Who We Are

As an association of local governments, MDD convenes partners and coordinates planning efforts on a wide range of issues that are important to communities in the metro area, including community development, economic development, land-use planning and much more. We work with cities, counties and other entities to identify common objectives and achieve our collective goals. MDD has no taxation or regulatory authority.

MDD is funded by federal, state and private grants, local contributions and earned income. A major portion of our budget is passed through to local governments and other agencies for programs and services. Each year the board adopts a budget and work plan, the FY26 document can be downloaded here. Need to upload doc.

The federal government and the State of Tennessee charge the MidSouth Development District with specific roles and responsibilities. These designations and responsibilities put us at the table across our region to drive, support, and partner on the initiatives, below, and more. We will continue to innovate to solve problems and identify resources across our service area.

• We serve as a direct applicant for federal grants.

• We are a Federal Economic Development District, 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), which 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 a wide range of economic development efforts.

• 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.

• The MidSouth Development District serves as the administrator of the federally mandated Rural Planning Organization (RPO) for the counties of Fayette, Lauderdale and 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. 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).

• The MidSouth Development District staffs the Tourism Destination Management Organization for four counties in Tennessee, which provides tourism marketing support and other promotional activities. We also support tourism agencies across the region, including in Arkansas and Mississippi.

• 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. This technical assistance helps ensure our members are able to comply with Tennessee's annual 25 percent waste reduction required by the Solid Waste Management Act.

• The MidSouth Development District contracts with the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations (TACIR) in compiling and maintaining an inventory of needed public infrastructure. As a result of the Public Infrastructure Needs Inventory Act of 1996, we assist TACIR with any review or revision of the survey forms or processes to keep it meaningful at the local, regional and state levels. Updates are completed annually.