A Mississippi Development Authority program for Leflore County elected officials has been postponed so that those invited can adjust their schedules.
The Communities Elected Official Program was set to begin Thursday at the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce, but minimal response from leaders forced the change in plans. No date has been set.
Out of more than 60 leaders invited, only 14 signed up, said Clyde Manning, president of the chamber, which is sponsoring the program along with the Leflore County Economic Development Foundation. "We felt that the elected officials most involved in community development needed to be there because the interaction and sharing of ideas are critical to the process," Manning said.
The sessions need about 25 people to be effective, he said.
The program is designed to establish cohesive community development strategies by giving elected officials a chance to talk openly and discuss different ideas. It includes an orientation, a day-long retreat and four monthly sessions covering everything from workforce development to infrastructure to the importance and challenges of health care, housing opportunities and crime.
Other Delta counties, including Holmes and Grenada, have participated in the program and call it a success.
"I've participated in this kind of conference many times before," Manning said. "It's always good to look at new ideas or at least recast ideas that we can look at from different angles."
