Delta Compass focuses on utilizing opportunity
When Justin Burch looks over the Mississippi Delta, he sees two disconnects: a region rich in assets; and fertile farmland starved of the coordinated investment and strategic alignment needed to unlock its robust potential for economic growth.
As CEO and board president of Delta Compass, Burch is working to change that narrative. The “regional economic development inclusion intermediary” serving Arkansas and the Mississippi Delta, was launched with support from the Delta Regional Authority, USDA, Regions Bank, Walton Family Foundation, and Rural LISC. It represents a pivotal shift in how economic development occurs in one of America’s most underinvested regions.
“The Delta has all of the assets it needs for economic inclusion but has lacked the capacity and investment opportunity to grow upon those assets,” explained Burch. “Delta Compass was formed to provide that level of technical assistance to catalyze a new chapter in the region’s history.”
Delta Compass was designed explicitly to work “at the intersection of rural BIPOC (Black Indigenous and People of Color) populations,” addressing a pattern Burch observes too often: the Delta’s demographics are used to fundraise. Yet, dollars raised are often deployed in urbanized areas on the region’s periphery, such as Jackson, Memphis, or Little Rock.
“We wanted to create something similar to other regional rural economic intermediaries across the country,” said Burch, citing examples like Chicanos Por La Causa in the Southwest, FAHE in Appalachia, and RCAC on the West Coast. The organization uses Washington County, Mississippi as a demonstration site in a hub-and-spoke system designed to catalyze economic impact throughout the region.
Its dual focus on the strategic practices of an economic development organization and the community development lens of a community-based organization is what sets apart Delta Compass from traditional economic development organizations. Rather than concentrating solely on recruiting outside investment, the organization places equal emphasis on strengthening local assets and leadership.
“Delta Compass stands apart because it was created specifically to work at the intersection of strategy, collaboration, and long-term capacity building rather than focusing only on recruitment or short-term project wins,” explained Burch, pointing to the organization as a neutral convener and strategic guide, helping regions move from fragmented efforts toward a clearer, collective direction.
This approach has already produced measurable results. In the short time Delta Compass has operated, new sites like the Leland Industrial Site have become site-qualified, and fresh opportunities have emerged at locations like Greenville’s Mid Delta Airport. In 2024, the organization announced a 754-megawatt power plant investment and has helped secure more than $1 million in post-secondary education investments focused on healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and skilled trades.
While infrastructure and industrial recruitment matter, Burch emphasized that rural economies are built on Main Street, not Wall Street. Delta Compass serves more than 300 small businesses annually, by improving access to capital, business planning support, and digital inclusion.
In partnership with national organizations including LISC and MasterCard, Delta Compass has helped connect entrepreneurs to mission-driven financing, credit-building tools, and financial education that is often unavailable in rural markets.
“These efforts contribute to a more self-sustaining economic environment in the Delta, one in which residents are better positioned to build jobs through locally owned businesses rather than waiting for large industries to relocate to the region,” said Burch.
The Delta Regional Authority (DRA) has played a crucial role in the Delta Compass development, providing early validation and practical resources to transform a regional concept into operational reality. As DRA recently celebrated its 25th anniversary, Burch pointed to the commission’s unique ability to coordinate across state lines and align investments from federal, state, county, and philanthropic sources.
“While DRA has been around for over 25 years, Delta Compass was largely the missing piece in the region, where an entity had the fiduciary capacity and knowledge trust to strategically stack investments,” explained Burch.
DRA’s regional approach matters because the Delta’s challenges, Burch pointed out, have never respected county lines or state borders, yet solutions have too often been designed in fragmented, state-by-state methods. By creating space for communities to collaborate rather than compete, DRA helps turn limited resources into lasting impact.
Over the next few cycles, Delta Compass will enter what Burch calls “a phase of thoughtful scale” as public, private, and philanthropic partners increasingly recognize the value of its overlapping mission.
In particular, Delta Compass will focus on supporting economic growth in value-added agriculture, workforce development, small business creation, and emerging industries that can thrive alongside farming.
“The greatest opportunity for impact lies in unlocking new economic potential in a region that’s actively transitioning,” said Burch. “Agriculture will always remain central to the Delta’s identity and economy, but long-term resilience requires broadening beyond a single sector.”
What gives Burch the most optimism is seeing once-isolated communities become more connected through infrastructure, workforce pipelines, and regional collaboration. Yet, he acknowledges urgent work remains to insure progress touches everyone, particularly historically marginalized communities.
“We cannot assume growth will trickle into the places that have been overlooked the longest,” emphasized Burch. “The next chapter of the Delta’s story must be about deepening impact, strengthening local capacity, and making sure rural and historically marginalized communities are not left behind.”