On May 24, 2022, Water Finance Exchange (WFX), Communities Unlimited, and Global Water Challenge hosted, Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities in Mississippi, a workshop in Flowood bringing together Mississippi State agencies, NGOs, communities, and national organizations. This convening focused on the challenges in funding water infrastructure for smaller and underserved communities in Mississippi with the objective of identifying pathways toward implementing scalable and sustainable solutions.
Speakers included leaders from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, Mississippi State Department of Health, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Environmental Policy Innovation Center, Promise, Mississippi Development Authority, Mississippi Department of Human Services, EJ Water Cooperative, Mississippi Association of Planning and Development Districts, Foundation for the Mid-South, and Quantified Ventures.
WFX Co-Founder Bren Fewell, Global Water Challenge CEO Monica Ellis, and Communities Unlimited Director of Environmental Services Thomas Ricks provided opening remarks. Dr. Ivye Allen, President of the Foundation for the Mid-South, provided the keynote presentation on rural revitalization.
The workshop brought together more than 50 leaders from Mississippi State agencies, nonprofits, and communities along with federal government and national organizations.
WFX’s workshop convenings build strong relationships with state agencies, water sector leaders, and communities, as well as establish a pipeline of communities in need. WFX believes the Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Opportunities in Mississippi workshop will continue to catalyze collaboration and action in Mississippi.
To find out more about learnings and recommendations from the conference, as well as a call to action for a collaborative path forward read our post-meeting report here.