Sometimes Progress Requires a Leap of Faith
When Bill Crump received similar emails from different organizations in the small Delta community of Greenwood, Mississippi, he thought there should be a more effective way to share information. “We’re all working toward the same goals,“ said Crump about six local organizations which include the Chamber of Commerce, Mainstreet Greenwood, the City of Greenwood, Leflore County, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation (GLCEDF). “Each wants to do its part to grow our area and make it a more attractive, prosperous place for people to live and work. Folks were just stepping on each other in the process.”
Greenwood is the county seat of Leflore County named for Choctaw chief Greenwood Leflore. Home to almost half of the county’s population of about 32,000 people and businesses like Viking Range Corporation, Staplcotn and Milwaukee Tool, Greenwood is an important economic hub in its area. Despite its many assets, Greenwood, like many other towns in the Delta region, is striving to grow its economy and bring more families and jobs to the community.
Mr. Crump, Chairman of the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation and Director of Governmental Affairs for Viking Range Corporation, brought the organizations together to envision a way to increase synergy while reducing duplicative efforts.  “While each partner was working hard in its own area,“ said Angela Curry Executive Director of GLCEDF, “we couldn’t see that we were missing opportunities by not working together. We realized we could all benefit from a unified vision and message.”   
With support from the Foundation for the Mid South, the partners worked together for months and eventually contracted a firm to create a comprehensive county-wide marketing plan.  A key component of the plan, a website was constructed to increase efficiencies—such as including a shared community calendar and a single means of public outreach—and serve as the primary marketing tool to share information and promote amenities and services in the area.
Recently launched, the attractive website www.greenwoodms.com  is easy to maneuver and provides the information infrastructure that can help Greenwood and Leflore County grow. Existing and new residents can easily access city and county services. Families and businesses are courted and shown how and why they should consider moving into the area. Tourists can find places to visit to enjoy local art, cuisine, and retail offerings. 
“It wasn’t easy at first,“ said Curry, “trying to suggest groups abandon their websites and sign on for a joint marketing plan. Of course, for those who did not have a web presence, it was a great opportunity.” Curry continued, “But in the end, the partners came together to create a very special brand and develop tools to promote our community. As a result, partnerships are stronger and the groups are more communicative; we’re continuing to look for new ways to work together.”

Early planning meetings lead to the community-wide celebration event unveiling

the website and marketing plan.