Other Counties

In addition to the three focus communities of Phillips, Clark and Coahoma, Southern is also instrumental in other communities across Arkansas and Mississippi. Southern has 46 bank branches from northeast Arkansas to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, and offers asset building services and enables public policy change throughout both states.

Moreover, just as Southern helped with the conception of strategic plans for its focused communities, it also provided assistance with the strategic plan of Drew, Alligator, Shelby and Hope, Mississippi, collectively known as the DASH plan. Prior to drafting the DASH plan, Southern provided $575,000 in grants to the town of Drew to revive its Main Street and downtown area. As a result of Southern’s development work, ten businesses and over 150 jobs were created in the community. After the revitalization of the downtown area, residents contacted Mississippi Community College about putting a collegiate satellite facility in Drew. In 2007, two buildings on Main Street were converted to house the satellite college. The college holds 20 classes with 17 faculty and administrative personnel, 140 students and a GED program.