Rural communities will have a point person in their area to access resources from 13 government agencies. This includes funding through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. These agencies will have employees who are focused on rural issues and will assist local officers. Susan Rice, White House Domestic Policy Advisor, stated that Greenwood should be considered the gateway to the Delta. She also said that Greenwood should have access to the federal government to help them thrive. Mississippi was chosen as one of five states to pilot the Rural Partners Network’s pilot program. The initial focus of the program will be on Delta communities. Arizona, Georgia and Kentucky are the other states. The White House, Congressman Bennie Thomson, the United States Department of Agriculture, and Congressman were present at a roundtable discussion that included mayors, business councils, as well as other stakeholders from the counties. This was to discuss their needs and to explore the possibilities of the network. Numerous officials raised concerns about water and sewer, and affordable housing as extensions to economic development projects. Matthew Harrison, Grenada Economic Development District executive director, stated that housing is a crucial need. “We don’t have enough housing to support the people who live here today. “I don’t know how we can keep up with economic growth and continue expanding without additional resources, so we need this partnership,” Lee Jones, director of Mississippi Rural Partners Network said. The Washington County Economic Alliance will include Washington, Bolivar Sunflower, Sunflower and Leflore counties, and the Greater Grenada- Lake District Partnership (Grenada and Yalobusha Counties), and the North Delta Planning and Development District, which will include Coahoma, Quitman and Tunica counties. Each network will be focused on advancing infrastructure and building economic opportunities. Tom Vilsack, Agriculture Secretary, said that this program is an opportunity to show appreciation for rural communities. Rural communities provide the majority of the country’s food, water and energy. He also thanked Thompson for drawing attention to the need to improve inter-agency collaboration, which this program hopes will address. Vilsack stated, “For too long we’ve been isolated in the federal government. This is a new day.” Vilsack also announced grants of $1 million from the USDA to the Greenwood-Leflore Hospital and the Delta Health Center, as well as the Delta Health Alliance.