The proposed projects the city may ask for financial help to accomplish, partnering with Alcorn State University, include:

4Establishing a center to help local government agencies, nonprofits and other economic and community development groups in applying for and administering grants.

The center, with Alcorn, would also help assess community needs, identify groups that meet those needs and assist low- to moderate-income people in getting help from public agencies and in making investments themselves.

4With Alcorn, using a U.S. Department of Agriculture program to identify large information technology companies to mentor fledgling rural businesses that will eventually grow and create more jobs in southwest Mississippi.

Through the existing USDA program, Bringing Rural America Venture Opportunities, IT contractors that work for the federal government mentor small businesses in rural areas throughout the country.

4Developing an interpretive center at the Forks of the Road, along with Alcorn and possibly the state Department of Archives and History.

4Building a performing arts center with Alcorn.

The city has already bought a site for the complex, which would host arts programs for the community, and Alcorn has committed $3 million to the project.

4Developing a &uot;model&uot; neighborhood on 300 acres of land.

The city will take a neighborhood-based approach to improve the lives of youth and their families, and this neighborhood would serve as a model for those programs.

&uot;I understand that that is something (federal) departments have done in other communities in the past, and I just want to see if that kind of thing would work here,&uot; Mayor Phillip West said.

4Building a luxury full-service retirement and nursing center as close to downtown as possible.

The center would be modeled after examples in Hilton Head, S.C., in an effort to attract more retirees.

The facility might include, according to the city’s proposal, 80 independent living units; 40 skilled nursing beds, including an Alzheimer’s wing; and 15 assisted living units. Amenities would include a racquet club, pool and perhaps even a luxury spa complex.

A second phase might include 30 detached and duplex cottage units.

4Developing, in conjunction with private developers, luxury full-service retirement apartments downtown, perhaps in the First Baptist Church building on Main Street.

4Establishing a riverfront walking and biking trail along such streets as Broadway, Roth Hill Road and Learned Mill Road.

Senate Appropriations funds and TEA-21 money through the state Department of Transportation could be used, city officials propose.

4Building a family recreation complex.

4Purchasing or repossessing, then restoring, five to 10 abandoned downtown properties to be leased or sold to high-tech or service businesses as office space.