“ Community development precedes economic development.” This observation didn’t come from an economist nor an activist. It was spoken by Lloyd Gray, managing editor of a Tupelo , Miss., newspaper that for decades has been a leader in community development and often cited as a chief contributor to the rise of a city once considered the worst of the worst.

It reminded me of something an economic developer in the ’ 90s told me: “ You have to make sure your house is clean and everything is in order before you invite guests over.”

The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal understood that and worked with community leaders to bring focus to serious detriments in their community. It was struggling with high dropout rates, an inadequately trained work force and a divisive community where people were at odds with one another.

That same economic developer told me businesses don’t look for reasons to pick communities, they look for reasons to exclude them. And for Tupelo , those were pretty good reasons for exclusion.

The newspaper was convinced it needed to be the central campfire for the community to gather around and discuss, measure and establish a reference point from which they can move. “ People still yearn for a geographic connection, to feel more what it’s all about,” said Gray. Newspapers “can’t be more noise. We must be relevant and engaged.”

We must help share the common experience and identity of our community. The newspaper focused its editorial gaze on issues confronting Tupelo with an agenda for all to see. It wondered publicly what was holding the community back from progressing. It printed best practices from other communities to show what can be done.

That is not at odds with solid journalism, he said. “ If we see foibles and failures, we will report on them but news organizations that only report those things distort and present an incomplete, inaccurate picture.”

One of those foibles was its high dropout rate, an issue on which the newspaper “ beat the drum.” It determined that it “cannot prosper without the good health of surrounding communities.” So along with other media, they provided free print ads and airtime to convince students not to drop out of school.

“ We are not universally loved but people trust us to care about the community.” And it was devotion of the community that gave birth to greater cooperation among businesses and government institutions in getting things accomplished. It was that kind of attitude that helped Tupelo become an economic success story.

In the late ’ 60s, it created more manufacturing jobs than the rest of the state combined. The furniture industry came into the city and has helped make it a regional center for furniture. As it grew into a retail center, sales tax collections increased 20 times between 1960 and 1970 And it landed the yet- to- be- opened Toyota plant which the company said was because of the area’s collaborative nature, work ethic of trained manufacturing workers and quality of education.

It’s all about tone and motivation, Gray said. “ Be aware that you ( as a newspaper help) structure the community’s identity of itself.”

That apparently resonated with the community at large. During one spate of local government bickering, it was obvious the conflict was based more on turf protection than on how to improve Tupelo . The community, said Gray, rebuked those officials, saying, “ That’s not the Tupelo way.”

Community development precedes economic development. And attitude precedes all. We all have some say in how our destiny plays out. What is the greater Mankato way? What is it we want to be known for?

Jim Santori is publisher of The Free Press. Contact him at 344- 6310 or jsantori@mankatofreepress.com.