Drew, Mississippi, a small delta town of 1,927 in Sunflower County, has long faced challenges in maintaining and improving its municipal infrastructure. Yet, with collaboration, persistence, and a shared vision for progress, the town has taken steps forward to ensure its resilience and future readiness.

In early 2022, Drew partnered with the Environmental Services Team at Communities Unlimited (CU). This marked the beginning of an effort to modernize the town’s infrastructure and prepare for emergencies. During initial site visits, CU identified critical gaps, including the lack of Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping and the urgent need for an updated generator to support Drew’s aging water system.

Under the leadership of Mayor Melanie Townsend, CU worked to address these needs. CU Training Project Manager Lorraine Magee, along with GIS Coordinator Don Becker, conducted a detailed mapping of Drew’s infrastructure in December 2022, despite cold and rainy conditions. The GIS system, introduced to the town for the first time, revolutionized its ability to manage utilities, providing a digital platform accessible from phones and computers for real-time updates.

“When I shared the GIS mapping system with my board, they were excited,” Mayor Townsend said. “We’re a small municipality, and we really just didn’t have anyone putting things into place. (This GIS technology) has been a big help, especially since we never had anything like it before.”

Simultaneously, CU helped Drew pursue funding through the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program. Recognizing the need for a generator to stabilize the water system during power outages, CU assisted with application submissions and revisions. By mid-2023, these efforts culminated in grant approval, paving the way for the generator’s purchase.

Drew received a grant of over $64,000 for the new generator and contributed more than $9,000 from its own funds to cover the remaining costs, bringing the total to over $71,000.

In early 2024, CU and Drew celebrated the receipt of grant funds with a kick-off meeting involving Director of Grants Alex Hopkins from MEMA, Mayor Townsend, and CU staff. By October 2024, the generator had arrived, enhancing Drew’s emergency preparedness, and ensuring the town’s water system would remain functional during power disruptions.

Lorraine echoed the sentiment of collaboration and success.

“It was a pleasure working with Mayor Townsend and her staff. Their promptness to all requests made my job easier. Mayor Townsend was very appreciative of the work provided by CU and I feel a bond has been made that we will work with the Town of Drew in the future.”

Drew’s success highlights how partnerships like these foster self-reliance and drive economic impact, transforming small towns into resilient communities prepared for the future.

“I’m excited to continue working with Communities Unlimited,” Mayor Townsend said. “While we’ve accomplished a lot together, there’s still more to do. I look forward to their continued support with grant writing and upgrading our water system.”