A “Compact” is an agreement between two or more parties that binds them together for a common purpose.

The Mississippi Delta Strategic Compact (MDSC) is a not-for-profit organization committed to working with other organizations toward a common purpose: to improve the quality of life for all Delta citizens. MDSC was formed in 2010 to carry out a mandate from the Mississippi Legislature to begin a region-wide process to revitalize the Mississippi Delta. The organization represents a direct response to the challenge issued in the 2009 action plan entitled, “A Time of Reckoning: Testing the Will for change in the Mississippi Delta.”

The MDSC is comprised of a 36 member board with representation from each of the eighteen counties of the region. Eleven (11) members serve on the executive committee; eighteen (18) represent each of the counties; and seven (7) are at-large.

Counties of the region are : Bolivar, Carroll, Claiborne, Coahoma, Holmes, Humphreys, Issaquena, Jefferson, Leflore, Panola, Quitman, Sharkey, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tunica, Warren, Washington and Yazoo.

Membership and Selection . Board members are selected based on recommendations from county Boards of Supervisors.

Work originated from a study mandated by the State legislature. Due to losses in population , jobs, and investments, the Mississippi Legislature mandated a process to develop ways to revitalize the Delta. The Special Taskforce for the Revitalization of the Delta—the forerunner of the MDSC– issued its plan of action that set the stage for the Compact to begin operations.

Focus. The MDSC focuses primarily on policy changes at state and local levels that will favorably impact development efforts in the Delta.

Embracing Diversity. The leaders of the MDSC have embraced diversity, a necessity to benefit all citizens of the Delta. Embracing diversity will lend itself to opportunities to expand business ownership and create new kinds of businesses.

Identification of “partners” including: Delta Regional Authority, Mississippi Center for Education Innovation, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Development Office, Cooperative Extension Service at Mississippi State University, and the Mississippi State Board of Health

First Annual Conference on the Future of the Mississippi Delta (October 2011)
Presentation of the “Delta Best” Awards and “Chairman’s Award” for extraordinary contributions, achievements, and impact within the region.

Development and distribution of the State of the Region Report: A Statistical analysis of the Mississippi Delta.

Distribution of the 2011 edition of DELTA NEXT! magazine to over 22,000 middle school and ninth grade students in the 18 county area. DELTA NEXT! encourages students to stay in school until they graduate, and complete the next steps to build a successful and fulfilling life.

MISSION: The mission of the Mississippi Delta Strategic Compact is to galvanize regional unity, teamwork, and collaboration on issues that will improve the quality of life for all Delta citizens.

VISION: “To be an organization that has a positive, recognizable, long-term impact of the Mississippi Delta by aspiring to achieve a new set of ideas and developing a new culture of accomplishment”