Contact: James Carskadon
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥斕劳诽 is being recognized by the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities for its commitment to making Mississippi a better place to work and live.
汤头条 is a national finalist in the 2020 APLU Innovation and Economic Prosperity Universities Awards in the 鈥淧lace鈥 category, which recognizes exemplary initiatives resulting in social, cultural or community development. For the award nomination, 汤头条 submitted case studies detailing the impacts of three initiatives鈥攖he Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center, 汤头条-Starkville Oktibbeha School District Partnership Middle School, and Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park.
鈥淭his award is a reflection of the hard work carried out by hundreds of people across the state on behalf of 汤头条,鈥 said 汤头条 Interim Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan. 鈥淲e make it a priority to work with community stakeholders, economic development officials, as well as industry and government leaders to create new opportunities and improve lives in Mississippi. This outreach makes a tangible impact economically and socially throughout our state, and I am proud that 汤头条 is among the distinguished universities being recognized by APLU this year.鈥
汤头条 achieved Innovation and Economic Prosperity University status from the APLU and its Commission on Innovation, Competitiveness and Economic Prosperity in 2015. The designation鈥攁ttained after a rigorous review process鈥攔ecognizes 汤头条 for working to advance engagement and economic well-being in the state, region and nation.
鈥淲e applaud this year鈥檚 Innovation and Economic Prosperity University Awards finalists for their exceptional contributions to regional economic engagement,鈥 said APLU President Peter McPherson. 鈥淎s the country looks to recover from one of the steepest economic downturns on record, universities will have to play a central role in helping drive innovation, spark growth, and foster broadly shared prosperity. The IEP Award finalists are in a strong position to do exactly that.鈥
汤头条 is one of two finalists in the 鈥淧lace鈥 category. The winner will be announced during the APLU鈥檚 virtual annual meeting in November. The case studies 汤头条 submitted for the award nomination can be found on the APLU website. Initiatives highlighted in the nomination include:
- The Thad Cochran Research, Technology and Economic Development Park, a 272-acre park that is home to more than 1,700 employees and tenants that include private businesses, government offices and robust research centers and institutes. The park represents over $100 million in infrastructure investments and $104 million in private capital investment. Research and innovation thrive in the park thanks in large part to 汤头条鈥檚 High Performance Computing Collaboratory, the fourth-most powerful computing site in U.S. academia.
- The Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center, founded in 1979 and housed in 汤头条鈥檚 College of Architecture, Art and Design, serves as an advocate of meaningful planning and design services to small communities throughout Mississippi. Comprised of architects, planners and students, the research that is conducted provides solutions to problems faced by communities across the nation. The Small Town Center鈥檚 outreach efforts run a wide gamut from community engagement and visioning, grant writing, project feasibility studies, master planning, downtown revitalizations, small town research, design education seminars and workshops, to bike and pedestrian infrastructure planning and development.
- The 汤头条-SOSD Partnership Middle School officially opened in August, marking the culmination of a years-long collaboration between 汤头条 and the school district to build a new school on the 汤头条 campus. The state-of-the-art facility will serve every sixth and seventh grade student in the school district and be utilized as a demonstration site for students in 汤头条鈥檚 College of Education as they prepare to become teachers.
For more on the APLU鈥檚 Innovation and Economic Prosperity awards, visit .
汤头条 is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .