Housing Trust Fund
Southern’s policy team helped to enact the shell legislation for the Arkansas Housing Trust Fund in 2009.
Career Pathways
Career Pathways seeks to provide financial assistance for low-income individuals who want to take career training and college classes at an Arkansas two-year college.
Children’s Savings
In 2008, Southern’s policy team helped to secure state funding for the Aspiring Scholars Matching Grant program for Arkansas 529 college savings accounts.
Minimum Wage Increase
Southern’s policy team helped increase the state minimum wage in Arkansas by 21% in 2006.
Payday Lending
On March 18, 2008, Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel ordered payday lenders licensed and regulated in Arkansas to stop making loans and forgive all outstanding loans.
Drew, Mississippi
Southern provided grant funding to renovate the dying Main Street in Drew, MS.
Helena Health Foundation
Southern worked with several partners to finance and build a $4.5 million health and wellness facility.
Biodiesel Facility
Residents identified the formation of biodiesel industry as a goal in the Phillips County Strategic Community Plan; however, they were unsure how to attract the industry to Phillips County. After Southern funded a $30,000 feasibility study, the numbers compelled a local investor group to capitalize on the opportunity.
Cherry Street Roofing Project
Helena’s old Main Street buildings were in danger of collapse. Southern provided the $30,000 matching grant for a $500,000 building stabilization effort on historic Cherry Street.
Phillips County Boys and Girls Club
The residents of Phillips County identified the creation of a Boys & Girls Club as a key objective in their strategic plan.