We need everybody. In a recent book, G rassroot Leaders for a N ew Eeconomy , Doug Henton and his co-authors looked at successful communities from the Silicon Valley to the eastern seaboard. These didn't hurt. But, the most important factor for success was the ability to work together. People are the key to change.
Tupelo is in the poorest county in the poorest state in the United States.
But, this is not a sad story. According to some people, Tupelo is a city on the move. The Wall Street Journal reported that Tupelo is a model for community and economic success. It has gained 1,000 new factory jobs for each of the last 12 years. It has 22 foreign factories and 18 fortune 500 companies.