Built on the Belief that we are Better Together

Our Mission is to convene partners, advocate for best practices, & secure resources to Activate Regional Initiatives to improve the quality of life for citizens in our district. Our members are the six counties and 39 municipalities that make up the Memphis Metro Area.

Established in 1968 by the federal EDA, MidSouth Development District (MDD) is charged “to provide general and comprehensive planning and development activities, to provide coordinated, efficient and orderly economic development. It is the further intent that local governments through such regional agencies be guided and assisted in making maximum use of federal, state and local programs designed to stimulate economic development and utilization of resources”.

We are specifically charged with the following responsibilities from the Federal Government and the State of Tennessee. These designations and responsibilities put MDD at the table to drive, support, and partner on these initiatives and more.

  • We serve as a direct applicant for Federal Grants.

  • We are designated by the State of Tennessee as the State Development District for four counties in West Tennessee. Development Districts were created by the Tennessee General Assembly to provide a mechanism for regional cooperation and technical support for planning and economic development initiatives. Today, Development Districts help various state agencies deliver programs and services to local communities within their respective regions.

  • Federal Economic Development District: MDD is designated by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) as the Economic Development District (EDD) for Western Tennessee.  EDDs are responsible for creating and maintaining a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS).   The CEDS serves as a cornerstone of the U.S. EDA’s grant programs, as well as a means to engage community leaders, leverage the private sector, and establish a strategic blueprint for regional collaboration on economic development efforts.

  • MDD serves as the administrator of the federally-mandated Rural Planning Organization (RPO) for the counties of Fayette, Lauderdale & Tipton in accordance with federal regulations and oversight provided by the Tennessee Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, and Federal Transit Administration. The RPO fulfills federal transportation planning requirements to ensure TDOT, local governments, and transit agencies remain eligible for federal transportation grants aimed at improving area roadways and transit systems. The transportation planning in these three counties is particularly important in 2024 as they serve as the link between the City of Memphis and the $10B investment of Ford Motor Company in Stanton, TN (locally referred to as Blue Oval City).

  • MDD staffs the Tourism Destination Management Organization for four counties in Tennessee, which provides tourism marketing support and other promotional activities.

  • The Tennessee Solid Waste Management Act of 1991 created a comprehensive Solid Waste Planning and Management program to assist local governments with the construction and operation of municipal solid waste disposal facilities. It also required local governments (primarily counties) to carry out certain functions.  MDD is charged with providing technical assistance to its member communities with funding made available through the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) Materials Management Division. The technical assistance helps ensure compliance with the State's annual twenty-five percent waste reduction required by the Solid Waste Management Act

  • TACIR Inventory: The Public Infrastructure Needs Inventory Act of 1996 directs the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR), through contracts with the state's nine development districts, to compile and maintain an inventory of needed public infrastructure. As a result of the 1996 Act, we assist TACIR with any review or revision of the survey forms or process to keep it meaningful at the local, regional and state levels. Updates are completed annually.