Murriel Wiley
Hometown:
Houston, Texas
Murriel is excited to work with such a historical, noteworthy county in a state rich in strengths and locally-led initiatives, both historically and currently. She hopes to generate more support and structure for the host community and connect their diverse community stakeholders on a more visible level.
Murriel Wiley, 2016 University of Arkansas grad and roller skating enthusiast. She is a broadcast Journalism major originally from Houston, Texas with a background in Radio and Television. Murriel is experienced in grassroots community organizing and local media work. She was honored as a 2022 Arkansas Press Women’s & FPW Award winner.
ERC Project
Project Title:
The Whole Hinds County Project
Host Community or Region:
Mississippi
Host Organization:
Hinds County Economic Development Authority
Embarking on the “Whole Hinds County Project” in Mississippi, this project seeks to combat local and county-level economic challenges and disinvestment in this diverse region. Home to the capital city of Jackson, Hinds County, Miss. faces severe disinvestment, population loss, economic stagnation, and budget cuts for economic development. The ERC Fellow will collaborate with and strengthen relationships with eight small- and medium-sized municipalities, by exploring their unique culture and uplifting economic development opportunities. The ERC Fellow will support each community's plans and goals, along with seeing how they align across the county. This work will likely be rooted in the entrepreneur ecosystem and perhaps a great story of how businesses thrive in Rural Hinds County can be told. Additionally the ERC Fellow will support the Hinds County Economic Development Authority in completing a sectoral analysis, site inventory, and other tasks to prepare Hinds County to be the best location for businesses in Mississippi.
Interested in supporting this project or learning more? Contact the ERC program team here.
