region

We're trying to rename our 501c3 sister organization. Our name is the MidSouth Development District and we have a sister non-profit currently called Region Smart. We're looking to rename Region Smart to one of the following: MidSouth Collaborative, MidSouth Forward, MAT Connect (Mississippi, Arkansas, and Tennessee Connect - *Willing to change the acronym order*) and want to visually see some logos to make a choice. Our org is creating an eco-system of people, projects, and resources to support the building of stronger, sustainable communities in the MidSouth. From neighborhood-level, small-scale developments to region-spanning innovations, our braintrust of passionate civic leaders and real estate professionals direct and deploy best practices and training to those determined to help our cities compete as a region. It’s how we’re Building on Collaboration. We have a longstanding relationship with the Urban Land Institute and often partners with ULI Memphis on events and programming. We build stronger communities through collaborating in the following ways: •Being a source for ULI Memphis members to continue to flourish in the land use community •Harnessing the power of civic leaders and real estate professionals to develop projects and people •Channeling resources to underserved neighborhoods and potential developers through training, project matching, and idea development. •Connecting markets and projects within the region •Creating a pipeline of people and projects to continue building sustainable communities throughout the MidSouth

This is a quarterly newsletter for a general audience of people in West Tennessee, Eastern Arkansas and North Mississippi (Shelby, Tipton, Fayette, Lauderdale, Crittenden, & Desoto county) who are interested in working together to grow the region's economy. They range from mayors and municipal staff to leaders of nonprofits involved in various community issues to regular folks who just want to make their communities better. We are looking for a newsletter masthead design that is welcoming, approachable and fun, and blends the ideals of the mythical land of Tennarkippi with solid information provided by the MidSouth Development District staff and board. As the artist Dolph Smith says about Tennarkippi: I began years ago to create a mythological region I call Tennarkippi. It is an apolitical partisan community. Upbeat and a bit loony. It is my version of the Mid-South. ... and I can go as far as my imagination can take me. That's what we're hoping this newsletter can do.