City and County Government
The Center for Government and Community Development (GCD) is a unit of the Mississippi State University Extension Service, which is located within the Division of Agriculture, Forestry, and Veterinary Medicine at Mississippi State University.
The center’s staff design and deliver educational programs, training activities, information, and technical assistance in response to the high priority economic and community development needs of Mississippi communities and their citizens. Participants in GCD programs include local government leaders, community-based organizations, state and local agencies, and business enterprises.
The activities of the center help the university build strong partnerships with agencies, institutions, organizations, and foundations that have a shared commitment to strengthening the well-being of Mississippi communities and the work of local government officials.
The GCD mission also includes providing community leaders, organizations, agencies, businesses, and citizens with high quality, science-based information on economic and community development topics. This is accomplished through a variety of communications channels, including newsletters, websites, trade magazines, and special reports.
See The Center for Government and Community Development website for more information.
Publications
News
Volunteers, employees and board members of the tourism sector or related organizations can get training and build networks with other tourism professionals in the Excellence in Tourism Leadership Program.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippians voting in person on Election Day will notice extra precautions in place to ensure the safety of polling locations.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Mississippians looking to learn more about county government have a free, up-to-date resource at their fingertips.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service has released the sixth edition of its publication “County Government in Mississippi.”
A collaborative effort between the MSU Extension Center for Government and Community Development and the Mississippi Association of Supervisors, the book is available at https://gcd.extension.msstate.edu/.
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Once every decade, Mississippians have the chance to make a difference at the local, state and national levels.
Participating in the U.S. Census has a large impact on daily life. Being underrepresented as a state leads to reduced representation in Congress and less federal funding for education, infrastructure, emergency response and wellness programs. In short, there are long-term negative effects of not participating in the census.
Success Stories
New municipal clerk uses Extension training to earn promotion
From municipal elections to public-records requests, all official records for the city of Jackson are the responsibility of Angela Harris.
Small town builds big online presence
The Woodville Board of Aldermen was ready. It was 2014, and the officials concluded that the city needed a website to offer residents and tourists up-to-date information about city services, community events, and tourist attractions. City Clerk Cathy McCurley was appointed to create and maintain the new website for the southwest Mississippi town. The only problem? She knew nothing about building websites.
Extension helps Mississippi town balance its budget
Local governments and water associations often face the balancing act of meeting the infrastructure needs of the residents they serve and keeping costs for those services affordable.
Extension Center For Government and Community Development trains local government officials
When Myra Murrell Davis graduated from East Central Community College in 1979, she did not have a clear career path in mind.
Hernando's City Clerk relies on MSU Extension
Hernando is the fastest-growing town in DeSoto County, but City Clerk Katie Harbin is part of a team at City Hall dedicated to maintaining Hernando’s small-town appeal.
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