No matter if Darren Leach wins the mayoral election, he has big ideas for a future partnership between Mississippi University for Women and East Mississippi Community College.

Among other things like enhancing educational development and addressing cases of extreme poverty in the area, Leach touched on that partnership idea while speaking Thursday to the Exchange Club of Columbus at Lion Hills Center.

“We want to train the kids in solar out of EMCC and provide dormitory-style living here in Columbus and use transportation to get them backwards and forwards to school while they do that,” Leach said.

He admitted, however, he has not officially brought the plan to either institution.

“Nothing is on the table yet, but as we talk, these are the kinds of things we can do to bring people together to solve problems,” Leach told The Dispatch after the Exchange Club meeting.

Leach is an independent candidate for mayor. He also is the executive director for the Memphis Town Community Action Group, a community partner listed on the city’s application for a Green Capital Municipal Investment Fund Market Building Grant, the onus for his vision of partnership between MUW and EMCC.

The grant helps cities develop plans for public-private partnerships that will accelerate projects associated with clean air and water. The $250,000 first phase award, which two cities in each state will receive, is for planning. Winners qualify to apply for $2 million for pre-development in phase 2. The final phase opens up $50 million that winning cities can give in low-interest loans to recruit businesses for clean energy projects.

EMCC students “training in solar” could be part of the city’s green plan, which would focus in part on developing a workforce for solar jobs, he said.

“It’s a low educational barrier to entry,” Leach said. “It creates jobs for manufacturing, jobs for distribution and jobs for installation. All of those could be done right here in Columbus, Mississippi.”

Leach told The Dispatch after the Exchange Club meeting that he believes allowing EMCC solar students to reside in dormitories on the Mississippi University for Women campus may be a viable option for solving problems for both universities.

He believes this potential partnership could be a step in the right direction in terms of how community leaders approach problem-solving.

“There’s really a demand being placed on us right now to be more creative in how we solve some of these problems,” Leach said.

Leach said the problem facing EMCC is students leaving with incomplete degrees. The college website lists its graduation rate as 40% as of fall 2022.

Leach believes the reason many students are not finishing their degree programs is because many students must quit school to earn money for basic necessities.

“If we take care of those basic needs, I believe we’ll have a higher percentage of completion,” he said.

Leach also anticipates openings in dormitories at MUW due to declining enrollment there. The university saw a 1.5% decrease in enrollment in fall 2024 compared to the previous year, according to MUW Communications Director Tyler Wheat.

But in a statement sent to The Dispatch, MUW revealed that they are currently at capacity in terms of residential housing capacity and at this time, “has no plans to accommodate additional students beyond those enrolled.”

Leach, on the other hand, plans to prove his concept by opening up part of Genesis Church, where he pastors, for workforce training dormitories. About 4,000 square feet, roughly 10% of the total facility size, would be dedicated for that space, he said.

Leach said the pilot program could be set up quickly if they receive the planning grant.

“If we get that grant, I might be able to open up dormitories and train on solar installation and maintenance – that would happen this year,” Leach said. “So, it’s just a model, but the model will give people something to look at and say, ‘Hey, this could work.’”

The Dispatch could not reach EMCC President Scott Alsobrooks by press time.