MS, TN, AR counties' econ agency

Seven counties in north Mississippi, west Tennessee, and eastern Arkansas are forming a regional compact called the TriState Compact Agency (TSCA). It’s designed to seek federal funds for beneficial economic development projects for the region. "What this does is help us achieve funding as a unit that benefits all of us," Southaven (Miss.) Mayor Darren Musselwhite told the Commercial Appeal at a Feb 18 luncheon to unveil the broader effort. "(W)e've got to get past looking at our individual jurisdictions and realize there's a bigger picture out there.” In addition to DeSoto County, Miss., the other six counties are Shelby, Fayette and Tipton in Tennessee and Crittenden, Miss., and Craighead, Ark. The TSCA has been proposed by the Mid-South Mayor's Council, which consists of 15 mayors from the 3-state Mid-South region. RegionSmart, the organization that oversees the Mid-South Mayor's Conference, hosted the fundraising luncheon that attracted about 150 people. RegionSmart the organization overseeing the conference, hosted the fundraising luncheon for about 150 people. In November, Musselwhite said of the TriState agency, it’s a way to finance large projects that may be too large for one city or county, but collaborative efforts may be the way to accomplish things “you couldn't do on your own."  The No. 1 project in Musselwhite’s eyes is the widening of I-55. In asked state legislators for $368M in infrastructure monies “with a straight face.” He’s just hoping for a piece of the billions-of-dollar-federal dollars to fully fund the project. Just “hoping to get a piece of it anyway.” U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) met with the mayor last summer. He says Hyde-Smith that having other states working with Mississippi could help secure all the funding needed to widen I-55. In Memphis and Arkansas, officials say there’s interest in using TriState to secure funding to build a third bridge across the Mississippi River. In order for the agency to be officially granted powers, it must go through all three legislative branches in all three states before being signed into law by all state governors. Congress must then give consent for its existence and the President must sign off on it. In Mississippi, it’s passed the Senate and will be going to the House workforce development committee before March 1. In Tennessee, it has cleared the House utility and business subcommittee and set to go to the full commerce committee in weeks. In the Senate, it is set to go through the state and local business committee. (Source: Commercial Appeal 02/18/22) TriState Compact Agency to find transportation funding for Mid-South (commercialappeal.com)