On April 1, 2011, the Asset Development Division of Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) brought in five teams to perform asset mapping for the City of Canton.  The city was divided up geographically with each team assigned an area.  Each team visited, photographed, and GPS'd the assets identified in their assigned area.  Each team member recorded their own ideas about the assets, their relative importance, and potential uses.  Then each team was asked to collectiviely agree on the team's top three assets.  Finally all five teams joined together to develop some overarching issues for consideration.  The teams agreed that Canton is rich in assets.  The final report contains all of the individual ideas and the team ideas.

CANTON, MISSISSIPPI
ASSET MAPPING REPORT

When a community contacts MDA about asset mapping, the division organizes teams comprised of people from different divisions within MDA, Mississippi Arts Commission, Mississippi Main Street Association, Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, state universities and other organizations. Armed with cameras, maps and GPS devices, the teams divide the town and make notes about everything from museums, artists, schools, industry, local businesses, natural resources and historical assets. Read more about the process.

Case study from another community.