Summary of Family Economic Security Efforts in 2013 Arkansas Legislature
Southern Bancorp Community Partners’ (SBCP) policy team proactively tracked and passed legislation during the 89th Arkansas General Assembly. The Arkansas General Assembly adjourned sine die on May 17. The 2013 Arkansas Legislature introduced 2,640 bills and completed...Customers Make 1,000th Asset Purchase Through Southern Bancorp Community Partners
Southern Bancorp Community Partners Individual Development Account program is celebrating its 1,000th asset purchase by residents of 50 counties in Arkansas and Mississippi. An Individual Development Account (IDA) is a tool employed in poverty reduction. It provides a...Southern Bancorp Community Partners releases findings on College Savings Accounts: Report highlights best practices in college savings programs
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — With support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Southern Bancorp Community Partners (“Southern”) released a report on college savings accounts. The paper, titled “College Savings Accounts: Multiple Paths to a Brighter Future,” showcases the...One in Four Arkansas Residents Has Almost no Savings or Other Assets to Weather a Financial Crisis: State Ranks 44th Overall for the Financial Stability of its Residents
Washington, D.C.— In Arkansas today, 25.6% of households are “asset poor,” meaning they have little or no financial cushion to rely on if unemployment or another emergency leads to a loss of income, according to a report released today by the national nonprofit...Southern Bancorp and IRS partner to offer free tax preparation
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — To give low-income working individuals and families the opportunity to have their income tax return prepared free of charge, Southern Bancorp and its nonprofit affiliate, Southern Bancorp Community Partners, are offering Volunteer Income Tax...
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.