Methods > Plan Implementation > Clark County Project

Clark County Project

Building on the success of the Delta Bridge Project in Phillips County, Arkansas, Southern is bringing a similar approach to Clark County, Arkansas.  Clark County is home to Southern subsidiary Elk Horn Bank.  Southern Financial Partners has community development and lending staff in the county. 

As first steps in the Clark County project, Southern has helped the community to hire a facilitator and to create a series of task forces to address the five pillars of community development: economic development, housing, healthcare, education, and leadership.  The kick-off event in mid-2006 was attended by over 250 residents, and the community continues to engage in the process.

Southern has worked to bring a wide range of citizens and community groups to the table to jointly chart their community’s future and to drive the process forward.  The project is already showing signs of progress: a city clean-up effort to demolish abandoned buildings has arisen out of the initial meetings.  Longer term ideas are being generated for the county to build on its strengths: two colleges and all the economic and cultural potential they represent, beautiful natural settings for outdoor recreation and tourism, and strategic location near larger markets.