Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative
Strategic Economic Development Partnership Across America's Most Vital Waterway Corridor
America's Premier Municipal Coalition
The Mississippi River Cities & Towns Initiative (MRCTI) represents the most comprehensive municipal partnership in American infrastructure development. Our coalition unites 107 mayors from strategic municipalities spanning from Bemidji, Minnesota to New Orleans, Louisiana—encompassing all ten states along the Mississippi River corridor.
Established in 2012 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, MRCTI addresses the unique challenges facing near-water communities through coordinated regional development strategies. Our member cities require unprecedented levels of cooperation to tackle infrastructure challenges that span multiple jurisdictions while leveraging shared economic opportunities.
Why MRCTI Partnerships Drive Results
Mississippi River municipalities face distinctive infrastructure and economic development challenges that require multi-state coordination. From advanced broadband deployment to integrated surface transportation networks, MRCTI mayors collaborate on infrastructure solutions that individual cities cannot achieve alone, creating scalable opportunities for strategic partners.
Economic Impact & Market Opportunity
The Mississippi River corridor represents America's most critical ecosystem for economic security, commodity production, advanced manufacturing, and multimodal transportation infrastructure. This waterway facilitates nearly $1 trillion in annual product movement while supporting agricultural exports that represent 92% of total U.S. production.
Our corridor's fresh-water dependent manufacturing sector generates over $400 billion in economic value annually, positioning MRCTI partnerships at the center of America's industrial competitiveness and supply chain resilience strategies.
Strategic Development Priorities
MRCTI mayors have developed a comprehensive $393 million strategic development plan featuring 9 authorization priorities and 7 appropriation priorities designed to transform regional infrastructure and economic competitiveness:
Federal Water Security Infrastructure
Reinstate the U.S. Water Subcabinet to coordinate watershed-scale water security initiatives across multiple federal agencies and state jurisdictions.
Agricultural Resilience Policy Integration
Incorporate comprehensive national drought policy frameworks into Farm Bill legislation to protect commodity production and supply chain stability.
Advanced Recycling Infrastructure
Pass the Recycling Infrastructure Accessibility Act to modernize waste management systems and create circular economy opportunities.
Community Housing Development
Advance the Shelter Act to address housing accessibility and workforce development challenges in river corridor communities.
River Ecosystem Protection
Pass the Safeguarding the Mississippi River Together Act to establish comprehensive environmental protections similar to Great Lakes initiatives.
Independent Conservation Programming
Establish the Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI) as an independent USDA program for enhanced conservation funding.
Climate Resilience & Conservation Leadership
Since 2005, Mississippi River corridor communities have sustained over $246 billion in disaster-related economic losses. MRCTI mayors prioritize comprehensive resilience strategies including climate mitigation, ecosystem restoration, recycling infrastructure development, conservation initiatives, co-benefit projects, and advanced water security systems.
Landmark Conservation Partnership
MRCTI's partnership with Ducks Unlimited will activate over 100,000 new acres of conservation land along the Mississippi River, directly impacting 8 states and 33 municipal partners. This initiative has secured federal grants from USDA, FEMA, and Department of Transportation, demonstrating proven ability to attract multi-agency funding.
Our mayors recognize natural infrastructure approaches as critical components for risk reduction in our evolving climate environment. Natural assets including restored wetlands, managed marshes, replanted forests, reconnected backwater systems, and rehabilitated floodplains provide superior disaster absorption capacity with enhanced community co-benefits compared to traditional built infrastructure.
This comprehensive approach to watershed-scale water security through USDA's Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative addresses multi-state requirements for reliable commodity production and transportation while creating scalable partnership opportunities for sustainable development.
Strategic Partnership Opportunities with DDP
Deconstruction Development Partners brings proven expertise in sustainable development financing, community revitalization strategies, and innovative partnership structures that align strategically with MRCTI's comprehensive economic development objectives.
DDP Partnership Value Proposition
- Sustainable real estate development across multiple river corridor markets
- Environmental stewardship initiatives including deconstruction donation benefit programs
- Strategic financing solutions including PACE financing and mezzanine capital
- Workforce development programs tailored to municipal economic development goals
- Community revitalization strategies that align with MRCTI infrastructure priorities
- Multi-state project coordination leveraging DDP's integrated service capabilities
Our comprehensive partnership approach integrates DDP's specialized capabilities in real estate development, environmental sustainability, strategic financing, and community economic development with MRCTI's unprecedented regional coordination and federal advocacy platform.
Transform Regional Development Together
Join DDP and MRCTI in creating unprecedented economic opportunities across America's most strategic waterway corridor. Connect with 107 mayors, access $393 million in strategic initiatives, and participate in transformative infrastructure development.
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