The Town of Pelahatchie Comprehensive Plan developed by the Central Mississippi Planning and Development District (CMPDD) has received two prestigious awards, 2016 Innovation Award and Best Project Award. The CMPDD received a 2016 Innovation Award from the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Research Foundation for the Town of Pelahatchie Comprehensive Plan. NADO is a Washington, DC-based association that promotes programs and policies that strengthen local governments, communities, and economies through regional cooperation, program delivery, and comprehensive strategies. The association’s Innovation Awards program recognizes regional development organizations and partnering organizations for improving the economic and community competitiveness of our nation’s regions and local communities. Award winners were showcased during NADO’s 2016 Annual Training Conference, held October 15-18 in San Antonio, Texas.
The CMPDD also received the Best Project Award from the Mississippi Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-MS) for Town of Pelahatchie Comprehensive Plan. This award recognizes best practices, results, and state-of-the-art planning methods for an outstanding plan. The award was presented to the CMPDD at the Mississippi and Alabama Chapters of the American Planning Association (APA) Joint Annual Conference, held September 14-16 in Biloxi, Mississippi.
This new plan is a first of its kind in Mississippi in that it incorporates an online version with an interactive digital format that is linked to a GIS map viewer. Those viewing the plan are able to view all areas of the town and activate various map layers such as land use, zoning, infrastructure, building footprints, community services, and ward boundaries. The user may also view aerial photography as well as topographic and street maps.
The new online version of Pelahatchie’s Comprehensive Plan is not only a guide to growth and development, but is also an economic development tool that highlights the character and small town atmosphere that people and businesses find when coming to Pelahatchie. The new Comprehensive Plan may be viewed at www.pelahatchie.org.