Transportation Bill

Planning district: $7.1 million brought to county in three years

A three-year review of federal and state dollars funneled through Northeast Mississippi Planning and Development District shows the non-profit brought over $7 million to Marshall County, according to Sharon Gardner with the Booneville office.

She presented the figures at the July 11 board of supervisors meeting.

For every dollar the county paid out ($15,000 per year), state and federal dollars brought $122 in return, she said.
Some sectors that benefit from agency grants are small business, home childcare providers, Medicaid recipients, the economic development sector and schools.

In those areas Gardner reported the following summary of three years’ allocations to projects:
• $1.8 million in revolving small business loans to individuals in Marshall County with a total active outstanding principal balance of $1.5 million.

• $1.6 million for home childcare providers.

* $1.6 million for Medicaid waivers supporting 100 recipients. “The fiscal year 2005 funding is at $649,000.

• $2.1 million in economic development grants with close to $900,000 of that in loans.

• Computer services and technical assistance to the county.

Gardner said pending applications awaiting action include economic development authority money for Chickasaw Trails Industrial Park, several industries, Potts Camp Town Hall renovation, and Audubon at Strawberry Plains.

NEPDD also supported applications for improvements on Mt. Carmel Road, Marshall County Strategic Planning and the county’s hazards mitigation plan.

- The South Reporter