BIRMINGHAM, AL (June 26, 2026) – Kemper County, Mississippi has been awarded a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to fund short-term downtown revitalization plans and an implementation jumpstart for the communities of DeKalb and Scooba. The grant will enable the Kemper County Economic Development Authority to partner with Downtown Strategies, a division of national consulting firm Retail Strategies, to develop action plans that will strengthen and revitalize both downtown districts and support the local teams with implementation
The ARC grant will fund downtown revitalization planning and implementation services as well as provide access to the Small Business Support platform, a resource designed to help local small business entrepreneurs grow and advance their businesses.
“After attending Retail Academy, I saw firsthand the value that Retail Strategies brings to communities like ours,” said Steven Lockley, Director of the Kemper County Economic Development Authority. “I knew they offered a range of services specifically tailored to help rural communities thrive. This grant gives us the opportunity to tap into that expertise and create meaningful change for DeKalb and Scooba. We’re excited to work with Downtown Strategies to build vibrant, sustainable downtowns that our residents can be proud of.”
Downtown Strategies will conduct downtown stakeholder workshops in both DeKalb and Scooba, bringing together local business owners, property owners, and community leaders to identify opportunities and challenges. Following these collaborative workshops, the Downtown Strategies team will develop short-term downtown revitalization plans tailored to each community’s unique character and goals and support them with a sustainable structure of implementation shortly after. Additionally, local business owners in both communities will gain access to the Small Business Support platform, providing them with tools and resources to strengthen their operations and contribute to the community’s vitality.
“Downtown Strategies has extensive experience working with communities across the nation, especially in rural towns in Mississippi and across the south,” said Lacey Bacchus, Senior Director of Community Partnerships at Retail Strategies. “Rural downtowns face unique challenges and we’re committed helping the Towns of DeKalb and Scooba unlock their full potential. We congratulate the EDA on their ARC grant and are proud that the Kemper County EDA selected Retail Strategies as their downtown revitalization partner with these grant funds.”
The partnership represents a significant investment in the future of Kemper County’s downtown corridors and small business community.
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About Downtown Strategies
Downtown Strategies, a division of Retail Strategies, exists to provide realistic, implementable strategies to help communities revitalize their downtowns. Led by a team of former downtown revitalization practitioners and real estate experts, our combination of real-world experience and expertise in real estate and retail uniquely qualifies us to assist communities in backfilling vacancies, increasing tourism, and enhancing the sense of place in their downtowns. Serving rural communities in 27 states, Downtown Strategies is the leading national firm in downtown revitalization planning, with an emphasis on real estate and retail.
About Retail Strategies
Retail Strategies is the national expert in community development and retail economic development. Our mission is to provide the real estate expertise, tools, and human effort that position deserving towns as alluring locations for national businesses and destinations for tourism and quality-of-life amenities. We confidently pursue this mission by delivering unparalleled customer service as a unified team, drawing on unmatched real estate and community development expertise. Our activities yield returns in sales taxes, additional jobs, and businesses that enhance the unique qualities of your community.
