The King Biscuit Blues Festival was the recent recipient of a Delta Bridge Project grant.

Below is an update on recent grant activity in support of the 10-year Strategic Community Plan:

Grants received:

• The Delta Bridge Project approved a $223,000 grant in support of the Sonny Boy Blues Society’s efforts to increase the year-round impact of blues tourism and improve the long-term sustainability of the King Biscuit Blues Festival.  Funding comes from the Walton Family Foundation and Southern Bancorp Capital Partners.
• The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently awarded SBCP a $2 million Rural Innovation Fund grant. The grant will fund an economic development and housing program in Helena with several innovative components.  More details on the specific components of the grant will be announced in the coming months.
• The Delta Bridge Project approved a $105,130 grant for a Trails and Greenways plan, with funding support from the Walton Family Foundation (see full story for more details).
• An Arkansas Community Foundation grant for $6,000 was recently awarded to Main Street Helena to purchase the equipment needed to accept EBT.

Grants submitted:

• SBCP recently submitted a Promise Neighborhood Planning Grant for more than $300,000.  SBCP and its community partners were finalists in last year’s competition for the program, which seeks to replicate some of the successes of the “cradle to college” model developed by the Harlem Children’s Zone.
• The Phillips County Chamber of Commerce submitted a $42,200 Delta Bridge Project grant for a civic leadership initiative.
• Two Delta Bridge Project grants totaling more than $500,000 were submitted for construction of the Union Fort Curtis and Freedom Park, the state’s first official Underground Railroad site.

This summer Civil War Helena (Tourism Goal 4), the 29-site tourism initiative focused on telling Helena’s unique Civil War story, will be ramping up with work on several key sites.

FORT CURTIS: Work began last week on Fort Curtis, the earthen-walled Union fort once located in the downtown. The fort will feature several cannons, one of which will be operational, and will allow visitors to walk through and explore its interior.  Located on Columbia Street at the former site of Jefferson Elementary School, this three-fourths replica of the original fort will occupy the entire block and will be the only reconstructed fort of its kind in the region. 

FREEDOM PARK:  Engineering and survey work is underway for Freedom Park, a four-acre site located on South Biscoe across from Estevan Hall. Freedom Park has been designated as the first Network to Freedom site in Arkansas, a National Park Service designation for key Underground Railroad sites across the nation.  The park will feature five major outdoor exhibits and is expected to be one of the major draws for the Civil War Helena initiative.  The exhibits will explore the African-American experience in Civil War Helena, following the journey from fugitive slave to Contraband to freedom and, for some, enlistment in the Union Army and participation in the Battle of Helena on July 4, 1863.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation and the Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism released plans last month for a new multi-million dollar Arkansas Welcome Center in Helena (Tourism Goal 1, Action Step D).  The Welcome Center will be located at the current Super 7 Motel site at the foot of the Highway 49 Bridge.

The design for the center features a hilltop mansion in the “informal Italianate style,” and was inspired by architectural elements seen in many of Helena’s historic buildings. Inside, a series of display cases will highlight area attractions and a computer station will enable travelers to look up destination phone numbers and book last minute hotel rooms.  The plans for the center will go out for bid in December, with estimated completion in 2013.

Through an ongoing partnership between Main Street Helena and the Delta Bridge Project, citywide gateway and directional signs are being developed to guide visitors to destinations throughout the Helena area. This project (Tourism Goal 1, Action Step C) will support ongoing tourism development by highlighting our community’s assets, including the Delta Cultural Center, Helena Museum of Phillips County (formerly the Phillips County Museum), Helena River Park and the St. Francis National Forest.

A group of approximately 25 community stakeholders has helped develop and review the sign designs and location plan. MERJE, the design firm leading the project, has also incorporated the recommendations of the city’s 2010 Branding and Marketing Report. Phase one of the signage plan is targeted for installation in October of this year and will focus on directing visitors to destinations in the historic downtown.

Giving back in Phillips County has become easier than ever! The Phillips County Volunteer Corps (PCVC) is a countywide volunteer program that seeks to connect interested volunteers with volunteer opportunities. The PCVC website (http://www.volunteermatters.com/pcvc) allows registered volunteers to sign-up for volunteer shifts with nonprofit organizations all over the county. A weekly e-newsletter highlights upcoming volunteer events and celebrates volunteer accomplishments. PCVC will host an annual celebration to recognize and reward Phillips County citizens who give back to their community.

This Leadership Goal Team project (Leadership Goal 2) is operated under the auspices of the Chamber of Commerce and is run by Teach For America alumna Kathleen Quinlen, who serves as PCVC’s volunteer director.

Below is an update on recent grant activity in support of the 10-year Strategic Community Plan:

Grants received:

• The Walton Family Foundation approved a $61,521 for the Delta AHEC’s Teen Pregnancy Prevention program
• A King Foundation grant for $35,000 was recently awarded to develop a website and educational materials for Civil War Helena
• Southern Bancorp approved a $4,219 grant for development of a small fitness center at BGACDC in Marvell
• Exciting announcements are expected in the coming weeks about Estevan Hall and the Business Retention & Expansion efforts

Grants submitted:

• A Trails and Greenways Master Plan proposal in the amount of $105,130 was submitted to the Walton Family Foundation (WFF) for funding consideration after approval by the Local Development Council and Southern Grant Committee
• A $173,000 grant proposal was submitted to WFF in support of the Sonny Boy Blues Society’s efforts to increase the year-round impact of blues tourism and improve the long-term sustainability of the King Biscuit Blues Festival
• An $800,000 Scenic Byway Grant was submitted to support development of several Civil War Helena sites and construct a walking trail connecting these sites with the downtown
• A $55,975 USDA Farmer’s Market Promotion Grant was recently submitted on behalf of Main Street Helena in support of the Downtown Helena Farmer’s Market. The funds will be used to purchase needed equipment and to fund a part-time market manager

To celebrate Earth Day, the Recycling Subcommittee of the Tourism, Recreation and Quality of Life Goal Team helped spread the word about the City’s cardboard recycling program. A newspaper article was written promoting the program and explaining the process.  Also the City’s May water bills featured a recycling reminder.

Celebrate Earth Day in H-WH by Recycling (.pdf)

Counterclockwise from upper left: Beatrice Shelby, Becky Hall, Tyrone Stayton, Jim Sato (Dana Chadwick not pictured).

-  Becky Hall, Director of Delta AHEC and Health Care Goal Team Co-Chair. Becky, a Marvell native, has served as the Director of the Delta Health Education Center, now the Delta Area Health Education Center, since 1990. Recently she has led the Growing Healthy Communities initiative which among other accomplishments has resulted in a comprehensive walkability assessment of the city of Helena-West Helena.  Through her role as Co-Chair, the work of this initiative will join with the Health Goal Team.

-  Jim Sato, Chief Executive Officer of Helena Regional Medical Center and Health Care Goal Team Co-Chair. Jim moved to Helena from California in August, 2009. He has over 36 years of hospital experience in nonprofit, district, county and investor owned industries. Jim’s leadership will strengthen the goal team’s work as the hospital is a critical partner for health care initiatives in the community. Jim is particularly interested in developing and implementing a citywide plan for sidewalks, trails and bike lanes.

-  Tyrone Stayton, Helena-West Helena Journeyman Serviceman/Lineman with Entergy and co-chair of the Economic Development Goal Team. Tyrone, a Helena native, has been with Entergy for 27 years. He currently serves on the Board of the Phillips County Port Authority and is actively involved with his daughter’s education at KIPP High School. Tyrone’s already active community involvement will be a strong asset this year, as the goal team takes substantial steps towards the development of a unified economic development strategy for Phillips County.

-  Dana Chadwick, co-owner of the Edwardian Inn and Housing Goal Team Chair. Dana and his wife Lynn moved to Helena in 2009 from North Little Rock where they both had long-time careers in education. Over the last three years they have renovated a home and successfully revitalized the Edwardian Inn. Dana’s experience as a landlord and property owner gives him an excellent background for the goal team’s neighborhood and community focused projects.

-  Beatrice Shelby, Executive Director of BGACDC and at-large Steering Committee member. Mrs. Shelby has served as Executive Director of BGACDC since January of l985. Under her leadership the BGACDC has been the recipient of several honors including the Robert Wood Johnson Leadership Award and the Ford Foundation Leadership for a Changing World Award.

Each Goal Team has identified specific priorities and goals to be accomplished by the end of 2011. These key projects are highlighted below. Goal Teams are currently looking for additional volunteers to help make each of these exciting and ambitious goals a reality. Please contact Tim Schuringa, Julia Nordsieck, or any of the listed Goal Team Co-chairs below for more information about how to get involved.

The Economic Development Goal Team (Ellis Bruce and Tyrone Stayton) will:

• Organize a meeting of key economic stakeholders to begin developing a unified economic development strategy (Strategic Plan Economic Development Goal 1, Action Step A)
• Develop a one-page summary of five to seven business incentives (either existing or needed)  (Strategic Plan Economic Development Goal 6)
• Complete basic market research on the viability of distributing local produce (creating an inventory of potential buyers in the region, including restaurants, distributers, and markets). (Strategic Plan Economic Development Goal 7)

The Tourism, Recreation, and Quality of Life (TRQ) Goal Team (Paula Oliver and Katie Harrington) will:

• Identify  and track common measures for county, city and neighborhood crime (Strategic Plan TRQ Goal 8, Action Step A)
• Coordinate with Housing Goal Team neighborhood associations and neighborhood watch programs to develop community policing strategies (Strategic Plan TRQ Goal 8, Action Step I)
• Expand hospitality training in several ways including: familiarization tours for front line staff, ongoing customer service training and promotional events throughout Tourism Week (Strategic Plan Goal 9)

The Education Goal Team (Kyle Miller and Suzann McCommon) will:

• Increase the number of Phillips County students in post-secondary programs (Strategic Plan Education Goal 1)
• Develop a committee of business and civic leaders to do regular public school site visits and evaluations (Strategic Plan Education Goal 5, Action Step E)
• Establish a dropout and truancy prevention strategy in each school district (Strategic Plan Goal (Strategic Plan Education Goal 10, Action Step E)

The Housing Goal Team (Dana Chadwick) will:

• Develop education programs focused in part on housing maintenance and repair (Strategic Plan Housing Care Goal 1, Action Step B)
• Organize and revive neighborhood associations and neighborhood watch programs (Strategic Plan Housing Care Goal 6, Action Step B)
• Organize neighborhood clean-ups (Strategic Plan Housing Care Goal 6, Action Step B)

The Leadership Goal Team (Doug Friedlander and Judge Kathleen Bell) will:

• Successfully launch countywide volunteer program, Phillips County Volunteer Corps (Strategic Plan Leadership Goals 1 and 2, Action Step A)
• Establish a mentoring and professional shadowing program for youth (Strategic Plan Leadership Goal 4, Action Step G)
• Develop a Citizenship 101 Course, a community-based civics education and empowerment program (Strategic Plan Leadership Goal 5, Action Step A)
• Create website and pamphlet to disseminate neutral and freely available information about local elections (Strategic Plan Leadership Goal 5, Action Step B)

The Health Care Goal Team (Becky Hall and Jim Sato) will:

• Ensure residents have access to facilities for recreational use through the development of joint use agreements (Strategic Plan Health Care Goal 1, Action Step A)
• Create a countywide plan for sidewalks, trails and bike lanes (Strategic Plan Health Care Goal 1, Action Step B)
• Increase countywide STD testing (Strategic Plan Health Care Goal 5, Action Step B)
• Develop and distribute simple and comprehensive guide for STD and teen pregnancy resources (Strategic Plan Health Care Goal 5 and 6, Action Step A)

Thanks to a partnership with the National Audubon Society, Helena River Park will be getting an upgrade this Spring. With the support of a group of 15 local individuals and organizations, 10 interpretive nature panels, 10 bird watching signs and a two-sided welcome kiosk were designed to connect visitors and residents with the river and the surrounding wildlife. The panels are slated for installation in early May.

Later this year, the project will see the addition of a gateway sign at the entrance of the Helena River Park to increase its visibility and draw in more visitors.  Helena is the only downtown located directly on the Mississippi River for the 300 mile stretch in between Memphis and Vicksburg.  Project leaders anticipate that these slated improvements — along with the acquisition of Buck Island and the River Park’s 60-foot public boat ramp — will help position Helena as one of the top eco-tourism destinations on the lower Mississippi River.