BY Hugh D. Palmer
Delta Business Journal

  Delta leaders have reacted with surprise and disappointment in President Clinton's proposed budget request in areas that directly impact the economic viability of the region.
  "When President Clinton came to Clarksdale last summer and in subsequent visits to the Delta region, he stressed the need for special help for a region that has special problems," said Delta Council Vice President Clifton Porter of Fitler.  "He has continued to discuss this unspecified assistance to the region as recently as his State of the Union address, but the budget that his Administration has proposed to Congress deletes funding for many of the region's projects that have proven results in economic, education, and community development."
  In the areas of transportation, education, workforce training, agricultural research, and natural resources, the President "zeroed out" or sharply reduced funding for many of the government programs in the region that have created a better quality of life for citizens in the Mississippi Delta.
  In education, Clinton's budget did not include funding for continuing the $1.5 million program that would allow educators in the region to oversee a project aimed at improving public education performance. The initiative, which is a concept jointly developed by Delta State University, superintendents of 34 Delta school districts and Delta Council, seeks to improve kindergarten through 12th grade education by training new school administrators, increasing the number of qualified teachers, and advancing the capacity of school administrators through special training at Delta State University.
  The President's budget did not fund a $586,000 level of funding to Mississippi Valley State University, which has historically been aimed at strengthening academic curriculum and instituting a sound management and accounting system. MVSU was rated in the U.S. News and World Report as one of the best buys for quality education and is an integral part of the Mississippi Delta higher education delivery system with the support of this grant.
  In the area of workforce training, funding was removed for the Delta Project, a program that has been used to successfully attract industries into the region and work with existing industries on workforce training. The resources of the Delta Project played an integral role in creating the Mississippi Delta Empowerment Zone, attracting companies such as Dollar General (Indianola) and Royal Vendors (Cleveland), and helping dozens of other existing corporations grow by instituting lean manufacturing techniques.
  "Education and workforce training are ground zero for helping the Delta achieve a better quality of life," said Griffin Norquist, chairman of Delta Council's Development Department. "It is disappointing that President Clinton would talk about helping the Delta, and then neglect funding for important projects and programs that have been identified as crucial by the very people who live here."
  Delta Council Highway Committee Chairman Bill Gresham of Indianola pointed out that any sustainable economic development must be achieved with a sound infrastructure. In that regard, Gresham expressed surprise that the President chose not to include federal funds for construction of the new four-lane U.S. 82 bridge.
  "We have a congressionally-authorized bridge project that is ready to enter its final stages of design and construction," said Gresham. "It is inconceivable to us that Clinton would delete funding for this high priority item and we will be working with officials from Arkansas and, of course, our Congressional Delegation to restore funding so that construction can begin on the new bridge."
  Farmer Dan Branton of Leland, who is chairman of Delta Council's Advisory Research Committee, noted that the Stoneville Research Center is the lifeline for world-price competitiveness for the Delta.
  "President Clinton has deleted millions of dollars in appropriations for crucial research projects at Stoneville and across the Midsouth," said Branton. "Whether you are discussing the need for increased research on corn alflatoxin or a better handle on the negative impact that the reniform nematode has on the cotton crop, it is most unfortunate that the Administration has sent the Congress a budget that cuts these research projects out."
  Catfish producer Austin Jones of Moorhead echoed Branton's sentiments.
  "We are still a young industry and there are still many basic areas of research that offer promise for tens of millions of dollars to the industry's bottom line," stated Jones. "The catfish industry is puzzled that the President chose not to fund the Cochran National Warmwater Aquaculture Center."
  In flood protection, the Administration's budget slashed almost every project and maintenance fund in the Yazoo Basin. Cuts were proposed for the the Upper Yazoo Project. Funding was reduced on the Big Sunflower River and cuts of 40 percent were proposed for maintenance of Arkabutla, Enid, Grenada, and Sardis lakes. The President's budget did not recommend full funding for continued construction work on the Upper Steele Bayou Basin south of Greenville, or for the Yazoo Backwater area in the South Delta.
  "When President Clinton talks about creating a better quality of life in the Mississippi Delta, many of us feel that the basic ingredient for that is a decent living condition free from the constant threat of flooding," said Jimmie Dick Carter of Rolling Fork, chairman of the Delta Council Flood Control Committee. "If the President's budget was adopted by the Congress over the past five years, the Yazoo River channel project would not reach Greenwood by 2010."
  Delta Council leaders stress that they will continue working with the Administration and the Congressional Delegation to ensure full funding for these development projects in the region.
  "Delta Council will continue to work with Mississippi Congressional leaders to restore full funding of these projects that directly affect the economic livelihood and well being in the Mississippi Delta region," added Porter.