forums: Host low-cost community engagement events, like town halls, that allow residents to voice concerns, using public spaces or partnering with local libraries or schools for venue support.

Immigrant Protections: Establish local legal aid clinics to assist with documentation and rights education.

Maximizing Federal and State Resources

Federal and state funding can be a catalyst for local transformation.

Grant Writing Support: Partner with nonprofits or hire a part-time grant writer or collaborate with local universities to identify and apply for state and federal grants. Many universities offer grant-writing services or student internships.

Partnerships with Federal and State Agencies: Create joint programs with federal and state agencies that allow municipalities to access additional resources.

Private and Philanthropic Funding: Partner with private organizations and philanthropic foundations that are willing to invest in community development, education, and health programs.

Federal and State Grants: Local governments can apply for available federal and state grants designated for community development, education, health, infrastructure, and other critical services.

Strengthening Civic Engagement and Local Governance

True change starts locally.

Volunteer Opportunities for Residents: Launch community volunteer programs to involve residents in local governance and development efforts, leveraging volunteer hours for projects that benefit the community.

Participatory Budgeting: Establish participatory budgeting programs to give residents a direct voice in local spending decisions. Use online platforms to make government meetings, decisions, and budgets more accessible to residents, utilizing free or low-cost software to facilitate transparency.

Local Leadership Development: Create leadership training programs in partnership with local colleges or non-profits to develop future community leaders, using minimal funds but maximizing the community’s potential.

Shared Services Across Municipalities: Smaller municipalities can work together to pool resources, share services, and jointly apply for grants. For instance, multiple cities might work together to fund a regional transportation service, or one city may host a workforce development initiative on behalf of several others.

Reallocate Existing Funds: Local governments should look at their existing budgets and consider reallocating funds from underperforming or lower-priority programs to higher-priority initiatives, such as workforce development, education, or public health.

Conclusion

By leveraging partnerships, maximizing federal and state resources, and prioritizing community-led solutions, local governments can overcome financial and structural challenges to build stronger, more resilient communities. Bold, equity-centered policymaking—rooted in local needs and guided by data and public engagement—can transform economic and social outcomes for Black and rural Mississippians. While systemic challenges remain, municipal leadership has the power to drive meaningful change, ensuring that every resident has the opportunity to thrive. This policy agenda serves as a roadmap for action, empowering local governments to create a more just and prosperous future.