A new law approved by Gov. Tate Reeves in March is paving the way for a powerful partnership among four north Mississippi counties aimed at strengthening regional economic development.

House Bill 1897 authorizes the Boards of Supervisors in Tate, Panola, Lafayette and Yalobusha counties to create the Northwest Regional Alliance, a collaborative effort to attract large-scale economic projects that span beyond the capabilities or needs of any single county.

The bill allows the participating counties to levy a special property tax and issue general obligation bonds to fund development initiatives. It also supplements existing legal authority granted to regional economic development entities and opens the door for future amendments to Mississippi’s economic development and financial statutes.

Ryan Miller, CEO of the Oxford-Lafayette County Economic Development Foundation, praised the legislation as a significant step forward.

“As a group, we will be able to focus energy, attention, and resources toward common goals of recruiting large-scale projects that make more sense in a regional context than they do in any individual capacity,” Miller said. “Many projects of this scale and size pull from a labor shed well beyond any one city or community, and oftentimes result in suppliers and ancillary businesses locating nearby.”

He added that early planning discussions are already underway, with the goal of developing a long-term operational plan that benefits the entire region.

“As the alliance continues to take shape and develop, I am confident there will be opportunities that benefit the whole region, including Oxford and Lafayette County,” Miller said.

Miller said the EDF has begun initial conversations and discussions with the other counties to develop an operational plan that increases the likelihood of a “long-lasting and mutually beneficial relationship.”