Breakdown by County

Clark County

Educational Attainment

  • The 2011-2012 class of the Southwest Arkansas College Preparatory Academy, a program created to strengthen college preparedness, had over 180 students. From the inaugural class, 54.17% students have increased their composite ACT scores to a score of 19 or above. Southern is a partner in this initiative.
  • In 2011, 90 youth from Arkadelphia Public Schools (’10-‘11) entered college, and 35 of those qualified for the Promise Scholarship, which pays the difference between the dollar amount of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship and the amount of the highest tuition and mandatory fees charged by an Arkansas public college or university. This is an 11.4% increase in college enrollment. Southern is one of two sponsors of the scholarship.
  • Arkadelphia school district enrollment increased by over 3% or 61 students to date since the establishment of the Arkadelphia Promise.

Poverty

  • The Boys and Girls Club of Arkadelphia had 150 members and engaged 100-120 youth a day in 2011. This program has proven to lead to higher educational attainment and healthier lifestyle choices for youth.
  • Charitable Health Service served over 250 Clark County uninsured adults with medical, dental, and prescription drug assistance in 2011.
  • The IDA program has facilitated 4 asset purchases for home purchases, with customers saving $3,165.84 and Southern matching with $8,007.42.
  • The IDA program has facilitated 2 asset purchases for home repair, with customers saving $1,358.90 and Southern matching with $4,000.
  • 13 individuals have signed up for the Credit Counseling services offered by Southern. Data analysis shows that our clients have an average of four errors on their credit report at the time of enrollment. Preliminary data shows that our credit repair clients start off with an average default debt load of $2,944.73. These were bills in default due to nonpayment by clients. After six months of counseling, the total default amount dropped to an average of $758.59.
  • There have been568 VITA tax returns filed. VITA saw $656,636 refunded to county citizens, of which $223,217 was Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is the largest poverty reduction tool in the United States.

Employment

  • The pending Transload facility will add one new shift at Drumco, 20 jobs, and will be used to market to new industries and retention efforts.
  • A child care center located in the Clark County Industrial Park, opened March 31, 2009. It serves children of the approximately 1,500 people who work in the industrial park area and currently employs18 people. Southern helped secure the funding needed to build the center.
  • Southern provided marketing funds and assistance that led to the passage of a 1/2 cent county sales tax for economic development.

Coahoma County

Educational Attainment:

  • The IDA program has facilitated 5 asset purchases for education, with customers saving $3,335 and Southern matching with $10,000.

 Poverty:

  • The Delta Bridge Project in Coahoma County has funded construction of the weir (small damn) on the Sunflower River. This project is meant to elevate the average level of the Sunflower River through public areas to make it a tourist, recreation and economic development anchor in downtown Clarksdale and Coahoma County. Future metrics will determine increases in businesses, visitors, and tax revenue from tourism.
  • The 2011 Juke Joint Festival, of which Southern is a primary sponsor, nearly doubled attendance from last year and expanded press coverage (including a national AP story that ran in many major cities). Festival attendees in 2011 came from at least 45 U.S. states, 51 Mississippi counties and 19 foreign countries.
  • The IDA program has facilitated 2 asset purchases for home purchase, with customers saving $1,334 and Southern matching $4,000.
  • 1 individual has utilized the Credit Builder CD to repair or create their credit score.
  • 21 individuals have signed up for the Credit Counseling services offered by Southern. Data analysis shows that our clients have an average of four errors on their credit report at the time of enrollment. Preliminary data shows that our credit repair clients start off with an average default debt load of $2,944.73. These were bills in default due to nonpayment by the clients. After six months of counseling, the total default amount dropped to an average of $758.59.
  • There have been 375 VITA tax returns filed. VITA saw $649,838 refunded to county citizens, of which $332,226was Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is the largest poverty reduction tool in the United States.

Employment:

  • The IDA program has facilitated 2 asset purchases for small businesses, with customers saving $1,333.67 and Southern matching with $4,000.

Phillips County

Education:

  • KIPP Delta Collegiate Public School recorded a 96% graduation rate in 2011 and all 27 graduates were accepted into a 2 or 4 year college, compared to a graduation rate of less than 65% in surrounding school districts. Southern supported and provided funding for KIPP Delta.
  • 93% of KIPP Delta Collegiate graduates are currently enrolled in a 2 or 4 year college.
  • 75% of the 40 students who completed 8th grade at KIPP Delta Collegiate Public School in 2006 are currently enrolled in a 2- or 4-year college.
  • The Boys and Girls Club of Phillips County has a membership of 604 youth (July 2011) and an average daily attendance of 171. In 2011, 99.6 percent of members assessed successfully transitioned to the next grade level, a key education metric for Boys & Girls Clubs. Southern was instrumental in supporting and funding the Boys and Girls Club.
  • Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas (PCCUA) established the Great River Promise scholarship with support from Southern. The program is currently in its first year.
  • PCCUA received a $5.7 million GEAR-UP grant to work with 8 school districts in PCCUA service area, four of which are in Phillips County. The focus was on 7th grade literacy and math improvements. Improvements in literacy ranged from 7 to 49 percent, and 19 to 50 percent in math. In 2011, PCCUA received a second GEAR-UP grant for $7 million.
  • The IDA program has facilitated 51 asset purchases for education, with customers saving $31,777.40 and Southern matching with $96,043.80.

Poverty:

  • The official population estimates for Phillips County population increased by 4% from 2009 to 2010, the first annual population increase in over two decades. Population loss/growth is one of the key measures indicating the overall health of a community and represents an early sign that the Delta Bridge Project is beginning to slow and reverse the decades-long trend of outmigration.
  • The King Biscuit Blues Festival, of which Southern is a sponsor, has undergone a complete transformation over the past three years, more than tripling total revenues since 2008 (2011 projected total revenues are more than $800,000, including in-kind contributions). The organization also received its second consecutive clean audit.
  • From 2005 – 2011 Southern supported the clean-up of more than 300 dilapidated lots by December 2011.
  • The 20-unit, $2.1 million Southern Place Apartments was opened in Phillips County, providing safe and affordable housing and offering a 30% monthly income subsidy by the United States Department of Agriculture.
  • The Delta Area Health Education Center—part of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences system of medical facilities—has a membership of 1,500 Phillips County residents. Southern worked with several partners to finance and build this $4.5 million facility, which provides a wellness center with exercise equipment and exercise classes, a community health library, and health education classrooms.
  • Civil War Helena, which is in active development, will result in the renovation/construction of 27 historic sites to generate an increase in tourism to the area. The plan is projected to draw 90,000 visitors and $4.5 million annually. Southern is working with numerous partners to finance the development of the various sites.
  • After the merger of the cities and the election of a new generation of leaders, the people of Helena-West Helena passed a 2-cent sales tax, bringing in much-needed revenue to address current and future needs.
  • The IDA program has facilitated 27 asset purchases for home purchase, with customers saving $19,711.50 and Southern matching with $49,945.20.
  • The IDA program has facilitated 189 asset purchases for home repair, with customers saving $123,965 and Southern matching with $383,543.
  • 62 individuals have utilized the Credit Builder CD to repair or create their credit score.
  • 248 individuals have signed up for the Credit Counseling services offered by Southern. Data analysis shows that our clients have an average of four errors on their credit report at the time of enrollment. Preliminary data shows that our credit repair clients start off with an average default debt load of $2,944.73. These were bills in default due to nonpayment by clients. After six months of counseling, the total default amount dropped to an average of $758.59.
  • There have been2,910 VITA tax returns filed. VITA saw $6,096,485 refunded to county citizens, of which $3,130,290 was Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is the largest poverty reduction tool in the United States.

Employment:

  • 87 jobs are to be created in the next two years due to the expansion of two existing local businesses and two outside businesses coming to Helena.
    • Enviro Tech Chemical Services, Inc., a chemical company based in Modesto, Calif., has opened a Helena-West Helena facility. They are investing $1.5 million and creating 30 new jobs (10 of which have already been filled).
    • Delta American Fuels, a biodiesel production facility already maintains 10 employees and hopes to create 30 more new jobs during an expansion.
    • Quapaw Products is increasing its Helena-West Helena staff by 18. The company is investing an additional $1 million.
    • Southern Hardware Co., a wholesale distributor of hardware, plumbing, electrical and industrial supplies, plans to invest $2.14 million in an expansion, and would create 9 new jobs. The company currently has 48 employees working in Helena-West Helena.
    • A new college textbook company opened in 2010 and employs approximately 25 employees.
  • The Chamber of Commerce is implementing a comprehensive Business Retention and Expansion program with support from the Delta Bridge Project. The Chamber recently announced the significant addition of 133 new members, bringing the total number of members to 334.
  • The Sweet Potato Storage Facility funded by Southern employs 32 people during peak production season and 11 people year around. There are 380 acres in sweet potato production in Phillips County.
  • The IDA program has facilitated 35 asset purchases for small business, with customers saving $22,523.90 and Southern matching with $68,880.20.

Other Counties

Education

  • After revitalizing downtown Drew, residents contacted the Mississippi Community College about putting a collegiate satellite facility in the town. Two buildings on Main Street were converted in 2007 to house the satellite college. The college holds 20 classes with 17 faculty and administrative personnel, 140 students, and a GED program, giving Drew a resource to increase the education level of its residents.
  • The IDA program facilitated 170 asset purchases for education, with customers saving $110,879 and Southern matching with $320,010.

Poverty
Individual Development Accounts

  • The IDA program facilitated 105 asset purchases for home purchase, with customers saving $68,904.20 and Southern matching with $206,629.
  • The IDA program facilitated 177 asset purchases for home repair, with customers saving $117,326 and Southern matching with $347,461.
  • 7 individuals have utilized the Credit Builder CD to repair or create their credit score.
  • 636 individuals have signed up for the Credit Counseling services offered by Southern. Data analysis shows that our clients have an average of four errors on their credit report at the time of enrollment. Preliminary data shows that our credit repair clients start off with an average default debt load of $2,944.73. These were bills in default due to nonpayment by clients. After six months of counseling, the total default amount dropped to an average of $758.59.
  • There have been 4,602 VITA tax returns filed.VITA saw $6,328,446 refunded to county citizens, of which $3,004,214 was Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). EITC is the largest poverty reduction tool in the United States.

Employment

  • Southern provided $575,000 in grants to the town of Drew, Mississippi to help revitalize Main Street in the downtown area. As a result of Southern’s development work, ten businesses were formed in Drew, and over 150 jobs were created within the community. • The IDA program facilitated 80 asset purchases for small business, with customers saving $51,666.90 and Southern matching with $150,953.


The impact listings are what we believe to be key indicators of progress that have occurred since Southern started to partner with local communities and residents to help improve their future. Southern was involved in all activities listed, but cannot and does not wish to take 100% credit for these outcomes, but to simply share positive community impact/progress achieved through community wide collaboration.