The Communities of Opportunity initiative is geographically focused in St. Francis County, Arkansas, and Leflore County, Mississippi. The Foundation for the Mid South will only receive proposals based on the previously established criteria set by the initiative.
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2005 COO GRANT AWARDS
St. Francis County CDC - A grant in the amount of $150,000 was used as a leverage to support a 15-unit affordable housing development, with a total project cost of $2,448,000. The development will be constructed in Forrest City for Phase I of the five-year plan.
Valley CDC - A grant in the amount of $213,500 to support the construction of a 14-unit rental complex for low-wealth residents in Itta Bena, Mississippi will complete the project cost of $854,000.
Hughes School District - A grant in the amount of $102,416 was awarded to the school district. Of the total amount, $51,632 was used to support the ongoing implementation of Learning 24/7, a systemic approach to school improvement. A sum of $50,784 was used to support a Classroom Library Program at the high school. Training was provided to each teacher to identify effective instructional and motivational strategies for improving the reading skills of high school students.
Awarded $85,000 in Mini-Grants in Leflore County:
Morgan City ($45,000) - The Morgan City Cultural Enrichment/Recreation Project will create an academic environment for youth to promote learning and academic excellence and will improve the health and lifestyle of community residents through health and physical wellness education.
Three Rivers CDC for the Browning Community ($20,000) - The Browning residents will renovate and expand current park facilities to provide physical and recreational activities in order to promote a healthy lifestyle for youth and adults.
Quito ($20,000) - The Quito project goal is to drastically reduce the mosquito infestation throughout the community and eliminate unhealthy environments where the mosquitoes breed and thrive.
Received $95,000 in Mini-Grant Funds for St. Francis County
Madison Street and Drainage Project ($20,000) - The project goal is to install a drainage system that will reduce safety hazards during peak raining seasons and reduce flood damage to streets, parking lots, buildings, and residents' vehicles. Wheatley Street Repair Project - The project goal is to enhance citizen safety and extend street life by widening and repairing majo r city streets throughout Wheatley.
Widener Street/Road Improvement Project ($20,000) - The project goal is to increase the potential for single family housing unit development, for low to moderate- income residents, through the improvement/repair of city streets adjacent to development sites. Hughes Beautification, Health, and Fitness Project - The project goals are to engage citizens in city beautification efforts to build positive relationships and foster a sense of community pride; and to improve the quality of life for residents by implementing a structured wellness and fitness program, free to all residents.
Palestine Summer Ball Team Project ($15,000) - The project goal is to mobilize the community to promote health, discipline, teamwork, competition, and self-confidence among adolescence and youth and to decrease youth crimes, by providing opportunities for structured participation in community baseball leagues (an opportunity that is not currently available to the youth of community).
Hughes Beautification, Health, and Fitness Project ($20,000) - The project goal is to eliminate structures and overgrown areas that depreciate the value and beauty of the city and to enhance its citizens' health fitness through fitness and wellness training.
Wheatley Street Repair Project ($20,000) - The project goal it to provide liquid asphalt for major city streets to help extend the life of streets and provide safer roads for travel.
Click >>>here for a list of current Foundation for the Mid South grantees.
