‘M Partner’ Aims To Provide Solutions To Issues Facing A Local City

NEW ALBANY, Miss. (WCBI) – A partnership between the University of Mississippi and three cities will have a big impact on one Northeast Mississippi community.

The city of New Albany is part of a pilot program known as “M Partner.”  The university and the city will address local needs in areas such as health care, transportation, education, marketing and tourism and economic development.

Students at the university will be able to take part in the program, working with New Albany to define needs and ways to address them.

Representatives with the city and the university say there are mutual benefits from the initiative.

“This partnership will provide our university with so much insight on how we can really make a difference in using what we do on a day-to-day basis and contributing to knowledge and experience that will make a difference in our world,” said UM Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter.

“I can see us using their journalism department and marketing skills , helping us put the right materials out for the public to see,” said Billye Jean Stroud, director of New Albany Main Street.

New Albany joins Lexington and Charleston as the pilot cities in the two-year M Partner program. Officials are looking for the community’s input for the next phase.