In the News

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of Philadelphia will consider pay raises for city employees, the mayor, and aldermen as part of the 2027 budget. New Albany, Kosciusko, and Amory, which have similar populations to Philadelphia, were among the cities used for comparison, according to the 2025 Stennis Institute at Mississippi State University salary report, Fulton said.

Launched in 2016 and administered by MDA in partnership with the Stennis Institute at Mississippi State University, Aspire Mississippi brings economic development organizations and local governments together in a structured process designed to align local efforts with the state’s economic development objectives. Participating teams receive technical assistance from MDA and Stennis Institute staff, attend a statewide symposium and customized local educational sessions, and work through the program toward identifying and advancing a sustainable project of their own choosing.

Hosted at Soulé Steam Museum, the event provided an opportunity for networking, as well as a presentation by Stennis Institute Project Director Chance McDavid. McDavid, who also serves as president of the Mississippi Main Street board, has a wealth of knowledge about community development, strategic planning, civic engagement and more.