BY Andy Ellis
DBJ Editor

The Mid-Delta Empowerment Zone Alliance Inc. (MDEZA) recently appointed John C. Greer as executive director of the organization. MDEZA, which has become the subject of much controversy due to dwindling financial resources, has hired Greer to help put things back on the right track. Greer is the fifth executive director for MDEZA since its inception.
MDEZA began as part of the Empowerment Zone program, which started under the Clinton Administration in 1993. The goal of the organization is to bring new growth to the poorer regions and communities of the Delta with the help of funding for education and economic development. Of the $40 million original dollars allotted to MDEZA, less than one million is remaining today, and to date, little has been done to rejuvenate funds.
Greer, who recently resigned as an economic development specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration, is expected to bring about great changes in MDEZA. “My short term goal is to reorganize staff members to maximize their strength,” says Greer. “I am bringing in a chief financial officer, which is something MDEZA has never had,” he continues. Greer says he has hired Charlie White Jr. as the new CFO for MDEZA. “White brings with him over 27 years of experience dealing with financial systems,” says Greer. “Another main priority I have is to bring in additional funds by creating strategic alliances with untapped public and private oraganizations throughout the country,” he adds. Greer also says that for every dollar MDEZA puts in to the community, he would like to see a return on that dollar.
In addition, Greer says he feels that the current image of MDEZA is not a positive one. He hopes to change the perception that MDEZA favors one group of individuals over another. “The image has been that MDEZA is a primarily black organization handing out money frivolously to various communities or that we tend to focus only on large white-owned organizations that come to the Delta,” says Greer. “We hope to change these images by speaking with the various media organizations, and giving a positive image of what we are going to do, what we must do, and how we must be accountable for things that we do,” he continues.
“We must have the trust and understanding of the public,” says Greer.
Greer also has big plans in regard to the physical workings of MDEZA.
“We want to make ourselves more accessible,” says Greer. He adds that the company has plans to update the phone systems, network capabilities and provide electronic mail to all personnel. “This is a big part of helping our public relations,” adds Greer.
Greer has held several prestigious positions throughout his life. Prior to serving as economic specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration, Greer worked for the Mississippi Development Authority, served as founder/co-owner of the Nikitaco International Commodity Corporation Inc, and was the only African-American male to serve as congressional aide for Congressman Sonny Montgomery. Greer holds a Bachelor’s degree in political science and a Master’s degree in public administration from the University of Mississippi. Greer resides in Madison, MS, where he is the husband of Mrs. Lori L. Goodloe-Greer and the father of four children. DBJ