Mississippi Valley State University

July 20, 2008

MVSU Research

The Office of Research, Planning, Community and Economic Development (RPCED) was established to intensify efforts to:

  1. Improve internal planning, evaluation, and reporting systems so that strategic and tatical decisions, can be made;
  2. Obtain external funds from grants and contracts to assist the University with developing the educational and research infrastructures (human capital and physical resources) needed to function in a highly technologically informational era;
  3. Assist surrounding residents and community leaders achieve at the desired social and economic level;
  4. To develop and preserve the Delta's culture with special emphasis on indigenous music and art. Special attention is given to provide assistance to university faculty and students for the purpose of conducting meaningful research on the social and economic conditions of the Delta.

The Office of RPCED is staffed with a vice president and an administrative assistant. Units reporting to the Vice President for RPCED are:

  • The Delta Research and Cultural Institute,
  • The Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness,
  • The Office of Sponsored Programs, and
  • University Center for Economic Development

The division covers a wide range of areas that are concerned with the research, planning, evaluation, external support and outreach activities of the University. Our mission is to ensure that the University is accurately portrayed, recognized, supported by and integrated with the community at large. We pride ourselves on producing accurate and timely statistical reports establishing creative fund-raising approaches, promulgating the culture of the Delta, and promoting economic development in the Delta.

With respect to economic development, the division initiated three formal Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with the towns of Itta Bena, Mound Bayou and Tchula. The purpose of the MOUs is to close the gap between the University and the surrounding communities by assisting with the economic development and revitalization efforts while providing a service learning opportunity for our students. Specifically, the agreements are to:

  1. Coordinate program delivery services for the purpose of economic development.
  2. Engage the participation of other Federal agencies, State and local government, institutions of higher learning and the private sector in social and economic revitalization.

With the receipt of a grant from the Mississippi Development Authority, the office of RPCED is conducting a telecommunication infrastructure feasibility study in the Delta. It is anticipated that the study will recommend the best practice for providing rural communities with high speed internet access, improved digital telephone services and enhanced multimedia services. Ultimately, a community technology cooperative will be formed whereby revenue will be generated for the small towns as well as the University.

RPCED was awarded a grant from the Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance (MDZEA). The purpose of the grant is to establish a Small Business Training Institute (SBTI) which will help in stimulating economic development within the empowerment zone. The SBTI will target small businesses with an average investment of $50,000 - $75,000 per business and create a minimum of 15 to 25 jobs. Benchmarks set by empowerment zone officials guide this program to ensure that quality, sustainable jobs are created, by assisting small businesses and not-for-profit businesses in locating non-traditional financing. Professional business assistance is available to small firms in a "one stop setting". Workshops on small business start-up, leadership development and business plan preparation are conducted.

RPCED is a recipient of a U.S. Department of Labor funded grant to train facilitators to provide entrepreneurial training. The Fasttrac program which was created by Kansas City based Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, is the largest foundation in the nation solely focused on entrepreneurship. The program is designed to help area entrepreneurs hone the skills they need to create, manage and grow a small business.

Mississippi Valley State University and the Mississippi Technology Alliance, in a consortium with Jackson State and Alcorn State universities introduced Fasttrac to a local market today. The program is dedicated to helping enterpreneurs get technology based products to the market place.

A typical Fasttrac class includes instruction, networking, breakout groups, a guest speaker followed by a question-and-answer session, and exercises for the practical application of the class material. Fasttrac offers programs for existing and aspiring enterpreneurs, as well as entrepreneurship curriculum for college students.

Our division also hosted and/or sponsored several conferences including the Farm Bill Conference, The Mississippi Delta Technology Council, The 1982 Education Reform Act Conference, The Labor Depaertment Conference, the Housing Summit and the Fannie Lou Hamer Conference.