CMPDD prepared and submitted a CDBG Economic Development application in the amount of $570,000 to the Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) on behalf of the City of Hazlehurst. Hazlehurst requested financial assistance from MDA to construct sewer system extensions and im- provements to support the relocation of Hardy Wilson Me- morial Hospital to Copiah County. The new location is not developed and has no infrastructure in place. It is anticipated that the city will receive notification of project approval or rejection by the end of April, 2014.
Since the project’s water needs are in the Copiah Water Association certificated area, the Association will construct the water system extensions through an Economic Development Administration grant obtained through CMPDD and Copiah Water Association funds.
Also approved was a $204,000 Delta Regional Authority grant application, which the District assisted in preparing and submitting, and it will be used to provide the matching funds for this CDBG Economic Development proposed sewer system extension project for a total project cost of $774,000. The Hardy Wilson Memorial Hospital has committed to hire 29 new employees and invest $16,000,000 in construction and equipment.
This project serves as an example of CMPDD’s ability to pull together various State and Federal financial resources for the City of Hazlehurst, Copiah County Water Association, and Hardy Wilson Memorial Hospital to construct infrastructure improvements to support construction of a new hospital that will enhance medical services for the residents of Copiah County. The success of this project required the cooperation and coordination of a number of entities working together for the common good. The District congratulates all those involved at the Federal, State and local levels in helping make all the pieces of the project fit together for the purpose of developing a new hospital facility in Copiah County.