Page 151 - Grenada County, MS Build Better Together 2040 Plan

Grenada County Build Better Together 2040 Plan

6. Support a “community of learning” in coordination with education and workforce development partners, in
which quality primary and secondary education, vocational and higher education, lifelong continuing
education and other educational resources are valued and accessible to Grenada County residents. [Tie with
15 votes]
7. Conduct special area planning for the vicinity of the new north side sports complex, to promote master-
planned and coordinated development outcomes around this new public asset that would be attractive to
residents, I-55 travelers, sports tournament attendees, etc. (e.g., hotels, restaurants, other shopping and
services, etc.). [12 votes]
8. Create a workforce housing task force and partner with local employers, banks and others to determine how
best to entice more workers to choose Grenada County as their home in addition to their place of
employment. [Tie with 11 votes]
9. Enhance the appearance of more gateways and high-profile roadway corridors within Grenada County and
City, using these opportunities to establish “first impressions,” promote Grenada’s image and communicate
community values. [Tie with 11 votes]
10. Continue efforts to direct reinvestment, redevelopment and infill activity into targeted areas of Grenada at
risk of losing their vitality, value and appeal. [10 votes]
11. Identify high-priority trail projects to implement for pedestrian and bicyclist use, including potential
connections between Downtown and Grenada Lake, Lee Tartt Nature Preserve, the new north side sports
complex, and local parks and school campuses. [9 votes]
12. Broaden recruiting for the Grenada Area Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Grenada Program, working
through local community organizations and networks, with a particular focus on recruiting young adult
business and community leaders to participate in and promote the program. [4 votes]
13. As part of the “Vision Zero” movement, focus on enhancing safety through measures that help to limit
serious collisions, injuries and fatalities on area roadways. [2 votes]
14. Ensure that pedestrian and bicycle circulation needs are considered in all area roadway designs, including
for new roads, widening or upgrades to existing roads, street and roadway surfacing projects, and traffic
signal installation. [1 vote]

The ranking results show that, in the face of Grenada County’s projected growth, participants assigned the
highest urgency to core infrastructure and public service items (water, police/fire, education facilities, and
roads). Increased housing supply was next in the ranking, followed by a cluster of items involving economic
development (education and workforce training, potential complementary development around the new sports
complex, and workforce housing). The next two mid-level items involve directing more attention and resources
to the area’s image and appearance, and to upgrading its older neighborhoods and commercial areas. The
action item involving potential trail development ranked lower amid competing priorities, as did leadership
development efforts. This is not to say the actions are unimportant, just perhaps not as urgent. Finally, the two
action items involving transportation safety, on roadways and for pedestrians and cyclists, received only a few
votes. While these items may not be seen as crucial now, they remain on the Action Agenda based on
experience in other communities that entered into and had to navigate a period of unusually rapid growth.

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