Jackson Free Press

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi State University faculty member has earned an invitation to the White House for a conference focused on better rural development.

John Poros, an associate professor of architecture and director for the Carl Small Town Center at MSU, will attend The White House Convening on Rural Placemaking on Tuesday.

The event will include federal, state and local public sector officials, national nonprofit organizations, foundations and individuals to better align federal, state and philanthropic work to support and leverage the power of "placemaking" — a citizen-led process that helps activate downtowns and community gathering places.

The Carl Small Town Center has worked with Mississippi communities for more than 30 years, said Poros, who's been the center's leader for the last years. His team, including an assistant director and about a dozen undergraduates from the College of Architecture, Art and Design, works on designs for several community projects each year, ranging from parks and plazas to historic structures and downtown districts.

"There are so many places in a rural environment that are important and can provide a sense of place," Poros said. "When you're talking about public spaces, you're talking about quality of life issues."

Most recently, Poros said the center designed a park and pavilion for the town of Houston, Mississippi, to anchor the Tanglefoot Trail, a 44-mile bike trail that runs from Houston to New Albany. He said the center also has worked with communities including Corinth, Laurel, Cleveland, Greenwood, Pass Christian and Jackson.

The White House Rural Council is partnering with Project for Public Spaces and the National Main Street Center to host Tuesday's event.

Poros said he hopes to share MSU's knowledge and experience in dealing with rural communities, as well as learn about "common problems" and "common goals" among others attending from across the country. He called it "very heartening" to see the White House administration involved in advancing rural placemaking.

"These types of projects could have an enormous impact on the survival of some of these rural communities," he said.