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PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi Receives Three-Year Grant from Alcoa Foundation

Operating in a manner that protects and promotes the health and well-being of the environment is a core value to Alcoa.  For this reason the Alcoa Foundation has granted the Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi a $45,000 grant over a three-year period to assist with the DeSoto County Greenways program.  The grant received local support from Kawneer, the Alcoa facility in Hernando.  “The Community Foundation’s mission is to connect people who care with causes that matter.  Alcoa Foundation cares about the future of this community where it does business.  We are pleased to connect it with this effort to conserve and connect open spaces in DeSoto County”, Tom Pittman, CEO/President, Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi.  "We are proud to be a supporter of the Community Foundation and specifically the Greenways program.  As Alcoans, we are committed to economic, environmental and social sustainability.  The Greenways program hits all three", Jackie Money, Human Resource Manager, Kawneer in Hernando.

 Thanks to the support of the DeSoto County Board of Supervisors, the greenways program kick-started after the Mississippi River and Greenways Symposium June 12 hosted by the Community Foundation and other groups within the county.  "Our Board had established the Greenways as a priority for our work in DeSoto County four years ago. We are excited by the responses to the benefits highlighted at the symposium--biking, stormwater retention, tourism, clean water, and more," said Community Foundation president Tom Pittman. "The Alcoa Foundation is a strong partner, and we appreciate its generous contribution."

 The Supervisors allocated $150,000 to the DeSoto County Economic Development Council for the hiring of a greenways coordinator and establishment of a Northwest Mississippi Land Trust.  The work to establish the Land Trust is underway and will provide a vehicle for accepting land and working with major projects such as the DeSoto County Greenways.   

The goal of the DeSoto County Greenways program is to establish an ecosystem-based approach with the achievement of sustainable development and linked greenspaces by protecting, restoring and linking the natural features and their function in the county.  “We want to develop an attractive, cost effective and convenient greenway system that connects public and private open and green spaces with sidewalks through the County”, said Larry Jarrett, Greenways Coordinator.    Jarrett’s role is to perform or assist in the development of studies, analysis, coordination and recommendations in connection with greenways, river access and parks and to research grants and other funding mechanisms for the implementation and maintenance of greenways, river access, proposed land trust and parks. He serves as the liaison with volunteer groups and is the primary contact for greenways and trails system in the county.  The Alcoa Foundation funds will be used to develop a DeSoto County Greenways logo, slogan, website and other marketing materials vital to the success of the program. 

The Alcoa Foundation check to the Community Foundation of northwest Mississippi for the DeSoto County Greenways Project was presented on the trail at Lee’s Summit Park in Hernando.  Pictured ( to r) are Mayor Chip Johnson, Jackie Money, Human Resource Manager for Kawneer, CEO of the Community Foundation Tom Pittman; Greenways Coordinator Larry Jarrett; President of the Board for The North Mississippi Land Trust Shelly Johnstone; and DeSoto County Greenways Committee Chair Michael Hatcher. 

(submitted by Peggy Linton, Community Development Director, Community Foundation of Northwest Mississippi)