The Community Development Department is aptly named. Just about everything that relates to economic, cultural, physical development and growth of the community is handled by the professional staff. Those issues include:

• Comprehensive planning concerning land use, zoning and subdivisions through the Planning Division.
• Downtown development and special events through the Main Street program.
• Planning and preservation related to historic buildings through the Certified Local Government program.
• Attraction and relocation of retirees through the Retiree Recruitment program.
• Urban forestry initiatives, including siting and maintaining of trees, shrubs and flowers throughout the community.
• Transportation planning.
• A comprehensive, county-wide litter education program through the Keep America Beautiful program.
• Research and administration of various federal and state grant/loan programs.
• Arts and cultural affairs programs coordinated by the Cultural Affairs office.
• Flood plain management related to the Community Rating System.
• Issuance of building permits, plus building inspectors and code enforcement through the Building & Inspection division.
• Special projects like reapportionment of voting wards, annexation, World Changers, and Project Pride Neighborhood Revitalization.
• Operation, maintenance and administration of the city's Multi-Modal Transportation Center--Union Station.
• Serves as staff to the Meridian Redevelopment Authority (MRA)--an entity that promotes the economic development and redevelopment of the city's six designed Urban Renewal Districts. The MRA also administers the city's Facade Loan Pool Program and Tax Abatement Program for the downtown area.
• Serves as staff to the Meridian Public Improvement Corporation (MPIC)--a corporation that promotes economic development through sponsoring projects such as Union Station and Dumont Plaza.
• Serves as staff to the Meridian and Bonita Lakes Development Authority--an entity created by state legislation to promote and fund projects/programs that promote economic development throughout Meridian/Lauderdale County, with primary emphasis on the Bonita Lakes area.